Anatol Lieven: Failed Wagner coup shows that Putin's regime remains stubbornly strong

Vladimir Putin’s mercy towards Yevgeny Prigozhin was not a sign of weakness but a shrewd move, writes ANATOL LIEVEN

Russian president Vladimir Putin stands for the Russian Federation anthem before delivering a speech to military and department of defence units in Moscow this week. Picture: Sergei Guneyev/Sputnik/AP

Much of the western analysis of the events in Russia last weekend has concluded that Vladimir Putin displayed his weakness by allowing Yevgeny Prigozhin and other Wagner group commanders to depart peacefully for Belarus, and the rank-and-file to join the Russian army or retire to their homes. 

Of course, if Putin had in fact crushed the revolt by force and executed its leaders, commentators would have used this as more evidence of his brutality and ruthlessness, and perhaps also of the innate savagery and violence of the Russian national tradition.