“Russia has now entered a period of turbulence,” you argue in connection with the presidential elections in 2012 (“The Putin versus Medvedev Tandem,” April 9, 2011). Russia does spring surprises, as you put it, but there is still some order to the chaos. “The Kremlin is divided into a Putin and a Medvedev camp,” you cite a political joke that is doing the rounds in Moscow. “The only question is which camp Medvedev will join.” This is not a joke, though. Chances are he is not a fool, which means he will join his supposed adversary’s camp in the nick of time. For he knows which side the bread is buttered. Next year’s presidential elections, which will be decided long before the event, are not elections. Not really. And Putin is deeply entrenched in the government smothered with his spies. So deeply, in fact, that Medvedev was his own clever choice well ahead of the next two six-year terms as president. Russians know this perfectly well. They will not be fooled by the so-called turbulence, as you seem to be. All you can do by wondering aloud about the outcome of the elections is to put a bit more credibility into Putin’s eventual victory.