Russia: Official Arrests Surge Fivefold, Signaling Elite Redistribution

Russian authorities have dramatically increased arrests of regional and federal officials since 2023, with every tenth mayor and 9% of regional elites facing criminal cases by mid-2026. This marks a fivefold increase from pre-war levels, indicating a systemic purge within the power structure. The trend suggests internal consolidation and property redistribution amid the ongoing war, though the full political implications remain uncertain.

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