Plato is my friend, McFaul is my friend, but my dearer to me is the truth that Chubais was an architect of Russia's crony capitalism and a staunch defender of Putin's every crime. He's either saving his own skin, on a mission, or both.
https://twitter.com/McFaul/status/1506713026740715520
Chubais was a godfather of the kleptocratic system that doomed Russia's nascent democracy. Then for decades he played a key role in whitewashing Putin's image abroad, insisting he was a man to do business with despite his burgeoning list of atrocities.
If Chubais isn't on every sanctions list already, he should be for his role in strengthening Putin's regime. He will be a defendant in the trials, not a witness. Whatever his reason for leaving now, it's not out of principle.
Do not treat Chubais now as some sort of prodigal son or as if he's had an epiphany about the true nature of Putinism after decades of vile collaboration. There's nothing to applaud even if he's trying to change his shoes while jumping in the air, as the Russian saying goes.
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