Russians are leaving the country in droves

[ag]

Oh, no. Putin is not popular precisely among the upper middle and upper classes. The anti-Putin satirical performances are getting full houses in the richest Moscow suburbs, right around the corner from his own residence. The first thing you hear from the ostensibly pro-government "experts", functionaries, etc., almost before they return your greetings, is "the regime is about to fall" - and that's been going on for years. He is a KGB goon, the "educated" Russians, even if they owe everything to him, despise him wholeheartedly. At best, they are going to say something along the lines of "but that's what The People wants, who are we to go against The People" - but even that line has been growing thin.