So my, admittedly distant, understanding of modern Russia is that the FSB and Oligarchs have formed a symbiotic relationship, with Putin as its fulcrum. The FS

So my, admittedly distant, understanding of modern Russia is that the FSB and Oligarchs have formed a symbiotic relationship, with Putin as its fulcrum. The FSB secure the oligarchs, and prevent them from being prosecuted for siphoning off billions from the Russian economy. These get distributed down through to FSB leadership as bribes. The whole thing stays loyal to whatever leadership coalition keeps it going. Putin has proved quite good at that. This arrangement is also underscored by a sort of modern descendent of Chekism. There's an ideological component besides all the corrupt money making.