Russian politics, Churchill famously said, is like watching two dogs fighting under a carpet. Lately, however, Russia’s top political dogs have shed the rug and are openly nipping at each other’s heels.
First, Vladimir Putin, prime minister, likened western military action in Libya to medieval crusades, before Dmitry Medvedev, president, told him, in essence, to hold his tongue.
Then, last week, Mr Medvedev ordered ministers to leave the boards of state-controlled companies. That struck at the heart of “Kremlin Inc” – the intertwined political and economic system Mr Putin created. Putin loyalists were also largely affected, including Igor Sechin, a close ally for two decades and linchpin of a planned alliance between Rosneft, the oil company Mr Sechin chairs, and Britain’s BP.