It's the Kremlin's worst nightmare. That the Russian Federation shares the fate of the Soviet Union and disintegrates.

Far-fetched? Yeah, probably. But the fear appears to be honestly felt.

And as calls for regional autonomy get louder and bolder -- from Kaliningrad to Siberia, from Karelia to Tatarstan -- Vladimir Putin's regime has moved to further tighten the screws. And this is only serving to spark more resentment in the regions.

Are the Kremlin's fears of federalism making its biggest fear more likely?

On the latest Power Vertical Podcast, we discuss Russia's fragile federation. Joining me are co-host Mark Galeotti, a professor at New York University, an expert on Russia's security services, and author of the blog In Moscow's Shadows; and longtime Russia-watcher Paul Goble, author of the blog Window on Eurasia.

Enjoy...

Listen to or download the podcast above or subscribe to The Power Vertical Podcast on iTunes.​