This means the old Moscow rulebook has been torn up, too. Ever since fall of Khrushchev power in Moscow has changed hands without executions. Once ousted, old ruling cliques were allowed to live their lives out in irrelevance. Ripping this up works perfectly for Putin. Those contemplating, even in the abstract, a coup know they could be executed for it – and those loyal to Putin now believe that they must fight to keep him in power as they could be executed in revenge should he fall. Vladimir Putin now has the elite exactly where he wants them: terrified.