Paul Goble
Staunton, May 30 – The latest batch
of new governors are so similar in appearance and style, Polina Gruzdova says,
that they could be “clones” of one another, a reflection of a longstanding
trend under Vladimir Putin who believes that all of them perform essentially
the same functions and that there are no fundamental differences among the
regions they lead.
This similarity extends to the clothes
they wear and their demeanor, the MBK journalist quotes Kseniya Obukhovskaya, a
leading fashion commentator. They all wear
black or blue suits and have ties with decorations, “most often with red
colorations” (mbk.media/suzhet/konservatizm-len-otsutstv/).
This style reflects both their own
personal experience and the preferences of Putin’s style. “In the final
analysis, everyone wants to be like the president.” It reflects either their
conservatism, their laziness or “the lack of a sense of personal style.” Few are prepared to violate this organization
man approach.
One who did, the governor of
Kaliningrad Anton Alikhanov, rapidly got in trouble for doing so. Others have
learned from his experience and so they are likely to become even more alike in
their dress and behavior. And that similarity is likely to carry over into
their style of rule as well.
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