Putin would be right to liberalize the economy and slim down government. The economic situation has deteriorated sufficiently to make these steps essential if Russia hopes to avoid a major decline in living standards. However, these measures would go against everything Putin and his "war party" have done. It's impossible to pursue libertarian economics while living in international isolation and conducting costly undeclared wars. At best, the proposal from the "system liberals" will give rise to yet another ineffective anti-corruption campaign. As Bendukidze often pointed out, corruption starts at the top, and it's useless to start fighting it from the bottom.

David Fuller's view

Putin’s era is ending badly, but that also makes him very dangerous.  Hopefully, he will go relatively soon and reasonably quietly, but the psychopathology suggests this may be wishful thinking.