SHUT UP, THEY EXPLAINED: Senior Russian banker fired after scathing speech on wartime economy.

The independent Russian outlet the Bell reported, citing sources, that Klepach was fired on orders from the Kremlin and that his dismissal was directly linked to his May address.

Klepach’s dismissal highlights the Kremlin’s growing insistence on loyalty within Russia’s upper ranks, amid reports that Putin has increasingly surrounded himself with officials reluctant to challenge his views.

Alexandra Prokopenko, a former adviser to the Russian central bank and a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center, described Klepach as a respected economist who was unafraid to voice views that diverged from the official line.

“Klepach’s dismissal – he is one of Russia’s best macroeconomists – is unlikely to delay the looming crisis he has been warning about,” Prokopenko said. She said Klepach’s forecasts were “based on assessments of reality rather than a desire to please anyone” and were often more pessimistic than the official figures.

Does anybody believe the official figures, including people inside the Kremlin?