my two cents.  putin croaks. his party starts a mad scramble to get a candidate to inherit him. other power groups desperately try to negotiate guarantees from the future possible ruler. a secret but probably bloody squabble happens behind closed doors with different competitors either getting suicided or disappeared. finally - a seemingly united front gathers behind the winner. an oldschool party member that everyone vaguely knows but who never held much public attention. he will be heralded as the only possible way for russia to survive. of course a mock election will be held, with some none-candidates are paraded and light heartedly mocked. at the same time - people not part of the political elite who dare to actually campaigned will be arrested, accused of crimes and fast tracked through the court system. the russians will mostly go what can you really do, eh and vote for the only candidate as not to draw ire to themselves. the powergroups will get more power than before to give their support for the entire fiasco. the russians will get even smaller part of the pie.  and then it got worse
Bulgaria