"and this being russia...", is there a place where most people are not, for the most part, looking out for themselves? You seem to be implying that Russia is special in that regard.
It is. I think in most Western capitals most people in government are driven by ideology, patriotism, public service or simply professionalism and people are not in fear of their lives. I think in Putin's russia self-preservation/survival is top of mind. It's a brutal culture and it would only be more so at the highest levels. You only have to look to the high number of defenestrations of high level individuals that have happened in recent years.