Strategy seems to be similar to Putin's.
Create bigger issues such that people's attention could be diverted away from the real deal and catch every one by surprise by the time people realize what just happened. Sort of in a way a hand waving magician does his tricks to fool the audience. But until then keep denying any wrong doings or motives being fully aware that one has the power to kill little bugs who are impeding on his ultimate agenda and the reign with fear mongering and exploitation of the hunger for power/position of the people who wants to appease him to survive.
Sort of what prchande did.