What's wrong in 908B64B197's statement is not that it's a good survive strategy. It's wrong that russian commoners take sides. Indifference leads to caring only for yourself and those who are close to you. And whoever is in power - doesn't matter.

There's a ukranian proverb that is also part of russian culture in english it's meaning sounds like "lords fight - serfs struggle" (паны дерутся - у холопов чубы трещат). So for ordinary person best strategy is not to get yourself between Scylla and Charybdis and be loyal to any power unless you get direct profits from loyalty.