Feb 2008
Barring a major upset, Dmitry
Medvedev will succeed Putin as
President next week. Over the
past eight years, Putin's
government has steadily
dismantled Russia's democratic
structures, destroying any
real opposition.

During the chaos of the
Yeltsin years, Western imposed
reforms nearly bankrupt the
country.
more

Feb 2008
Barring a major upset, Dmitry
Medvedev will succeed Putin as
President next week. Over the
past eight years, Putin's
government has steadily
dismantled Russia's democratic
structures, destroying any
real opposition.

During the chaos of the
Yeltsin years, Western imposed
reforms nearly bankrupt the
country. In contrast, Putin's
centralist policies have;
\'moved Russia from anarchy to
normal life\', explains friend
Sergei Markov. There's a
genuine belief here that the
West wants to keep Russia weak
and one of its tools for doing
so is demanding democracy.
Liberal critics like Gary
Kasparov are denounced as
Western stooges. \'We consider
people like Kasparov
traitors\', states Nashi
member Masha Drokova. \'We
want Russia to be a sovereign
democracy and that is only
possible if Putin's policies
are continued\'. There's
little chance of that not
happening. The
Kremlin-controlled state media
is banned from even mentioning
the names of opposition
candidates. Even when Putin
stands down as President, he's
expected to remain the real
power in the Kremlin.
Delegated successor, Dmitry
Medvedev, has no independent
power base of his own and
Putin will be his Prime
Minister. It seems that the
only vote that really matters
in the elections has already
been cast.

Category Entertainment

Tags Dmitry, Medvedev, Russia, Kasparov, Youth, Movement, Nashi, Putin, Journeyman, Pictures