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No one knows, because Putin has total control over Russian press. He is officially "popular" but it would be suicide to be Russian and to not publicly support him, so we have no idea.
No one knows, because Putin has total control over Russian press. He is officially "popular" but it would be suicide to be Russian and to not publicly support him, so we have no idea.
It's not that "no one knows" - it's you, since you can't read Russian social media.
So even if "Putin has total control over Russian press," Russian social media (Face Book, V Kontakte and numerous other sites) are very good indicator of what opinions of Russians of Putin are.
That would be more within the lines of Nemtzov ( the one who has been killed in Moscow recently) and other "libertarians" ( the kind of "opposition" in Russia that Washington admires so much, but Russians en mass have very little interest to back them.)
About the current economic situation.
Russian defaulted was only 17 years ago (1998). Too little time has passed. The deterioration of economic situation can not be reason for change of power (Putin) at the moment. I think that West is wrong with introduction of sanctions. West could not take into account subtleties of Russian mentality. Putin took the opportunity to accuse the West of intending to harm Russia. Aggression can not force to surrender Russians, on the contrary it excites even more. I think you need to stop calling Putin a gangster (US presidential candidates called recently), and begin to establish a constructive dialogue.
About the current economic situation.
Russian defaulted was only 17 years ago (1998). Too little time has passed. The deterioration of economic situation can not be reason for change of power (Putin) at the moment. I think that West is wrong with introduction of sanctions. West could not take into account subtleties of Russian mentality. Putin took the opportunity to accuse the West of intending to harm Russia. Aggression can not force to surrender Russians, on the contrary it excites even more. I think you need to stop calling Putin a gangster (US presidential candidates called recently), and begin to establish a constructive dialogue.
Maksim, Putin IS a gangster as any gangster that got his wealth (and access to power) in the nineties. Putin is no exception. But unlike Russians who like to say "prove it" ( regarding his looted wealth and looted wealth of those surrounding Putin,) knowing that no one in Russia could prove it for a fact ( and those who could are already dead,) the Westerners ( in higher circles) have all the proofs they want and need.
And since they know that the well-being of current Russian ruling class is rooted in Western banking system, they don't see a point of negotiating with him as with the equal. They'd rather prefer to "show him his place," which becomes increasingly difficult for a number of reasons.
Location: New Albany, Indiana (Greater Louisville)
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My perception is that most Russians like that Putin talks and walks tough for Russia. I suspect many long for the USSR days and support territorial expansion. They've never had much individual freedom so they overlook his iron fist methods.
My perception is that most Russians like that Putin talks and walks tough for Russia. I suspect many long for the USSR days and support territorial expansion. They've never had much individual freedom so they overlook his iron fist methods.
"Individual freedom" - that's for people with money ( at least in modern world.)
Russians ( in general) never had much money.
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