Empire without foundations
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldbriefing/story/0,15205,1579877,00.html
Simon Tisdall
Wednesday September 28, 2005
The Guardian
Vladimir Putin won Russia's presidency in 2000 with a pledge to restore
order at home and national prestige abroad after the chaos of the
Yeltsin era. And he has enjoyed some success. His personal approval
rating stands at 70%, the economy is growing, and Russia will assume
the G8 presidency next year for the first time. Next week Mr Putin will
visit London for the latest EU-Russia summit.
But opponents such as Mikhail Kasyanov, a former prime minister, say
stability has been bought at too high a price. Mr Putin is accused of
centralising power among the siloviki - the "new oligarchs" of the
Kremlin, undermining democratic institutions and extending state
control over key industries. While they like Mr Putin, most Russians
believe the country is heading in the wrong direction.
Simon Tisdall
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.atheism/msg/232bc107fc21806a
Putin
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.atheism/msg/cf9db6bf05a04d90
Russia
http://groups.google.com/group/alt.atheism/msg/cd3eb1840b43f444
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