The Czar of PR: Putin’s 15 Years in PowerFifteen years into his “era,” Putin
The Czar of PR: Putin’s 15 Years in Power Fifteen years into his “era,” Putin has reached unassailable heights of prestige, masterly defeating his would-be challengers among street protesters and oligarchs and getting more than a bang for his ruble on the international stage. The Winter Olympics — set to open in Sochi this week — have offered Putin a glorious stage to bolster his image as the father of the nation who restored to Russia its lost pride. As the country rallies to the flag, Putin’s stature will grow taller. Putin has plenty of detractors. Some see him as a czar in the making. Yet others argue that he had turned Russia into a kleptocracy, rotten through and through from corruption. Still, Putin has retained his popularity at home and even projects a powerful image abroad — so powerful, in fact, that Forbes recently listed him as the most powerful man in the world. As he counts his gold medals this week, here is a list of Russia’s five failures, which Putin, by a slight of hand, has turned into personal victories. -- source link
#vladimir putin#russia#russian#politics#international#international relations#foreign affairs#foreign policy#foreign relations#foreign#global affairs#sochi2014#sochi olympics#current events#world news