Putin

[Jake_Zhukov]

What do you fellow Russians think of Putin? I am going to move back to the east someday, either Minsk or Russia.

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Russia rules, mmmkay?

[Dr_Woland]

(I'm not Russian, but I live and work in Moscow as a foreigner)

Hi Jake

Well, I have no vote in these things. If I had a vote, then Putin would not have been my first choice - personally I favoured the Otechestvo party candidate, Primakov, even though he was old... because he had a very good record as Foreign Minister, and was the wisest and most experienced of the "Old Guard". But, for various not-so-good reasons, he withdrew :-(

I think the biggest problem in Russia right now is corruption and crime. I don't only mean professional crooks, but also State employees who commit criminal acts, or assist criminals to avoid arrest in return for cash payments. If there is no law, then there is *nothing* you can do, in any kind of activity! For example... the State gives some money to an Orphanage. But the orphans never see any benefit from this money - because it is stolen by Officials before it even arrives (I'm quoting a real case I know personally here). So it does not matter if we are talking about Oil, or Pensions, or Education, or Tax Collection, or Sport.. the problem of crime affects all of these areas.

Putin is, as we all heard 1000 times now, a former KGB (FSB) man. He's also a qualified lawyer.

Frankly, there is no-one better qualified, or with better contacts in all the right places, to stop the crime and corruption. If Putin can do this one thing only, even if he fails in everything else he does, then he will still be a big success.

I've got to admit, that I am not impressed with policies so far on Education, and in my own industry (Tourism), abolishing the Ministry of Tourism was not the best thing he could do to get my vote!!

But then... I don't have a vote :-)

Dr W
(an Englishman in Moscow)

[Atossa]

As a Monarchist, I think Vladimir Putin is a Great Leader. Does anyone know if he is interested in the title of TSAR !?!

Atossa