> To a point where he almost doesn't need to fix elections (it just makes him feel a bit "safer") or manipulate the press. He got to that position by subjugati

> To a point where he almost doesn't need to fix elections (it just makes him feel a bit "safer") or manipulate the press. He got to that position by subjugating and manipulating the media in the first place. True, he may not need to do it to win elections "now", but if he cuts the media loose he'll easily lose his popularity. Russians live and breath TV and Putin knows it.