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How do you know he's popular either? State run opinion polls? Asking people on the street about if they like their ruthless dictator or not? Sure.

• Synaesthesia 7y ago
  He is genuinely popular I believe, not just from state run polls but also independent ones. You must understand the fact that he pulled Russia out of one of its worst crises in history and made it a force to be reckoned with again. Yeah there’s plenty to criticise but that fact alone will make him quite popular. He’s certainly authoritarian, I wouldn’t characterize him as a “ruthless dictator”
  • ebg13 7y ago
    > I wouldn’t characterize him as a “ruthless dictator” You mean except for the part where his opposition periodically gets assassinated?
    • Synaesthesia 7y ago
      It’s clearly a political designation. It’s authoritarian for sure. I’m not gonna defend his actions. There are plenty of countries which so far worse though and do not get designated as “ruthless dictators” by the media. When Yeltsin was in power he was a ruthless dictator, but because he toes the line there were no issues.