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> Putin was a figurehead of the oligarch clan from Saint-Petersburg, who happened to have KGB connections as well. Russia had moved from the Western-like democr
by lern_too_spel 2y ago
> Putin was a figurehead of the oligarch clan from Saint-Petersburg, who happened to have KGB connections as well. Russia had moved from the Western-like democratic path already. They could've chosen another person with the same results.
There were no oligarchs in St. Petersburg when Putin got into politics, and he wasn't a figurehead. Putin had ties to the St. Petersburg underworld, who were experienced with capitalism during communism. His affiliation with them helped him work his way up St. Petersburg politics as a deal fixer.
> It doesn't matter. Professional criminals don't operate out of hate.
Many of Putin's actions are absolutely driven by hatred of the West.
> Had Zyuganov become president in 1996, there could be an opportunity to build the democratic tradition of transition of power.
Only Zyuganov is to blame for losing. Pinning this on Americans is a huge stretch.
- throwaway74354 2y ago>There were no oligarchs in St. Petersburg when Putin got into politics How do you call people like Gennady Timchenko? There's a nuanced difference between "Successful fossil fuel mogul" and "Member of a crime syndicate". >Pinning this on Americans is a huge stretch I didn't. It was a minor detail explaining that these were the second president elections ever happened in modern Russia and there was no local expertise in manipulating public opinion yet. And there was no legal checks and balances preventing abuse of power of the current president. "Administrative resource" had become a common noun after 1996.
- lern_too_spel 2y ago> How do you call people like Gennady Timchenko? You missed the "when Putin got into politics." Timchenko got his first break when Putin gave him an oil export license in 1991 and his fortune making break when Putin arrested one of his enemies and gave that enemy's oil firm to Timchenko. https://www.ft.com/content/c3c5c012-21e9-11dd-a50a-000077b07658 https://www.ft.com/content/c3c5c012-21e9-11dd-a50a-000077b07...