Putin has decimated real democracy in Russia. He has severely curtailed independent media and individual free speech. Official corruption is massive and unchecked. He has stolen neighboring territory (Crimea) that is Ukrainian and invaded the same nation (Donbas). He has needlessly subjected his nation to punishing sanctions (6% of GDP for the past four years). Russia is currently falling into a recession. Western investment has fled. Putin is pouring Russian rubles into militarization which leaves not enough money for pay raises and retirement pensions etc. He is assassinating Russians both at home and abroad and with banned weapons (radiation poisoning/nerve agents). His popularity in Russia is now at 32%. What such a dismal number usually implies is an imminent Putin military aggression somewhere in Europe or a closing of the Kerch Strait/Sea of Azov. The Putin regime is authoritarian and approaching a dictatorship. His latest assault on freedom was a nationwide test to close the Internet to Russians.
So, you don't think Russia and Russians are better off now than they were before Putin? Looking away from external factors, is Russia also not better of the last 5-6 years? How about Russias ability to protect their interests?
Take Ukraine for example, the Russian answer to western imperialism and NATO takeover of Ukraine, was to firmly protect their interest and assert their interests, and maintain this despite unprecedented external pressure, including complete propaganda and many lies. And how about Russia stopping the US war in Syria? Does this not make Russia a protector of international law? Of which they speak highly, unlike the US who do not respect international law. Has Russia not become a counterweight to the US and guaranteer of international law in a time where some countries show complete contempt of the interests of other countries and want to try to act as a global dictator..
Anyways, I think Russia has done alot better under Putin, as far as I know this is an undeniable truth. They also act as a stopping power to US global abuse, and as such protect the interest of other countries. Things Russia do "wrong" also has to be seen in context of other things, not isolated. Putin and his government makes firm stances against the criminal deconstruction of society that is going on in the US and European countries, and as such is the only government who protect the interests of it's people instead of perpetuating the deconstruction against the will of the people as is going on in Europe and the US. Unlike leaders in Europe and the US, Putin respect the history, tradition and culture of his nation, and stand firmly up for these things instead of destroying them like European and US governments are doing.
So, I'm not sure you are right about your assertions about Russia. You seem not to understand the bigger picture here, and just rant on about things seeing them in some old fashion and outdated worldview. No country has democracy, with the exception of Switzerland, this is the truth. The old worldview says that European countries and the US are democracies, while they in fact are not. And what is freedom? Really? How about the freedom to be protected from tyrannical governments who destroy your nations culture, undermine it's traditions and redact it's history. Is this not important at all? Are those "freedoms" not more important than some other freedoms, or can governments do anything they want as long as it does not go against some old fashion view of what freedom and democracy is?
Ofcourse, Russia also does not have democracy, but for other countries without democracy to condemn Russia for the same thing they do, is ridiculous. You have to start viewing the world in light of the truth, not some old fables you have been told is the reality, and I think as a person living (probably) in either Europe or the US, you should be far more concerned with the situation in your own country, than that of Russia where you do not live. Our societies are in an epic crisis, and all you care about is Russia?
This might determine the collapse of our society if nothing is done, yet all you care about is Russia? Why not wake up to the reality closer to home? Millions and millions of people already have, and more keep waking up every day.
But hey, it's comfortable to be in denial and use Russia as some bogeyman to keep staying in denial. Afterall, that's what you and most people have been told to do, and that's what many still do. But alot of people woke up, and no longer believe the lies they are being told or the "reality" dictated onto them and repeated on a daily basis.
