An epithet that once characterized the lackluster final years of Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev in the 1970s and early 1980s is now increasingly being applied to Putin. Despite government promises, Russia has yet to establish a modern pensions saving system, improve regulation to create a competitive financial market, or invest in its deteriorating infrastructure. The Russian government's latest budget focuses on re-equipping the military with $620 billion by 2020, while cutting spending on infrastructure and education, which has disappointed business leaders seeking improvements to the outdated road network. Despite Putin's promises to reduce the economy's reliance on oil and gas exports, the Kremlin now requires a much higher oil price of $110 to balance its budget, a more than double increase over the past five years. In terms of foreign policy, Medvedev's plan to improve relations with the United States has come to a halt. Instead, Moscow has focused on disputes with the West regarding Syria and has prioritized establishing a free trade area with former Soviet neighbors Belarus and Kazakhstan. Alexei Pushkov, head of the Duma's Foreign Affairs Committee, states that Russia aims to be an independent hub of influence in its region, asserting that Russia does not want to emulate the West but rather wants to remain true to its own identity. A notable example of the growing divide between Russia and the West is the handling of the controversial punk feminist group, Pussy Riot, who were sentenced to prison for staging a protest in a Moscow cathedral against Putin. Putin expressed that the women received appropriate consequences for their actions, as he believed their performance was vulgar and a threat to Russia's moral values. Western governments and human rights groups strongly objected to the severe punishment, viewing it as excessive. However, many believe that the harsh treatment of Pussy Riot may indicate a deeper issue of Kremlin insecurity in response to growing public dissatisfaction with Putin's leadership. Despite a decline in street protests in Moscow, political analysts suggest that the educated urban population is becoming more discontent with Putin's governance. Far from the opulence of Putin's Novo-Ogaryovo residence with its ornate gates adorned with the double-headed Russian eagle, to the north of Moscow sits the unremarkable dormitory town of Krasnogorsk. In a bustling McDonald's restaurant there, a petite 30-year-old woman passionately shared her thoughts on Russia's future under Putin, amidst a snowstorm outside. Yekaterina Samutsevich, the recently freed Pussy Riot member, expressed her belief that the current system is deteriorating, becoming increasingly repressive. She noted that those in power are driven by intense fears, leading to erratic behavior. She warned of a potential collapse akin to the Soviet Union. The outcome of whether Putin's vision of a strong, stable, and powerful Russia or the apocalyptic prediction of the young punk rocker will come true is still uncertain. However, in the meantime, the people and business elite of Russia are showing their opinions through their actions, and it appears that Putin is not gaining support.