Of course, Putin’s success over the past few years in killing off any semblance of a free press – and when an ex-KGB man “kills off” a free press, it is not just a figure of speech – has helped mute open opposition. Even so, Putin does seem genuinely popular among a public longing for a leader who can anchor their country without sinking it.
当然，在过去几年中，普京成功地扼杀了言论自由的一切萌芽¾¾而且当前克格勃成员压制言论自由时，这绝不仅仅局限于一种比喻¾¾普京的压制大大削弱了公开的反抗。即便如此，在那些企盼国家局势稳定、期待国家不要陷入动荡的平民百姓心目中，普京也确实享有极高的威望。