Putin is only 61, a decade younger than the leaders who led the Soviet Union to the precipice, and the constitution permits him to remain in power for at least another ten years. But with GDP up by just 1.3% in 2013 – and with sanctions likely to hasten the economy’s decline – patriotic pride will not be able to shield him much longer.
普京只有61岁，比把苏联推向绝境的领导人年轻十岁，而俄罗斯宪法允许他至少还能掌权十年。但2013年GDP增长只有1.3%——并且还有可能遭到加速经济衰落的制裁——爱国自豪感是无法为他提供长期屏障的。