Great guest, very unusual to have a western analyst that isn't just spitting out a banal propagandized view of Russia (like the mentioned Kasparov) and tries to look at it impartially from an authentic intellectual viewpoint.,(reply>), @Nikola Stefanovic I hope so too. The problem is that Putin holds on to power as much as he can. I think this could once again end in a bloody revolution.,(reply>), @wohnungsnomade Nahh man, it was a cool read, listen, they way i see it, Russia is doing well in foreign affairs, but domestically you need a change of paradigm, hope you guys can manage it without some cataclysmic event like you guys usually need for there to be a change...,(reply>), ​@Drakyry I know that, doesn`t change my mind on him. Kasparov worked very close with the CIA. They even created several groups sponsored by the USA to meddle in elections (not only in Russia, for example Venezuela),(reply>), @Nikola Stefanovic I can not tell if there is this one "worst thing" about Putin. He has many negative sites. And lets beginn with the idea that Putin saved Russia. Yes he did some good things on the surface. He was fighting oligarchs like Chodorkovski and Beresovski, which I approve. But the problem is, he didn`t fight the oligarchic system itself. Putin is actually the saviour of the oligarchs. And that started when he was working for the FSB. During the Yeltsin era there was an attorney that was investigating oligarchs and officials, and he wanted to go deep. The problem is, that suddenly a video appeared showing this attorney with prostitutes. Several agents said that the FSB was involved, and ofc Putin as the head of the FSB at that time. Furthermore Putin promised Yeltsin to not investigate him or his family(also the oligarchs belonging to them). Putin did them several favours. For example he changed the laws about corruption and for officials that have stolen money from the state. He removed the part which says that theft has to be confiscated and returned to the state. So this criminal gang can steal and they can keep it in any case, even if they are cought. Thats criminal af if you ask me, thats has nothing to do with saviour of the people! <br>The next thing was the tax system. It is a 13% flat tax, even for oligarchs who earn their money with selling national resources. Thats crazy. I know there are economists who try to justify it with the economical struggle. But even for national resources like oil and gas? It belongs to the people not some oligarch! He kept this for 20 years now. But if you keep taxation low, then you miss money everywhere in the national system. During Putins time 90% of hospitals were closed, 95% of forest ranger's cost was cut (which is actually important to avoid fires), he did also cut a lot of educational spending. To be honest I don`t have the figures for that, but its also a big deal.<br>And Putin started killing or threatening the opposition and journalists with different methods. I personally understand democracy as a market of ideas. The people get informed as well as possible and then they choose from the offered ideas. But Putin put a lot of effort in brain washing the people, while officially propaganda is banned through the constitution. He also destroyed the half way independant court system. Now the whole system is basically a dictatory.<br>Recently he started with nepotism, his doughter is owning a contractor family in the media sector, and she gets millions of dollars. Putin is also okay with other officials doing the same. The chief attorneys son owns the garbage disposal system. As a contractor he got hundreds of million dollars for building up a recycling system, but instead the garbage lands in holes, or is stacked in the open. Recently a plane crashed near moscow. The problem was, that this dumping ground became so big, that it came too close to the airport. And because of that there were bird swarm that collided with the plane engines. I think I could go on and on and write for hours.<br>But I think one of the worst things is the fact, that in 20 years he did not manage to build up a real and strong economy in Russia. Because he did not create the environment. Russia is a big mafia style run nation and no one with brain wants really to stay there. Not even the officials, who have bought many houses accross the world, and especially europe. And right now it does not look like its going to change soon. Sry for this novel xd,(reply>), @wohnungsnomade  Well, here in Serbia Putin is super popular, he's kinda seen as the guy who saved Russia from collapse and made it formidable again, and as somebody who is standing up to the west and stopping them from doing whatever they like. What is the worst thing about Putin in your view? And is there any worthwhile genuine opposition who would be any good if they replaced him? As for the west, you are right, but i believe the mainstream west to be disingenuous in it's criticism of Russia, they don't want to open any eyes, they just want to be the winners in a geopolitical struggle.