Did I forget to mention restricting freedom of information?

In addition to the autocratic measures listed below, Putin is now attempting to deny his people any sort of independent information resource whatsoever by applying restrictions and regulations to internet usage. Moroever, with his Stalin-esque policy of gathering all major TV channels into the state’s hands, prosecuting anyone who dares oppose him and his recently-voiced opinion that the collapse of the USSR was ‘the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the Twentieth Century’ it is certainly heart warming to see how far forward Putin has brought Russian democracy under his dictatorsh…erm, ahem, leadership, excuse me.