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WATCH THE KING OF THE NORTH

2007: The Rise of Putin: What It
Means for the Future of Russia

by Ariel Cohen, Ph.D.

According to some reports, at least 17 senior ex-KGB officials have been promoted
to senior Kremlin positions by Putin. Some of these officials conducted political re-
pression under the Soviet regime. They have replaced most of the reformers who
came to power with Yeltsin.

Putin frequently remarks that the only
dictatorship he supports is the dicta-
torship of the law. However Putin's
actions since becoming Acting Presi-
dent have caused increased concern
among Moscow's democrats that he
may be an authoritarian camou-
flaged as a liberal.

Putin has expressed admiration for
two of Russia's cruelest and most
dictatorial leaders. On December
21, 1999--Josef Stalin's birthday--
Putin reportedly joined in a toast to
Stalin while hosting Duma faction
leaders. Putin recently placed the Inte-
rior Ministry, which supervises the
uniformed police, in charge of the
electoral process.

This is a man who has shown a com-
plete disregard for human life,
cynicism and hypocrisy, and a willingness to use war and the deaths of thousands
of Russian soldiers and innocent civilians as a PR instrument in his election
campaign.

Putin has endangered one of the most important achievements of the Yeltsin era--a
vibrant media. Putin's deputy campaign chief has proclaimed that Putin has the right
to control the media to achieve national accord and to "use all power at Mr.
Putin's disposal" to punish critics.

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