Since president Vladimir Putin was confirmed in office last May, he has been scorned for being a dictator in the making and hailed as the most liberal and reform-minded politician Russia has had since its rebuilding began. Depending on where you stand, he will still fit both descriptions.
“There are two Putins: an economic one and a political one,” says Roland Nash, senior political analyst with Russian investment bank Renaissance Capital.
Widely believed at first to be a creation of “the Family” – the group of well-connected businessmen and oligarchs close to the Kremlin during the Yeltsin era – Putin has made considerable progress in consolidating his personal hold on power.
Access intelligence that drives action
To unlock this research, enter your email to log in or enquire about access
