Excellent series...What life is like in Russia post Russian collapse
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia became a wild east in which communist central planning was supplanted by crude, free-wheeling capitalism. A small number of people - dubbed “oligarchs” by the press - became enormously wealthy by seizing control of state assets or buying them at knock-down prices. President Vladimir Putin, who came to power unexpectedly on the last day of 1999, re-imposed stability, while stronger oil prices fueled growth.
9 part series...
http://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/comrade-capitalism/
I am now on Part 9, about the lives of the Russian people..
Take away....the wealth theft by Oligarchs is Global, including Russia.
Burning question...is Putin a powerless puppet like other heads of state?
= new reply since forum marked as read
Nobody trumps the preciousss, the preciousss Cheney in EVIL! 
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