Since when Putin has became an euphemism for Russia? Why don't everyone simply say 'Russians are evil'?
Because ~65% of Russians voted for Putin, and they did it three times. He is very popular. Not difficult to see why. Since he came to power their GDP per capita (PPP-adjusted) almost doubled, law and order improved, corruption went down. And more Russians are being born than die, so the population decline is reversed.
For all his populism, Putin's economic policies have been very shrewd - Russia paid out its foreign debt and has currently some of the largest foreign currency reserves, and one of the lowest tax rates in the world.
As to the efforts to present Putin as some evil thug, throwing journalists to gulags etc. - this is just laughable. The best example are Pussy Riot. When the best anti-Putin propaganda can do is to call a punk-group who insults religious minorities a victim of political prosecution... Well, probably, Russians have to conclude that there are no real issues with freedom of speech in their country!
It's perfectly fine not to like Russians improving their life and enjoying a stronger country. But don't blame poor Putin for that. He is simply an elected official, it's just that Russians have been lucky to find a capable one.
What really troubles me about Putin is that he and his government is way ineffective. There are no brave people, only loyal. Their money are in the west banks, as are their safe retreats.
And what is much more troubling - almost every country with powerful ruling class is like that. As people say "паны дерутся, а у хлопцев чубы трещат" (=when those in power, the superiors, are in conflict, it is the common people, the subordinates, who suffer). And curse those Ukrainian officials who let it escalate to this.
Because contrary to popular opinion, Putin is not a dictator or supreme master of the Russia.
There are several power centers in Russia and Putin has to tread carefully with them. There are entire blocks of government that are not doing what they are supposed to do, and forcing them directly is not going to work without upsetting their cover up the food chain.
Just like you said, it is the same in every country with powerful ruling class.
Because ~65% of Russians voted for Putin, and they did it three times. He is very popular. Not difficult to see why. Since he came to power their GDP per capita (PPP-adjusted) almost doubled, law and order improved, corruption went down. And more Russians are being born than die, so the population decline is reversed.
http://www.forbes.com/sites/markadomanis/2013/02/04/five-myt...
For all his populism, Putin's economic policies have been very shrewd - Russia paid out its foreign debt and has currently some of the largest foreign currency reserves, and one of the lowest tax rates in the world.
As to the efforts to present Putin as some evil thug, throwing journalists to gulags etc. - this is just laughable. The best example are Pussy Riot. When the best anti-Putin propaganda can do is to call a punk-group who insults religious minorities a victim of political prosecution... Well, probably, Russians have to conclude that there are no real issues with freedom of speech in their country!
It's perfectly fine not to like Russians improving their life and enjoying a stronger country. But don't blame poor Putin for that. He is simply an elected official, it's just that Russians have been lucky to find a capable one.