On Tuesday, the West was outmanoeuvred When he extended support to financially troubled Ukraine with a unilateral decision to provide loan of $15 billion. On Wednesday, Russian Parliament passed an amnesty bill that could free thousands of prisoners, at his direction.
On Friday, he pardoned Khodorkovsky, Russia's most-known prisoner and his one-time aspiring political rival. But. that was last week only.
Earlier in December, Putin shocked Moscow’s political and media circles with a surprise announcement that he would remake the state news agency RIA-Novosti under the direction of a Kremlin loyalist.
The decisions show Putin’s singular ability to not only wield executive power but also bend the legislative and judicial branches of government to his will, and exert heavy control over the Russian news media.
‘What we are seeing is a president who has no limits on his power in a country that never was democratic, that never had anything called a balance of power - where one of the estates could balance the power of another,’ said Vladimir Posner, one of Russia’s most prominent television journalists, with his own nightly show on Channel One, the premiere government-controlled station.
‘There is no Fourth Estate,’ he said. ‘And as a matter of fact there is no Second or Third Estate. There is just the First, just the presidency. That’s the way things are today in Russia.’
As he prepares to begin his 15th year as Russia’s paramount political leader, Putin’s sweeping authority gives him far more leverage than his counterparts in the West to influence the course of events and, at times, to set the agenda in world affairs.
In defiance of the United States, Russia granted temporary asylum to the former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, with Putin portraying him as a whistle-blower. Putin also averted a US military strike on Syria with a plan to disarm its chemical weapons.
Yet all of his recent moves carry serious risks. Releasing Khodorkovsky could well set loose a vengeful rival, with the money and will to do everything possible to force Putin from power.
Won’t go into politics or seek oil assets, says Khordorkovsky
BERLIN: Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky is vowing to do all he can to ensure the release of political prisoners in Russia after his pardon and release. Khodorkovsky spoke at a packed and tumultuous news conference in Berlin on Sunday, two days after he was released and immediately flew to Germany. The 50-year-old said he shouldn’t be viewed as a symbol that there are no political prisoners in Russia and said he would do ‘all I can do’ to ensure the release of others. He thanked media pressure for helping secure his release.
On Friday, he pardoned Khodorkovsky, Russia's most-known prisoner and his one-time aspiring political rival. But. that was last week only.
Earlier in December, Putin shocked Moscow’s political and media circles with a surprise announcement that he would remake the state news agency RIA-Novosti under the direction of a Kremlin loyalist.
The decisions show Putin’s singular ability to not only wield executive power but also bend the legislative and judicial branches of government to his will, and exert heavy control over the Russian news media.
‘What we are seeing is a president who has no limits on his power in a country that never was democratic, that never had anything called a balance of power - where one of the estates could balance the power of another,’ said Vladimir Posner, one of Russia’s most prominent television journalists, with his own nightly show on Channel One, the premiere government-controlled station.
‘There is no Fourth Estate,’ he said. ‘And as a matter of fact there is no Second or Third Estate. There is just the First, just the presidency. That’s the way things are today in Russia.’
As he prepares to begin his 15th year as Russia’s paramount political leader, Putin’s sweeping authority gives him far more leverage than his counterparts in the West to influence the course of events and, at times, to set the agenda in world affairs.
In defiance of the United States, Russia granted temporary asylum to the former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, with Putin portraying him as a whistle-blower. Putin also averted a US military strike on Syria with a plan to disarm its chemical weapons.
Yet all of his recent moves carry serious risks. Releasing Khodorkovsky could well set loose a vengeful rival, with the money and will to do everything possible to force Putin from power.
Won’t go into politics or seek oil assets, says Khordorkovsky
BERLIN: Former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky is vowing to do all he can to ensure the release of political prisoners in Russia after his pardon and release. Khodorkovsky spoke at a packed and tumultuous news conference in Berlin on Sunday, two days after he was released and immediately flew to Germany. The 50-year-old said he shouldn’t be viewed as a symbol that there are no political prisoners in Russia and said he would do ‘all I can do’ to ensure the release of others. He thanked media pressure for helping secure his release.