Russian Presidential Election: A Referendum on Putin’s Leadership
“ For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power. ” pronounced the United States. “ Putin’s day will surely be numbered. He’ll lose power and he won’t get to choose his successor ,” prophesized the United Kingdom. Having proclaimed the Lord’s name in vain, the duo’s avowals have anything but taken hold of reality, one that portends a very different outcome. Putin has them and their satellites to thank, for unleashing relentless sanctions in the delirious dream that they could crush the world’s largest country. Instead of bringing Russia to its knees as contrived and fervently hoped, the sanctions backfired in more ways than one, magnetizing more Russians to their leader’s side. Proving to his people once again that he is tried, true and tested, Putin has dexterously steered his country through an ongoing, arduous hour of unprecedented sanctions meant to inflict economic pain of the harshest kind on his countrymen. Domestic support for Putin has visibly risen. His earnest call to