During the election campaign, and even after, we hear Donald Trump praising President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation. Because of this, I decided to read a biography of President Putin, written by a critical journalist from Russia.
The information presented in the text was frightening and disturbing. Even more so that our president would be willing to praise, and desire a stronger bond with, President Putin.
During the waning days of the Soviet Union, the KGB attempted an unsuccessful coup against the Soviet Premier Gorbachev, due to his reforms that were threatening the communist ideology. Boris Yeltsin helped quell the coup and went on to run for the presidency, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Yeltsin was the first and only democratically elected Russian Federation president.
Yeltsin became increasingly unpopular as Russia transitioned from communism to capitalism. He was blamed as people lost their savings, were no longer guaranteed work and social care, as well as the increasing corruption in the government and business. Towards the end there were only a handful of close advisors and family that remained loyal to him.
Out of fear of facing prosecution, once Yeltsin was out of office and no longer had immunity, the people decided to seek a successor that would be favorable to them.
Vladimir Putin was a KGB officer that spent time in East Germany during the Cold War, and served in various other positions throughout Leningrad. He caught the attention of Yelstin’s people for declining a bribery attempt. He also appeared to be dull and malleable.
Yelstin’s circle believed they could mold Putin into the politician they wanted and decided to appoint him to the Prime Minister position. Finally, Yeltsin decided to resign over six months early and Putin became acting president. It would be easier for Putin to run for election as an incumbent, and prevent a further decline in popularity for Yeltsin.
Once in office, President Putin began to show his true character and became extremely authoritarian as time went on. During this time were several hostage crises in schools and movie theaters savagely resolved by the army.
This resulted in many civilian deaths and crackdowns on journalists, as well as the state buying the media outlets and prosecuting dissidents. Putin used the hostage crises as an incentive to suspend the electoral process for the regional governors and Duma members. The governors would be appointed by him now and the parliamentarians were now indirectly by the election results for political parties.
The presidency became the only directly elected position. Political parties and candidates had to register with the government, be approved and reach an unattainable number of signatures on a petition to exist and run for office.
Putin reached the end of his constitutionally allowed terms in office. He appointed Dimitri Medvedev as his successor who then promptly appointed Putin as Prime Minister. Russia erupted with protests, but were quickly suppressed.
Medvedev passed an amendment to extend the presidential terms. After President Medvedev served his terms, Putin ran again – and in a five way race, he “won” with over 60 percent of the vote.
Various cases of voter fraud were reported. Pre-filled ballots were taken to psychiatric hospitals for the patients to certify, and election workers were coercing elderly voters as they “assisted” with the process.
In the United States now, we can see inklings of these tendencies in President Trump. Any negative coverage of either man is considered dissension, fake and libelous. Narcissism and grandiosity are present, as well as the desire to squash opposition. Lies and manipulation of facts are not something to be ashamed of. Even extensive overreach of executive powers and sidelining the legislature are both present.
We need to take heed of the affairs of other countries, and the parallels that are occuring within our country.
