People will say that Putin didn’t win an election, then say that his citizens also madly agree with him on everything. It’s impossible for both. If the man rigs elections, he’s not popular. If the citizens love him, he doesn’t need to rig them.

I’m really surprised to see this take from you. Have you considered that perhaps he was unpopular until he wanted to help Russians in Donetsk and Crimea, and the war boosted his popularity?

Really weird that people have such conflicting ideas about such a vile monster.

I mean, he’s a liberal now, and yet he’s still scapegoated for Western failures. Why do you consider him “a vile monster?” Is he as vile as Western leaders?