Russian Rulers: Don't Hold Your Breath

In May, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin celebrates his first decade in power. Remember the talk two years ago of hopes for a more democratic Russia under his designated successor as President, Dmitry Medvedev? Well, Medvedev is halfway through his term now and we are still waiting for anything resembling genuine democratic transformation. Not that this should be a surprise, for it never really mattered in the first place which of Putin’s colleagues took over as they are all just different facets of one and the same system.