jay Where was Russia when Putin came to the scene? It was dying away- wasting away in every sense of the word: Russian people were dying early deaths caused by melancholy, malnutrition and despair; birth rates declined sharply; Russia’s economy was in the hands of few foreign backed oligarchs. Russia’s resources were sold off to foreign interests. 12 Years of Putin effect on Russia speak for themselves. Of course, Putin needs genuine opposition but not the western backed mouth pieces-who never say a word about the toxic effects of corporate imperialists in western societies and the world at large. Putin did the right thing when he banned these western backed NGOs. Have you seen a yesterday’s report that Russia’s birth rates are now higher than the most in western European countries and Japan-thanks to Putin and of course Medvedev initiatives and by using Gazprom money? Of course- this news will not go down well with those counting on the steady decline of Russia’s demography. Putin made Russia strong again. This is a fact. Democracy is good but it can wait. Russia need Putin more than democracy at this crittical moment.

What a joke, another Putin stunt to satisfy the clueless Russians who are spoon-fed this pro-Kremlin propaganda while the official opposition are kept off the TV news. Putin has held Russia back, he is destroying our country with his vile dictatorship, the democratic west hates us because of him. RT is complicit in Putin's deception, shame on you all.