Guardian on Putin's speech

[Sarah Hurst]

Another example of Putin's support for an undemocratic leader is his
decision to keep Kirsan Ilyumzhinov in power in Kalmykia. Ilyumzhinov's
aides were convicted of the 1998 murder of the editor of an opposition
newspaper, Larisa Yudina, and he has violently suppressed opposition
demonstrations. Some people in online discussions expressed hope that by
abolishing elections for governor, Putin could crack down on regional
corruption, but in the case of Ilyumzhinov he has only perpetuated it.

Sarah Hurst

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