Putin a la Pinochet?

摘要

Three months after Vladimir Putin won Russia's presidency, some ugly things have been happening in his benighted country. The new man, a former KGB officer, has been cracking his whip. He has sounded belligerent towards several of Russia's former vassal states on its rim, and shows little sign of softening towards Chechnya, the rebel republic devastated at his command. He has told the leaders of the outlying regions within Russia that they must step back into the Kremlin's line—or else. And he has frightened the press by resorting to the bullying of media groups and journalists critical of the new regime. Most notably, the owner of the only independent nationwide television station, Vladimir Gusinsky, was arrested earlier this month, and freed without charge a few days later, amid flimsy-sounding allegations of embezzlement. Virtually the entire country presumed that Mr Putin, who breezily denied foreknowledge of the arrest, simply wanted to silence the voice of opposition.