BY the standards of fellow dictator Saddam Hussein's 100% and former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il's 99.9% wins - which they presented to the world with straight faces - Vladimir Putin's 87% victory at the weekend's Russian elections was a closely fought contest.
But by the standards of democracy and freedom, of course, his "victory" reinforces his stranglehold on Russia.
Not that his hold on power has ever really been in doubt. The failure of Russia's armed forces to suppress Ukraine within days of their invasion led some to hope that Putin might be toppled. But even had that happened, he would likely have been replaced by an even more determined Russian nationalist.
Putin has since tightened his control, almost certainly murdering opposition figurehead Alexei Navalny and further militarising the Russian economy and society.
In that context, there should be no higher priority for the West than ensuring that the invasion of Ukraine is defeated.
When Putin invaded, he not only assumed his army would roll over the Ukrainians within days, he also looked at how the West had reacted to the 2014 invasion of Crimea and how we had behaved in Afghanistan and in Syria. In other words, he saw that while we might shout the odds, when it came to the crunch we always slipped away.
This story is from the March 19, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 19, 2024 edition of Daily Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Heroes are braced for a backlash from Villans
HOSTS WARY WOUNDED SIDE WILL FIRE AFTER SHOCK LOSS
REAL DRAMA HARD ON KANE
England skipper's final bid killed by super sub Joselu
MONEY BAWL
Howe admits 'richest club in world' tag has been a burden
Ros likes a Canter but not big fences
THEY ARE TERRIFYING, ADMITS OLYMPIC HOPE
GOODBYE NORMA JEANE'S HOME?
The modest LA hacienda where Marilyn Monroe was found dead may be facing the bulldozers after its new owners went to court to tear it down, in the latest twist of an increasingly bitter battle over a slice of Hollywood heritage...
Israel pounds Rafah amid criticism by US
ISRAEL claimed it was conducting a \"precise counter-terrorism operation in specific areas of eastern Rafah\" yesterday amid multiple missile attacks which killed civilians.
Sir Geoff Hurst: Time to tackle technophobia...It's never too late to learn
World Cup winner's plea to older Express readers
Chris Packham's march to save the natural world
CHRIS Packham is organising a huge demonstration next month to pile pressure on politicians to protect our wildlife.
Home hit as Russia unleashes salvo of missiles and drones
RUSSIA launched wave after wave of attacks on Ukraine yesterday, hitting three energy plants.
I'll tell you what I want...£600k to boost my brand
Baby Spice launches crowdfunder for Kit & Kin