Putin cultivated a personality cult, portraying himself as a strong and decisive leader who could restore Russia’s greatness.  He accomplished this travesty through coercion and murder.

Russia’s transformation into an authoritarian regime was a complex process involving a gradual erosion of democratic institutions and practices, coupled with the consolidation of power in the executive branch under Vladimir Putin. This shift was driven by a combination of factors, including elite disillusionment with political competition, the use of security services to suppress dissent, and the manipulation of public opinion through media control.

Vladimir Putin remains president due to constitutional changes that allowed him to bypass term limits and recent reelection to a new six-year term. These changes, enacted after a 2020 referendum, potentially allow him to remain in power until 2036!

Russia implements stricter laws and practices to limit freedom of speech, assembly, and association, particularly against those critical of the government or its policies,

The Russian government exerts significant control over major media outlets, leading to widespread censorship.

Russian economic growth has slowed significantly since 2013 and faces increasing pressure due to factors like sanctions and the ongoing war in Ukraine, leading to dropping real wages and rising inequality.

The government is dedicating a substantial portion of its budget to military spending, potentially at the expense of other sectors like healthcare and education.

The Russian economy heavily relies on oil and gas revenues, making it vulnerable to fluctuations in global energy prices.

Erosion of Russian human rights helped Putin to solidify power:

• Freedom of Expression: Restrictions on freedom of expression have increased, with laws criminalizing independent war reporting and “spreading false information” about the war in Ukraine.
• Arbitrary Arrests and Detention: There are credible reports of arbitrary arrests, detentions, and serious problems with the independence of the judiciary.
• Prison Conditions: Prison overcrowding, poor conditions, and inadequate sanitation remain serious problems.
• Impunity for Abuses: Impunity is a significant problem within the security forces, with authorities often denying requests for independent investigations into alleged human rights abuses. 

Putin Is A War Criminal.

• “Allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation (under articles 8(2)(a)(vii) and 8(2)(b)(viii) of the Rome Statute). The crimes were allegedly committed in Ukrainian occupied territory at least from 24 February 2022. There are reasonable grounds to believe that Mr Putin bears individual criminal responsibility for the aforementioned crimes, (i) for having committed the acts directly, jointly with others and/or through others (article 25(3)(a) of the Rome Statute), and (ii) for his failure to exercise control properly over civilian and military subordinates who committed the acts, or allowed for their commission, and who were under his effective authority and control, pursuant to superior responsibility (article 28(b) of the Rome Statute).”  https://www.icc-cpi.int/defendant/vladimir-vladimirovich-putin

• Putin has been accused of ordering the killing of lot of individuals who worked to reveal that Putin was bad for Russia.  https://www.newsweek.com/putin-critics-dead-full-list-navalny-1870692
• Putin is responsible for over one million deaths of Russian and Ukrainian military and civilians. https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/jun/22/one-million-and-counting-russian-casualties-hit-milestone-in-ukraine-war

• Posted August 15, 2025 by Score Card