THE 2004 ELECTION which returned Putin as führer for a second term was laughably bent. The pre-Botox model won in excess of 70 per cent of the votes. In the North Caucasus republics he was so loved that the figures were between 91 per cent and 98 per cent.
In Moscow he was less adored and soon after the elections he let loose his OMON apes on a rally of non-violent protestors wearing Putin masks. The apes warm up for such events by