Despite -- or because of -- his reputation abroad, Vladimir Putin is widely popular in Russia and is all but guaranteed to win the presidential election with a landslide https://t.co/MucDOa8Bxv pic.twitter.com/DE0hlJq358— AFP news agency (@AFP) March 11, 2018
BBC: Life in Vladimir Putin's Russia explained in 10 charts
Vladimir Putin has dominated Russian politics as its undisputed leader for almost two decades.
Over successive terms as president and prime minister he has overseen an economic boom, military expansion and the re-establishment of Russia as a major power.
Living standards for most Russians improved, and a renewed sense of stability and national pride emerged. But the price, many say, was the erosion of Russia's fledgling democracy.
How has life changed for ordinary Russians during this time?
Read more ....
WNU Editor: If Russian President Putin should ask the average Russian if their life has improved in the past 20 years .... the mass majority would say yes. My counter to this question is that even though the average Russian's life has improved .... how come most Russians are still far behind the standard of living that Europeans and Americans are enjoying.
