I would ask about the Yuri Andropov and Mikhail Gorbachev years. Why was Russia capable of democratic rule during this time period? I am aware of the difficulties that Gorbachev faced in attempting to democratize Russia. I am also aware of the murder of opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. Isn't Putin simply a case of the Russian mafia's involvement in the Russian government because they have the money to take control of the government? Isn't this simply a case of corruption as with any other corrupt country instead of the history of the Tartar Yoke? I can look at the multitude of dictators around the world with no connection to Tartar Yoke, countries in Africa, Asia, and South America, and see this to be the case. Some people simply want to take over countries for their own selfish greedy motives. Putin is just another dictator.