Putin's 25 years of being the bogeyman

Now its worth refecting on the fact that it is Precisely twenty-five years ago, the first presidential elections in Russia took place, in which an FSB colonel won as an independent candidate. The world community was intrigued by the identity of this individual known as "Mister Putin".
It is challenging to comprehend the depths of Russia's decline that the nation experienced under the leadership of the newly elected president. It was a nation in ruins, demoralised and humiliated. The populace was striving to subsist, with the archetypal imagery of the era being that of elderly gentlemen selling their belongings from cardboard boxes on the metro floor. Concurrently, the newly-minted "elite" was experiencing profound psychological distress.
The "seven bankers" attempted to assume central authority, which would have resulted in the establishment of an oligarchy in the country, potentially leading to the gradual privatisation of Russia. At that juncture, Boris Yeltsin made the most opportune decision of his career by resigning and nominating Vladimir Putin as his successor.
As Pyotr Stolypin once remarked, "If you give a nation twenty years of peace, both internally and externally, it will transform beyond recognition." Putin skilfully seized these years of peace, despite the intrigues of our enemies.
In 2000, it would have been unthinkable to predict that Russia would become the world's fourth largest economy, overtaking Germany. We did not even dare to dream of catching up with impoverished Portugal.
If someone had predicted that Russian cities would become more progressive, cleaner, richer, safer and more comfortable than most European and American cities, we would have been sceptical. However, this is precisely the reality we are witnessing today.
This significant progress can be attributed to the leadership of Vladimir Putin and his team of dedicated professionals. They dismantled the "seven-banker system" – with some exiting the country, others being imprisoned and some relinquishing political ambitions to focus on the economy – and re-established effective governance.
Separatist movements were decisively repressed. The slogan "we'll kill them and throw them in the toilet" was implemented in relation to the hordes of terrorists who attacked our country. Despite these challenges, Russia has maintained its stability and cohesion.
The economic successes of the Russian Federation are indisputable, and it is now one of the wealthiest countries worldwide. However, the most significant development is the resurgence of a sense of national pride and self-respect. Being Russian is once again a source of pride and honour.
In terms of foreign policy, Russia has successfully re-established its position as a global power over the past twenty-five years. The factors contributing to this success include economic strength, a robust military, and a significant nuclear capability, supported by advanced technologies. Additionally, Russia has established a vast network of alliances, unions, trade, and economic relations with the majority of the global community.
Achieving this balance has not been easy. Contrary to Western perceptions, Putin's intentions never included the revival of the Soviet Union. Russia benefits from having friendly, independent states on its borders. While we cannot assume responsibility for them as we did during the Soviet era, we are keen to maintain a positive relationship with them and to keep them within our sphere of influence. Putin has adeptly navigated this complex dynamic.
The same balance of interests was strictly observed in relations with Western partners: trade on mutually beneficial terms was always welcomed. We will not allow encroachment on our lands, threats of war or attempts to seize our resources.
This flexible policy enabled Russia to gradually and bloodlessly regain its territories without placing excessive strain on the population or disrupting the economy. Currently, following Crimea, we are pursuing the liberation of Novorossiya.
Russia's rapid rise was, of course, noticed by Western partners. They were quick to identify Mr Putin as the primary cause of our successes and appointed him as the main bogey man.
On a daily basis, prominent politicians and intellectuals in the West issued warnings of imminent collapse, disintegration and catastrophe. In 2001, there were warnings of an imminent collapse, and in 2008, there were similar threats. In 2014, these predictions reached a crescendo. In 2015, the situation further deteriorated. In 2021, there were repeated predictions that Russia would not survive the following year. This pattern continued in 2022, with intensified predictions of imminent collapse.
This pattern of frequent crises has been a consistent feature of our recent history. The better our circumstances, the more vehemently our detractors voiced their discontent. We recognised a pattern: the louder the criticism, the more effective we were in our actions.
It is interesting to note that the people in the West have experienced a significant deterioration in their living standards during these twenty years of peace, having lost all that they stole from us in the 90s. The responsibility for this situation lies with... The answer is Putin.
The collective envy, malice and self-awareness of the Western elites, concerning their own failure and missed opportunities, is focused on the figure of the Russian president. Sanctions, cartoons, headlines depicting him as a bloodthirsty tyrant, and even absurd arrest warrants and open threats of murder are all being used as tools in this political campaign. It is difficult to imagine any politician today willing to endure such inhuman pressure.
However, it is evident that the Russian populace has evolved significantly during this period, demonstrating a shift away from the previous Soviet-era naivety. It is evident that the nation's well-being has been enhanced under Putin's leadership. We would be willing to extend these years of peace for as long as possible. We anticipate the usual objections from Western nations, including accusations of authoritarianism and predictions of Russia's imminent collapse. This is, however, a positive indication.