Prior to the war, I wonder how much the average person was affected by Comrade Putin and his gangster regime? Standards of living improved under his leadership in an apparently dramatic way, so I wonder if he really was a popular President in Russia prior to this?
Then of course there’s the whole war time boost in popularity but 87% is ludicrous, especially as we’ve seen outbursts of public disobedience, in the election and around the death of Navalny.
I mean if someone comes to my house with a ballot paper and a gun, I think I’ll vote for him too lol
cute that you think you will get to cast your own vote
From what I understand, and I’m no expert by any means, when the USSR was dissolved much of the national infrastructure was privatized and divided up between various oligarchs. Apparently it was/is kind of a feudal set up where each oligarchs has dominion over their own respective sector with Putin at the top overseeing everything.
To answer your question I think the average citizen is probably frequently in contact with Russian gangsters who themselves are beholden to Putin’s regime.
I know quite a few Russians. Part of what you describe is true, there is a feudal style set-up, however, an ordinary Russian seldomly if ever will be in touch with a Russian gangster.
You will be in touch with the gangster element if you are a business owner. In the form of the FSB, they might come for bribes. This has been told to me by a Russian wine-importer that I worked with once who has to deal with this kind of shenanigans.
Putin in a way is treading a fine balance of keeping all these different oligarchs and their power in check.
It is undeniable that under Putin’s rule Russia’s living standards improved an unfathomable amount. Since the 2000s the country has reshaped and rebuild and is unrecognisable from the 90s.
This was Russia after the collapse under Yeltsin and his American buddies:
Russia now:
Here are images of the scary Russians that keep certain people awake at night or leave the light on in case one of these Russkies hides under their bed:
Having said that, after 25 years of rule, many Russians who I have met and talked to are fed up with Putin’s rule and they do want something new. But, those who speak out and have the reach to influence are usually quickly arrested and subdued. Some Russians I personally know left Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, because they do not agree with it and cannot freely speak their mind.
What will be next, nobody really knows. Let’s just hope whoever takes over from Putin eventually is better and not actually worse. 
What is this nonsense about replacing him? The Tories want to oust a PM one more time for old times sake?
Just call an election for the love of god
Might aswell have another cunt in that we didn’t vote for.
What a shambles from network rail yesterday
It’s only a shambles if this is the only religious scripture that has been displayed.
But they do this for lots of faiths.
It is, they don’t post verse from the bible or Torah. At least management from Network Rail couldn’t say that they did when asked yesterday.
Religious messaging has no place in public. I don’t need some verse from a crazy religion I don’t believe in telling me I’m a sinner when I’m waiting for a train.
Having grown up in a very religious community, the idea that we are all sinners isn’t new at all
And like I said, if this was the first and only religious script that has been posted, then it does feel problematic.
But I get the feeling that it’s only a story because it’s an Islamic verse.
As an atheist…meh.
It comes from a well-meaning place unlike, for example, using religious and cultural groups as political footballs, which I find incredibly offensive.
Eid Mubarak/Merry Christmas/Happy Diwali/Happy Hanukkah 
Scripture about sinners from any religion 
My stance as well.
Ridiculous to be posting religious messaging with deeper meanings about sinning.
I wrote a complaint to network rail lol
Religious verse is fine by me but calling others sinners is less of a life improving verse, rather it promotes hate.
It’s easily readable and should have been proof read and declined.
Your sins are the only thing that make you interesting
No, no! Don’t be good at capitalism.
Wut.
