Quote Originally Posted by thailazer View Post
The world seems to be split between going for an autocracy versus a democracy. Control is a main element of an autocracy and no wonder that VPNs and political opponents get killed. Putin is the mouthpiece for the oligarchy and the Russian Mafia, which is likely better classified as one group.
Not even close. The mafia operate with his permission, and it's the same with oligarchs.

You only have to look at Berezovsky, Khodorkovsky and so on.

If you're lucky, you go to jail. If you you're not, you're joining the Choir Invisible.

Oligarchs are there to shut up and make their payments of gratitude to Vlad's Abbey National Young Dictators account.