Century Quote by Lilia Shevtsova

“The fundamental principle of the Russian government has always been the autocratic ruler who combines all legislative and executive powers and disposes of all…

— Martin Sixsmith

In the post-Soviet era, instead of freedom, various stripes of autocratic-totalitarianism have flourished: Russian, Belarusian, Kazakh... We are finding our way out from under…

— Svetlana Alexievich

Russia is leading a movement around the world to spread autocracy and authoritarianism.

— Adam Schiff

The great drama of Russian history has been between its state and society. Put simply, Russia has always had too much state and not…

— Fareed Zakaria

The Russian leaders are keen judges of human psychology, and as such they are highly conscious that loss of temper and of self-control is…

— George F. Kennan

The bureaucracy has grown such powerful roots in Russia, and corruption is so widespread, that people from opposition have no interest in changing anything.

— Vladimir Sorokin

“Authority in Russia had always been transferred through natural death, conspiracy or revolution,”

— Steven Lee Myers

Russia is so feudal in its system of patronage and reward that it is virtually impossible for a leader to hand over power without…

— Simon Sebag Montefiore

Too many countries of the former Soviet bloc remain under the control of authoritarian leaders, including some, like the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, who…

— Joseph Stiglitz

Each country has its own particular features, its own traditions that find their reflection today and will find it in future. There are such…

— Vladimir Putin

“Everything is PR” has become the favorite phrase of the new Russia; my Moscow peers are filled with a sense that they are both…

— Peter Pomerantsev

I don't have any comment on who the people of Russia choose to be their leaders.

— Hillary Clinton