--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Putin is a former KGB agent. He's a thug…" description: "\"Putin is a former KGB agent. He's a thug. He was not elected in a way that most people would consider a credible election.\" — Mitch McConnell" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/mitch-mcconnell-2153_credible_putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug_2558167.jpg" --- # Putin is a former KGB agent. He's a thug. He was not… ![“Putin is a former KGB agent. He's a thug. He was not elected in a way that most people would consider a credible election.” quote by Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/mitch-mcconnell-2153_credible_putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug_2558167.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/mitch-mcconnell-2153_credible_putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug_2558167.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/mitch-mcconnell-2153_credible_putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug_2558167.jpg) > “Putin is a former KGB agent. He's a thug. He was not elected in a way that most people would consider a credible election.” [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A former intelligence operative, lacking broad electoral legitimacy, is characterized as a violent and undemocratic figure. **In simple terms:** Former KGB agent seen as undemocratic. Key Takeaway Question legitimacy and conduct of leaders. Themes politics legitimacy authoritarianism Mood critical skeptical Type political analysis When to use this quote - elections - policy analysis - human rights advocacy - media commentary - public discourse Key Concepts history democracy Questions to Reflect On - What evidence supports claims of illegitimacy? - How does personal background affect leadership perception? A Different Perspective Accusations may be politically motivated and lack nuance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Credible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credible/) [Credible Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credible-election-1581541/) [Election](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/election/) [Kgb Agent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kgb-agent-1117516/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Putin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putin/) [Putin Kgb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/putin-kgb-1581540/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [It seems to be impossible to hold a credible election without reforming the electoral system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheikh-hasina/it-seems-to-be-impossible-to-hold-a-credible-election-without/) [Sheikh Hasina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheikh-hasina/) > [The monitors indicated that it was a credible election, I think, in an overall sense, it apparently is a free and fair election, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-christopher/the-monitors-indicated-that-it-was-a-credible-election-i-think-in-an/) [Warren Christopher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-christopher/) > [Frankly, I would never accept an award from Vladimir Putin because then you kind of give some credence and credibility to this butcher, this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/frankly-i-would-never-accept-an-award-from-vladimir-putin-because/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Putin is not a politician. Putin is a KGB agent. And whatever he does is provocations, which KGB is usually involved in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/putin-is-not-a-politician-putin-is-a-kgb-agent-and-whatever-he-does/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [“himself vehemently denies this. Putin’s own attitude towards whistleblowing activities was undoubtedly negative. He later described Snowden as a stranniy paren – a strange…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-harding/himself-vehemently-denies-this-putin-s-own-attitude-towards/) [Luke Harding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-harding/) > [“They just didn't make them like that anymore. Nowadays she was lucky to get some mild flirtation from some leather-faced NRA lobbyist. Forget about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magnus-flyte/they-just-didn-t-make-them-like-that-anymore-nowadays-she-was-lucky/) [Magnus Flyte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magnus-flyte/) > [“Finally, they began to investigate the prime minister, Harold Wilson. Wilson, Wright was convinced, was a KGB agent.” I’m nodding along like a metronome…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-stross/finally-they-began-to-investigate-the-prime-minister-harold-wilson/) [Charles Stross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-stross/) > [Putin, I believe, was actually born to be a KGB agent. And I say born because I think that his father was also an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/putin-i-believe-was-actually-born-to-be-a-kgb-agent-and-i-say-born/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [There is no moral equivalent between that butcher and thug and KGB colonel Vladimir Putin and the United States of America, the country that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/there-is-no-moral-equivalent-between-that-butcher-and-thug-and-kgb/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [Lexicon grabbed me with the opening lines, and never let go. An absolutely thrilling story, featuring an array of compelling characters in an eerily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pavone/lexicon-grabbed-me-with-the-opening-lines-and-never-let-go-an/) [Chris Pavone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pavone/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/) [Nicola Horlick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-horlick/) > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) ## More by Mitch McConnell > [When you hang the 'bipartisan' tag on something, the perception is that differences have been worked out, and there's a broad agreement that that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/when-you-hang-the-bipartisan-tag-on-something-the-perception-is-that/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [No matter how unusual a personality may be who gets elected to office, there are constraints in this country. You don't get to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/no-matter-how-unusual-a-personality-may-be-who-gets-elected-to-office/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I'm optimistic that none of my members in the end want to be responsible for the status quo on Obamacare.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-m-optimistic-that-none-of-my-members-in-the-end-want-to-be/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [America's a land of second opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/america-s-a-land-of-second-opportunities/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [To call this a recovery is an insult to recoveries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/to-call-this-a-recovery-is-an-insult-to-recoveries/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I believe that marriage should be between one man and one woman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-believe-that-marriage-should-be-between-one-man-and-one-woman/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I'm really proud of this Supreme Court and the way they've been dealing with the issue of First Amendment political speech.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-m-really-proud-of-this-supreme-court-and-the-way-they-ve-been/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I think it is to the advantage of my state to have the opportunity to come to meetings occasionally and to vote in person,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-think-it-is-to-the-advantage-of-my-state-to-have-the-opportunity-to/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [It is time for a leader who will lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/it-is-time-for-a-leader-who-will-lead/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [On the issue of Iraq, it is my hope, and my challenge to my colleagues, that our debate will be based on what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/on-the-issue-of-iraq-it-is-my-hope-and-my-challenge-to-my-colleagues/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Eventually, Americans would be stuck with government-run health care whether they like it or not. That's when the worst scenario would take shape, with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/eventually-americans-would-be-stuck-with-government-run-health-care/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [Our nation has a regrettable history of drawing down our forces and readiness after each conflict, only to find ourselve ill-prepared for the next…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/our-nation-has-a-regrettable-history-of-drawing-down-our-forces-and/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [As President Obama reminded us, we're all on one team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/as-president-obama-reminded-us-we-re-all-on-one-team/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [The Frist fairness rule guarantees up-or-down votes for every circuit court or Supreme Court nomination, regardless of which party controls the Senate or the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/the-frist-fairness-rule-guarantees-up-or-down-votes-for-every-circuit/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) > [I always think a debt ceiling is a good tool to carry something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/i-always-think-a-debt-ceiling-is-a-good-tool-to-carry-something/) [Mitch McConnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) [Explore all 182 Mitch McConnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/) ## More Credible quotes > [A flourishing, morally credible media is a vital component in the maintenance of genuinely public talk, argument about common good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rowan-williams/a-flourishing-morally-credible-media-is-a-vital-component-in-the/) [Rowan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rowan-williams/) > [I genuinely did not expect more than half our nation to choose to walk away from our long-term allies into the arms of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-reade/i-genuinely-did-not-expect-more-than-half-our-nation-to-choose-to/) [Brian Reade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-reade/) > [For diplomacy to be effective, words must be credible - and no one can now doubt the word of America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/for-diplomacy-to-be-effective-words-must-be-credible-and-no-one-can/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It looked incredibly credible!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicola-horlick/it-looked-incredibly-credible/) [Nicola Horlick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicola-horlick/) > [As a registered Democrat, I am praying for a credible presidential candidate to emerge from the younger tier of politicians in their late 40s.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/as-a-registered-democrat-i-am-praying-for-a-credible-presidential/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [Lexicon grabbed me with the opening lines, and never let go. An absolutely thrilling story, featuring an array of compelling characters in an eerily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-pavone/lexicon-grabbed-me-with-the-opening-lines-and-never-let-go-an/) [Chris Pavone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-pavone/) > [In acting, you are fulfilled if you give justice to your role... if you are able to do a credible performance and touch the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-hutton/in-acting-you-are-fulfilled-if-you-give-justice-to-your-role-if-you/) [Timothy Hutton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-hutton/) > [“That’s because speakers are only credible when what they say is in sync with who they are.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-witt/that-s-because-speakers-are-only-credible-when-what-they-say-is-in/) [Christopher Witt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-witt/) > [Sensible Catholics have for generations been ignoring the views on contraception held by reactionary old men in the Vatican, but alas, since it is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-c-grayling/sensible-catholics-have-for-generations-been-ignoring-the-views-on/) [A.C. Grayling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-c-grayling/) > [Constantly there's a credibility issue; you're judged on how you look. If you look good, people assume you aren't credible. It's a battle you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-guerrero/constantly-there-s-a-credibility-issue-you-re-judged-on-how-you-look/) [Lisa Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-guerrero/) > [Transforming a brand into a socially responsible leader doesn't happen overnight by simply writing new marketing and advertising strategies. It takes effort to identify…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-mainwaring/transforming-a-brand-into-a-socially-responsible-leader-doesn-t/) [Simon Mainwaring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-mainwaring/) > [All ages before ours believed in gods in some form or other. Only an unparalleled impoverishment in symbolism could enable us to rediscover the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/all-ages-before-ours-believed-in-gods-in-some-form-or-other-only-an/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) > [American traditions and the American ethic require us to be truthful, but the most important reason is that truth is the best propaganda and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-r-murrow/american-traditions-and-the-american-ethic-require-us-to-be-truthful/) [Edward R. Murrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-r-murrow/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [Many Liberals are rightly dismayed that on this vital issue of climate change we are not simply without a policy, without any prospect of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-turnbull/many-liberals-are-rightly-dismayed-that-on-this-vital-issue-of/) [Malcolm Turnbull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-turnbull/) [Browse all 280 Credible quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credible/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Putin is a former KGB agent. He's a thug. He was not elected in a way that most people would consider a credible election.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mitch McConnell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug-he-was-not-elected-in-a-way/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Credible" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug-he-was-not-elected-in-a-way/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/mitch-mcconnell-2153_credible_putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug_2558167.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/mitch-mcconnell-2153_credible_putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug_2558167.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e45/mitch-mcconnell-2153_credible_putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug_2558167.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Putin is a former KGB agent. He's a thug. He was not elected in a way that most people would consider a…” — Mitch McConnell", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mitch McConnell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-mcconnell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Putin is a former KGB agent....", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug-he-was-not-elected-in-a-way/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-mcconnell/putin-is-a-former-kgb-agent-he-s-a-thug-he-was-not-elected-in-a-way/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```