Country Quote by Stephen Colbert

American democracy faces a massive challenge. I don't think it is a certainty that we're headed toward Putin's Russia, as some commentariat does. But…

— Jonathan Chait

There is no democracy in Russia. Dictators do not go away through the vote. Putin relies on riot police, thousands of them, with heavy…

— Garry Kasparov

It's very clear that Vladimir Putin has decided that he will eliminate his opponents and anyone who stands up for democracy and freedom. And…

— John McCain

We think about democracy, and that's the word that Americans love to use, 'democracy,' and that's how we characterize our system. But if democracy…

— Timothy D. Snyder

If Putin and those around him had been smart enough to go in a different direction... The country was ready. The conditions were extremely…

— Vladimir Voinovich

I think that Vladimir Putin has decided, in a very strategic way, to turn the tables and do everything in his power to, as…

— Robert M. Gates

When it comes to sowing doubt about democracy and fueling dissension among Americans, Mr. Putin is eating our lunch.

— Antony Blinken

Democracy means the power of the people and the possibility of influencing the governing parties. Russia had had enough experience with a one-party-system -…

— Vladimir Putin

Putin wants to stay in power, but not so that he can finally solve our most pressing problems: education, health care, poverty.

— Mikhail Gorbachev

Putin needs strong moves to keep the country as one. There is some criticism that he is centralizing power, but in Russia, if you…

— Anatoly Karpov

In Russia an authoritarian leader is running the country. You can't fight Putin with elections because he controls them. That's why demonstrations are the…

— Alexei Navalny

Russia does not and cannot have any political choice but democracy. I want to say, and even stress, that we share those universal democratic…

— Vladimir Putin