2009: End of the Putin System?
Johannes Voswinkel, Die Zeit (in German) | January 16, 2009
Rapid triumph after the South Ossetian August war and oil barrel prices reaching the stars seem to be no more than distant memories for the Kremlin. ++ The financial crisis has hit Russia hard: aside from making oil prices fall under $40 in December, it has put the entire Putin system on the edge of collapse. ++ Despite no longer being President, PM Putin is still the big man of the country; whether this will suffice to put Russia back in the growth race is highly doubtful. ++ Important structural changes are needed and urgently.
