Czar Vladimir (Putin leads Russia back to authoritarianism)

Czar Vladimir has ushered in reversals of Russia's 1990's democratic reforms. The (New) Czar of Russia has worked to nationalize the oil industry and placed severe restrictions upon non-government organizations. We are seeing the return of authoratarian rule in Russia.
Oil has been the main unit of recovery for those former soviets to regain power. In October of 2003, Oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkorshy was arrest and has been sent to Siberia, sound familar?

Local government got shot in the foot when in September 2004 Putin eliminated electins for regional governors, placing more central control back into affect.

In November that same year, Putin worked to get a pro Russian elected in Ukraine and today we can see the net effect of Ukraine rejecting mother Russia. Putin had cut off natural gas through the pipeline jeapardizing millions who relied upon this supply for heat in the Ukraine. Power politics of the worst kind being demonstrated by Putin from Mother Russia.

The following month Putin partially nationalized the Yukos Oil Company.

This past fall of 2005, Putin ushered in his first restrictions on NGO's.