19 Mar 2023 9:25 pm
ACTUALLY NOT. WHEN PUTIN CAME INTO OFFICE IN 2000, HE MADE A DEAL WITH SOME 20 OLIGARCHS THAT CONTROLLED THE COUNTRY AND ITS ECONOMY. "BEND TO MY AUTHORITY AND STAY OUT OF MY WAY" WERE HIS DEMANDS. IN THE COMING YEARS THOSE WHO RENEGED ON THIS DEAL AND UNDERMINED PUTIN WOULD BE THROWN IN A SIBERIAN PRISON, FORCED INTO EXILE, OR DIE IN SUSPICIOUS CIRCUMSTANCES. MANY OF THE CORRUPT OLIGARCHS OF THE YELTSIN ERA WERE REMOVED FROM POWER OR EXISTENCE