Violent deaths of Putin opponents

[tabasco]

April 2003 - Liberal politician Sergey Yushenkov assassinated near his Moscow home

July 2003 - Investigative journalist Yuri Shchekochikhin died after 16-day mysterious illness

July 2004 - Forbes magazine Russian editor Paul Klebnikov shot from moving car on Moscow street, died later in hospital

October 2006 - Investigative journalist Anna Politkovskaya shot dead outside her Moscow apartment

November 2006 - Former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko died nearly three weeks after drinking tea laced with polonium in London hotel

March 2013 - Boris Berezovsky, former Kremlin power broker turned Putin critic, found dead in his UK home

March 2015 - Deputy Prime Minister Boris Nemtsov, shot dead in Moscow

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31669061

[font size=4]Where the hell is Putin??[/font]

[tabasco]

1. Mystery of Putin's disappearance deepens with Russian state media 'mistake'

The mystery over the whereabouts of Vladimir Putin deepened on Saturday as Russian state media broadcast – then retracted – reports that he had hosted an official visit from the President of Kyrgyzstan.

Mr Putin has remained hidden from public view for nine days. Levels of fear and uncertainty in Moscow have been rising as rumours fly over what could be behind Putin’s lengthy disappearance.

The Kremlin has repeatedly denied that there is anything amiss with the Russian leader, batting away suggestions that he is ill, dead, victim of a palace coup or in Switzerland to be by his girlfriend’s side as she gives birth.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/vladimir-putin/11472527/Mystery-of-Putins-disappearance-deepens-with-Russian-state-media-mistake.html

[LittleBlue]

2. Putin is like Cromwell or Hideyoshi Toyotomi

Politically unassailable in their prime. The opponents of Putin might just have to wait for his health to fail him. And with the typical health of the average Russian male (64 years), they might not have to wait forever.

His 86% approval is holding strong. As long as his people want him in power, he's as invincible as Cromwell was behind his disciplined armies.

Some leaders are like that. You just have to be patient and hope they make a mistake. Failing that, they might as well start praying he drinks himself to death .

[tabasco]

4. Well, those mysterious deaths have a lot to do with that

That last opponent was getting pretty popular when he got assassinated.

[randome]

3. His last instructions were to his trusted aide, Grigory.

"Enough with the half measures. I want you to kill everyone who is a threat to Mother Russia. No exceptions! Wait. Put down that gun! I take it back! Nooooo!"
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Don't ever underestimate the long-term effects of a good night's sleep.[/center][/font][hr]

[tabasco]

5. I'm trying to remember the movie

that came from.