...Second and fourth President and sixth of the Russian Federation and the first to remain sober. Putin is credited with bringing political stability and re-establishing something like the rule of law, which occasionally results in somebody dropping dead from polonium poisoning. Under Putin, a new group of business magnates controlling significant swathes of Russia's economy has emerged, all of whom have close personal ties to Putin. The old bunch, without close personal ties to Putin, are in jail or in exile or dead...for his reelection as President of the Russian Federation on Sunday, as reported by the Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA).
In the official cable from Damascus, President al-Assad said that "having this exceptional trust from the Russian people is a natural result of your distinguished patriotic performance and of serving the Russian Federation’s interests with the utmost competence and faithfulness."
| Lotsa heads of state congratulated Putin on his overwhelming victory, some of which was real, including Bibi Netanyahu. It’s a ritual. |