Stop the Untouchables. Justice for Sergei Magnitsky.

Putin: a Russian housewife’s dream. . . or a preening, power-obsessed tyrant?

The Independent

As US President Barack Obama’s ineffectual presidency limps on in hope more than glory, Vladimir Putin’s political power seems unstoppable.

The Russian prime minister is to seek a record third presidential term in “elections” next March, which would see him surge past Stalin’s reign at the helm of the Soviet Union.

Unsurprisingly, the current president, Dmitry Medvedev, described in leaked US cables as playing “Robin to Putin’s Batman”, welcomed his master’s announcement.

But while victory is virtually guaranteed, there has been some dissent at the cosy arrangement with a number of government ministers refusing to go along with the script.