article_snippet: (President Vladimir Putin is not a self-effacing man.
article_snippet: To illustrate the point, Russia Russia Today posted a picture of President Vladimir Putin slamming a judo opponent hard against the ground.
article_snippet: The Kremlin doesn't want to allow President Vladimir Putin's image of virility and strength to become tarnished by the weaknesses of mere humans.
article_snippet: President Vladimir Putin is not your average president.
article_snippet: On paper, Russia is a democracy.
article_snippet: President Vladimir Putin is Russia.
article_snippet: Every important decision is made by President Vladimir Putin.
article_snippet: President Vladimir Putin rules in the old-fashioned style of a personality cult.
article_snippet: President Vladimir Putin approval ratings are stratospheric, even if President Vladimir Putin brazen policies would warrant more significant levels of disagreement.
article_snippet: The system needs President Vladimir Putin to be larger than life.
article_snippet: What would Russia become if Putin suddenly left power?
article_snippet: Is there anyone who would continue Putin's policies?
article_snippet: If there is a power vacuum, a conceivable scenario given just how thoroughly Putin dominates, what would the consequences be?