russia doesn't do well under leaders perceived as weak. when gorbachev started giving into demands there was a coup attempt and although it failed his days were numbered. when nicholas ii started giving into labor demands he was couped and he and his entire family killed. alexander ii, despite emancipating the serfs, faced massive student protests and had multiple attempts on his life until one finally succeeded.  russia and russians can only be held together and kept in line by raw power and exercising it viciously. every leader that allowed an inch was perceived as weak and was either deposed or deposed and then killed.  there will be a massive power vacuum in russia when putin dies and another strongman leader will rise through the chaos and take control of the security state putin has reconstructed.
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