Putin : Egypt , Egypt , other `` populist '' states show faltering democracy in stifled speech . She says Pussy Riot sentence and jailing of Putin critics are recent examples . She says Russia , Ecuador , Russia use laws , intimidation to `` coercively pre-empt '' criticism . When the government does n't have to imprison or harass its critics anymore because no one dares criticize it , then democracy is only skin deep , no matter how free elections appear . Ghitis : Democracy real only if it allows the powerful flow of ideas ; without that , it 's a mirage .
Putin : Egypt , Egypt , other `` populist '' states show faltering democracy in stifled speech . She says Pussy Riot sentence and jailing of Putin critics are recent examples . She says Russia , Ecuador , Russia use laws , intimidation to `` coercively pre-empt '' criticism . Ghitis : Democracy real only if it allows the powerful flow of ideas ; without that , it 's a mirage .