As expected the Putin/fascist defenders have flocked to the comments at the Edward Lucas' article, the same despicable people that would never want such mistreatment of themselves. How damn hypocritical.

"That doesn't bother most Russians. Mr Putin is wildly popular; so is Mr Medvedev."

The idiots. It is really up to the Russian sheeple to finally get off of their knees and put an end to Putin and his cronies. They have the same tools - cellphones and the internet - if they chose to use them, that were deployed in the Ukraine. Russians can't act this immorally, passively and as ignorant without eventually returning completely to their old Soviet zoo cages rather than a civil society.

Hi Penny! Long time no see! Welcome back! Your observations are always insightful and cut to the quick.

I check in frequently. Russian news is so disgusting and typical that I feel I could cut and paste the same comment over and over again, how disgusting Russians are. What sane person could admire their cruelty, passivity and downright admiration for fascist Putin. I guess Communism killed neurons.

Let the indignation begin.