[Wallace T.]

Russia should consider setting the Muslim dominated areas of their country, such as Chechnya, free to become independent nations. Then Russia could treat the Muslims as aliens and expel them. After that, the country should consider federating with Belarus and Ukraine as a Slavic, Eastern Orthodox union. Those countries were part of the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union from the 17th Century until 1991.

[GoldenState_Rose]

Ukrainians (including those of the Orthodox variety) want no part of it in current Kremlin conditions. The country just celebrated their first Catholic/Western Christmas officially this past December 25th (with the day off alongside Orthodox Christmas on Jan 7th) —> and there were celebrations in Kiev on the anniversary of the Protestant Reformation in a show of solidarity with the Western Christian fold.

Russians don’t want to lose their empire including the Islamic holdings. And now you know why they’ve been unable to break from the authoritarian, vertical model of governance despite being called a “Federation.”