YUP -we thought Yeltsin was a hero - but he traded immunity for democracy - to Putin and Russia is back to sqare one.
Basically, you have to give these out-going strongmen immunity.
They are much more likely to give up and turn over power to a new (hopefully better) government if you do.
If you don't, then they just do everything they can to hold on to power, if only to protect their own skin. That is how life-long dictators and totalitarian regimes are created.
Thanks for the memories. We are sure glad to have you gone. Have fun under house arrest in your sprawling mansion. Don't come back.
Yeltsin democracy meant free market massacre of Russian Parlament, transfer of the national assets to mafia and international speculators, and clinging to power with single digit support. Putin has 60/70% support, was duly elected and thus HE is the democratic leader.