[GSlob]

"Destro wrote: "Putin did less and is cursed more." I say more power to the KING!!! "
But both Putin (who is not a king) and Russian apologists (on FR and outside of it) lay claim to more exalted status, too - namely, to Russia being an important and significantly civilized place. Thus it is only fair to adjust the judgment to the claims. If it were a small and insignificant principality of Muscovy, then there surely would not be much (if any) cursing. How much cursing, after all, is engendered by the governmental practices of Central Asia "-stans"?

[Destro]

Russia an important part of civilization - from the arts and sciences to history. Moscow is the third Rome and a fouth there will not be.

[TapTheSource]

"Russian apologists (on FR and outside of it) lay claim to more exalted status, too - namely, to Russia being an important and significantly civilized place. Thus it is only fair to adjust the judgment to the claims."

Excellent point, gslob. Apparently the Putin apologists want to have it both ways.