You're right.. in addition...I worked in research laboratory.. we made program, technology of extraction Scandium..21-st element of periodic table..all work had been done by Mikhail Klushnikov..Soviet government gave to him "State premium".. but when I looked at newspaper informantion about it...ten persons from Ministry, main institute etc were listed as competitor... Mikhail Klushnikom was last in the end of list
What you want from Putin?
He was communist..it means he was complete scoundrel (bastad) and no more...
It's a trend that continues today - the quickest way to get the coveted "red diploma" (with honors) is to ensure your board gets cake, vodka, or other "tributes" when you're defending your thesis. Plus, you can buy an advanced degree from just about any well-known university down in the perekhod at the end of Staryj Arbat.
That Putin, or anyone else graduating from a Soviet or Post-Soviet university may have cheated is not in the least surprising. It'd happen more here in the US if it was easier to get away with.