[Izzy Dunne]

an opposition politician who is seen as a close ally of the Kremlin

How does an "opposition" pol become a "close ally" ?

[wideawake]

Easy. When there really is no opposition.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Because the real opposition to Putin are banned from participating in elections or even holding public rallies. The only opposition Putin allows are controlled opposition like the fascist Zhirinovsky and the Communist Party, who support Putin's anti-American Neo-Soviet imperialism. That is why the terrorized Russian people dare not oppose Putin because if they do he will turn the country back over to the Communist Party. The psychotic Zhirinovsky is the biggest supporter of the mass-murderer KGB Putin's genocidal unprovoked invasions of America's allies Georgia and Ukraine. Zhirinovsky is helping to recruit for and supply the Russian terrorists in Ukraine.

[Boogieman]

“How does an “opposition” pol become a “close ally” ?”

The best way to run a dictatorship is to have the “opposition” as your puppets too.

[Krosan]

Zhirinovsky is part of the “pretend” opposition to Putin. During the Soviet Union he was a lawyer of international law. Smart fellow writing articles in defense of free market 25 years ago. Afterwards he was made clear that lawyers are nothing and KGB is going to continue ruling. He was given a role of a controlled clown in the “opposition” and he is happy to fulfill it

[Verdelet]

Lenin called them “useful idiots”.