Putin's labyrinth
by Steve LeVine
4.0
Open LibraryAbout this book
The new Russia is marching in an alarming direction. Emboldened by escalating oil wealth and newfound prominence as a world power, Russia, under the leadership of Vladimir Putin, has veered back toward the authoritarian roots planted in Imperial/Czarist times and firmly established during the Soviet era. Though Russia has a new president, Dmitri Medvedev, Putin remains in control, rendering the democratic reforms of the post-Soviet order irrelevant. Now, in Putin's Labyrinth, acclaimed journalist Steve LeVine, who lived inand reported from the former Soviet Union for more than a decade, provides a penetrating account of modern Russia under the repressive rule of an all-powerful autocrat. LeVine portrays the growth of a "culture of death"--from targeted assassinations of the state's enemies to the Kremlin's indifference when innocent hostages are slaughtered.Drawing on new interviews with eyewitnessesand the families of victims, LeVine documents the bloodshed that has stained Putin's two terms as president. Among the incidents chronicled in these pages: The 2002 terrorist takeover of a crowded Moscow theater--which led to the government gassing the building, and the deaths of more than a hundred terrified hostages--seen here from new angles, through the riveting words of those who survived; and the murder of courageous investigative reporter Anna Politkovskaya, shot in the elevator of her apartment building on Putin's birthday, purportedly as a malicious "gift" for the president from supporters. Finally, a shocking story that made international headlines--the 2006 death of d…
Themes & subjects
State sponsored terrorismPolitical violenceAssassinationHistoryNonfictionRusland
First published 2008Characters & people
Setting
Russia (Federation)Rosja1991-
About the author
Steve LeVine
1957
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