In the weeks before the vote, Mr. Putin announced new nuclear weapons that he says can strike any country on earth. But now they are afraid of us,” said Natalya Kondrashova, 59, a decorator who voted for Mr. Putin. “I believe in Putin, but my wallet doesn’t believe in Putin,” said Valery Semyonov, 31, who also voted for Mr. Putin. Mr. Putin has ignored them, and authorities have targeted Mr. Navalny’s followers with pressure including judicial investigations. Mr. Putin mediates complex relationships between powerful businessmen and officials who are competing for influence and access to resources.

Source: Wall Street Journal March 18, 2018 18:11 UTC