As the embodiment of Russia’s resurgent power on the world stage, Putin commands immense loyalty among Russians. Britain and Russia last week announced expulsions of diplomats over the spy case and the U.S. issued new sanctions. In his first public comments on the poisoning, Putin on Sunday referred to the allegations against Russia as “nonsense.”Moscow has denounced both cases as efforts to interfere in the Russian election. The election took place on the fourth anniversary of the 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine, one of the most dramatic manifestations of Putin’s drive to reassert Russia’s power. Ukraine, insulted by the decision to hold the election on the anniversary of Crimea’s annexation, refused to let ordinary Russians vote.

Source: thestar March 18, 2018 14:21 UTC