Interesting to read all the comments about this!
Really, I think I understand Russia a lot better after participating in this forum for over a year!

I think I understand what happened with Lushkov, and I understand what Ramil meant when he said he knew that Lushkov was more or less finished when the campaign against him started in the summer.

I still DO think that you put up with too much corruption from politicians and officials in Russia! The extreme cynicism of everyone here, regarding politics and corruption was shocking initially! The corruption of politicians is really saddening and it's terrible that so many officials are more concerned with stuffing money in their pockets than doing their job. Maybe they became hardened by the tough times in the 90s and basically resigned to corruption as a way of life... Sad!

It seems to me that the unholy marriage of democracy&capitalism is just a bit more obvious and straight-forward in Russia than anywhere else.. I.e. big business and politics are in bed together and it's practically impossible for regular people to change anything. If you can't beat'em, join'em...

I think it's a complex question whether or not Stalin was a great leader. I guess, in some respect he was, and in other respects he certainly wasn't.... Plus also; he was not a Russian and he ruled the USSR and not Russia. So perhaps people who want to complain about him should find a time machine... or complain to the Georgians and not Russians!

Here is a story about him in the Evening Standard today - same paper that I mentioned y-day.
Everyone in London reads this on their way home from work. They seem to think that his wife is the main reason why he has to go.Power and wealth: how Moscow’s mayor ran the city as his fiefdom | News

Personally I don't want to see gay parades either....