Vladimir: The Truth About Putin

He presents himself as a whitewater fisherman, fighter pilot, macho man and women's hero. But the true nature of Russian President Vladimir Putin remains extremely shadowy.

Is he the linchpin of Russian politics? Is he the innovator who opens the door to a bright future for Russians? Or is he the Kremlin tyrant who nips Russia’s young democracy in the bud?

Stanislaw Belkovsky does not portray Putin as a shrewd authoritarian politician, but as a lonely, paranoid, but also 'honest' businessman, who is mainly concerned with securing the interests of his business friends.

Belkovski sees Putin as the best of all evils that threaten Russia. In his book he debunks all kinds of myths about Putin, such as his spy past and his married life. The latter provides entertaining passages.

Belkovsky also reveals why he has no confidence in his own people. Putin does not believe in reforms because the Russians would not be able to build a civil society. Without his firm hand, they will drown in lethargy and the chaos in Russia will only increase. At least, that is what Tsar Putin thinks of Belkovsky.

Belkovsky's surprising portrait of Putin was received with praise in Germany.
Exclusively for this edition, Belkovsky wrote an extra chapter on Ukraine and Crimea!

Polish-Jewish Stanislaw Belkowski (Riga, 1970), who until recently supported the opposition, is one of Russia's best-known political analysts. As director of the Institute for National Strategy in Moscow, he follows Putin's politics very critically.