They stole as much as they could, as fast as they could. Putin's appointees may also be a greedy bunch, but they are genuinely interested in improving the country. You cannot even compare the economic, political, and legal progress made under Putin to that of the Yeltsin years.
You have not provided any kind of evidence that any improvement under Putin is due to anything other than massive amounts of money from commodity exports, something that Putin deserves little credit for, and something that even Yeltsin's crowd would have managed to use to some extent to the benefit of the population.
Never has more been stolen from Russia's population by so few people than in the past few years. It's just less visible when the loot is plentiful and crumbs can be distributed grandly. In the long run, we're all dead. John Maynard Keynes
We've had this conversation many times, mon ami.
Do you really believe that Putin has done nothing for the country? Is your hatred of him so blinding?
To be honest, I don't like his personality or the way he crudely expresses himself, but I have to admit that he is probably one of the most intelligent heads of state in the world right now. Many journalists (yes, even French ones) have said that they are immensely impressed with his ability to conduct 3.5 and 4 hour-long press conferences (not bad for someone who is "anti-press"), while maintaing perfect composure and command of all relevant facts and figures. He demands the same from all of his ministers, as well.
The mere fact that they are so well-informed puts them head and shoulders above Yeltsin's crowd. The man Yeltsin appointed governor of Chuhotka couldn't even find it on a map until it was pointed out to him.
So, think what you like, at any given time 70% of the only people who matter -- Russian citizens -- think Putin is better than Yeltsin, who had approval ratings twice as low as W's current ones.
Never has more been stolen from Russia's population by so few people than in the past few years. It's just less visible when the loot is plentiful and crumbs can be distributed grandly.
There is more than a grain of truth in what you say. But, you don't seem to understand that under Yeltsin no crumbs were even allowed to fall of the table!
