Putin's Predetermined Election Win

There is no rehab for police-state thugs. Consequently, former KGB head and current president, Vladimir Putin, was able to strong-arm the election results before the first ballot was cast. His slate of parliamentarians was elected.

From the Danish Politiken via Spiegel.de:

"As expected, Russian President Vladimir Putin garnered an overwhelming election victory. Even before (his victory), he claimed he would be given the 'moral right' to continue to determine his country's political course. ...

After his victory he spoke of a festive atmosphere. But it has an ugly downside. Neither the campaign nor the election was deserving of this description. It was the most unfair election since the fall of communism. The state abused its power in the media. Opposition voices were suppressed. ...

If the West doesn't strongly distance itself from this historic election manipulation, which one could at best describe as a swindle, it will muddy our own democracies. And we would also be abandoning Russians who haven't yet buried their hopes for democracy in their country."

Prudent geopolitical observers saw the swindle coming. And prudent observers also see conditions becoming worse, unlike "the European leaders who live in a complete fantasy world with their dream of drawing Russian natural gas without Putin's political policies also flowing through the pipes."