Russians will head to the polls Sunday, where they're expected to hand a landslide victory to President Vladimir Putin. Though less than a year ago Putin spoke eloquently about his vision of Russia taking its place among the world-s great democracies, recently the former KGB agent has been acting a lot more like one of Russia-s old authoritarian leaders than a champion of democracy. How has he consolidated power? Why is he so popular with Russians? What-s become of the political opposition? What impact does Putin-s behavior domestically have on his relations with the West? Does George Bush still greet him with open arms? Guest host Sara Terry talks about this week's presidential election, Putin's popularity and his fading vision for democracy.
- Reporter's Notebook: Greece May Ask NATO for Help with Olympics' Security
With the Olympics just a few months away, Greek voters this week gave a big win to Greece-s Conservative Party, sweeping out the socialists who-d been in power for a decade. The new government has a lot on its plate, from security at the Olympic Games to the reunification of Cyprus. Bruce Clark is the Europe correspondent for the Economist magazine.
This program is an abbreviated version of the broadcast earlier today on
To the Point.
Guest host
Sara Terry is an award-winning writer and photographer, who has written for the
Christian Science Monitor, the
New York Times,
Fast Company,
Rolling Stone and the
Boston Globe. Her current photo-documentary project is "
Aftermath: Bosnia's Long Road to Peace."
President Vladimir Putin
Lipman's article on proving loyalty in Putin's Russia
Economist article on Greece's new government
Athens 2004 Olympics
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) on Olympics security
