Eastern European historian on Russia's system of rule: "Putin's slogan is: After me the flood" Karl Schlögel: "Never has a presidential election in Russia been so heavily manipulated and so illegitimate" He has little hope for Russia anymore, but history remains open. Europe is not at the mercy of the ruler in the Kremlin, Schlö gel says.
"We need to start taking a fresh look at Russian history - like we did before the long-ignored independent history of Ukraine"