Putin's agenda and the cost of living in Russia

In the next 3 years the cost of utilities in Russia is expected to increase 45% (BOTH electricity and gas) and will surpass some EU countries.

The sales tax will be introduced (so Russia will have BOTH sales tax & VAT).

Property tax rate for individuals will be based on market value of RE (tenfold or more increase).

Many Russians live in multitenant apartments. Maintenance cost (which is now mainly subsidized by the government) will be included to the monthly bill starting at 2013.

Social budget expenses such as healthcare, education, culture, sport will be cut several times.

Pension (retirement checks) is expected to decrease.

This is the result of the first 6 month of Putin's brand new term.

DO NOT INVEST IN RUSSIA

GET OUT

NOW

The Russian politics of protest

This is a twitter profile of a opposition candidate for mayor of Omsk, a Russian city with over 1M inhabitants.
No kidding.

The Russian government has successfully rigged the Duma (Parliament) and presidential election, thus further discounting the value of the elections as a democratic institution. In turn, the so-called "opposition" decided to further devaluate the protest movement ideas, proposing clowns (Varlamov) and obscure pointless persons (Shein) as opposition candidates for local government position. Fake elections, fake opposition, but very real money.
This LOLization of politics perfectly suits the existing power structures (AKA Putin junta), allowing them to extract millions of dollars per each day they remain in power.
Every sane person should stay away from this circlejerk of douchebaggery and not allow himself to be involved or associated in any possible way with it.
The whole situation with politics in Russia is unsalvageable and going to be resolved only through total crisis.
So be prepared.