Excellent series...What life is like in Russia post Russian collapse

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia became a wild east in which communist central planning was supplanted by crude, free-wheeling capitalism. A small number of people - dubbed “oligarchs” by the press - became enormously wealthy by seizing control of state assets or buying them at knock-down prices. President Vladimir Putin, who came to power unexpectedly on the last day of 1999, re-imposed stability, while stronger oil prices fueled growth.

9 part series...
http://www.reuters.com/investigates/section/comrade-capitalism/

I am now on Part 9, about the lives of the Russian people..

Take away....the wealth theft by Oligarchs is Global, including Russia.

Burning question...is Putin a powerless puppet like other heads of state?