'Ras' Putin in the firing line ahead of Bush visit

[emad]

The UK's BBC Online reports today that Russia's leader Vladimir Putin is under a barrage of attack by former associates blasting his record as leader in a series of advertisements placed in the inernational press ahead of his visit to President Bush on Tuesday 23 September:

<snip>:

"Five prominent Russians have taken out a series of full-page newspaper advertisements bitterly attacking the Kremlin - and warning the US against friendship with President Vladimir Putin.
The adverts have appeared in leading papers in the UK and the US, including the Financial Times, Daily Telegraph, Washington Post and New York Times.

The Russians, led by UK-based tycoon Boris Berezovsky, launch a tirade of accusations against Mr Putin. They portray him as a genocidal president who has flattened democracy and has allowed Nazi-era techniques to be used to whip up public feeling.........

The advert also alleges that Russian secret services are exploiting anti-Semitism and xenophobia in order to "demonise" big business and create "militaristic hysteria similar to Germany under the early Nazi regime".

<snip>

more:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3132082.stm

Plus ca change? "Genocidal president who has flattened democracy and allowed Nazi-era techniques...." Ever get the feeling you've heard that someplace else before?....