A war for souls

Russia | Recent elections and ongoing restrictions only point to the deeper conflict tearing at Russian life | Jill Nelson

Alexander Zemlianchenko Jr./AP

Russia's departing president, Vladimir Putin, has been hailed as a shaping influence of the 21st century. He rebuilt Russia's collapsed economy—paving the way for the rise of the planet's largest country back to world power status—and was rewarded by his order-starved constituents with 70 percent approval ratings. His no-nonsense demeanor and ability to bring order out of chaos has undoubtedly been good for the Russian economy.

But it has come at a price. The Putin era has been marred with freedom-squelching policies reminiscent of the former Soviet Union, and some analysts say there is little hope for a reversal any time soon.

In May Putin will leave his post as president and assume the role of prime minister, a largely ceremonial position. His protégé, 42-year-old Dmitry Medvedev, will take over as president, but most signs point toward a continuation of Putin's influence and a growing dynasty that jails critics, muzzles the media, and threatens to halt church-related endeavors.