This article is so beautifully bad it is worthy of being considered satire. The remarkable thing about such western Russian apologists -that I have met both inside and outside of Russia- is that they believe a narrative that no Russian even believes. Even the Kremlin doesn't believe it and are probably surprised how easy it was to hoodwink someone. Whether it's some fascination with strongmen, dreams of a Russian devushka on their arm or they just like to think of themselves as counter culture trolls- it must be a lonely existence as we sure don't like them and Russians loathe a village idiot sucking up to power. You haven't earned the right, unlike the average Russia- with centuries of serfdom followed by communism, followed by economic collapse- to be so cynical and the Russians won't respect you for it or even pity you.