“The line between cynicism and consistent realism is sometimes difficult to draw,” Nicolo Machiavelli wrote five hundred years ago. I wrote not about Putin, but about Cesare Borgia. No, no, I am not at all going to compare these two characters, one of whom has already acquired the status of a historical hero, and the other is just about to do so.

Recently, events rarely occur that cause a positive reaction in Russia and Europe - the priorities of both parties are too different. However, the results of Sunday parliamentary elections in Poland were positively perceived by both the Russian establishment and European politicians. Both of them were happy with the inevitable resignation of the government of Yaroslav Kachinsky. The fact that his twin brother remains in the presidential chair is secondary.

Every time I hear or read about some similar initiative to instill decency and good manners in Russia, for some reason an old army proverb comes to mind: “If you can’t, we’ll help you, if you don’t know how, we’ll teach you, if you don’t want to, we’ll force you.” Sometimes it’s even such a pity that the relationship between a sergeant and a recruit cannot serve as a universal model of any possible social relationships.

October 23 marks five years since the tragedy on Dubrovka - the anniversary of the terrorist attack. We are almost used to such anniversaries, no matter how scary it sounds. Official events are scheduled for Friday, October 26: they will show a documentary chronicle, perform a requiem for “Nord-Ost” and release white balloons into the sky.

A simple Russian mechanic from Novosibirsk during a “direct line” with the president completely spontaneously asked President Putin to comment on the statement of the former US Secretary of State Madeline Olbright that Russia was unjustly owned by the natural resources of Siberia.

Representatives of the A Just Russia faction submitted to the State Duma draft amendments to the Criminal Code proposing tougher penalties for crimes against priests. According to it, beatings of clergy should be punishable by up to seven years in prison. Amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation were introduced to the State Duma by Alexander Chuev, a member of the A Just Russia faction.