In the Kremlin How it really was-2 December 18, 2007 George Satarov Our regular reader remembers the previous publication of a strange operational record of the conversation of V.V. Putin with one of his dignitaries in the bath. It was not about any compromise. The editors disdain this. This was interesting because it clarified some driving springs of our most important story. Recently, on the same anonymous channels, a new entry was again delivered to us - no less interesting.

The other day on “Echo” in the “Special Opinion” program with Leonid Mlechin, one of the radio listeners asked a funny question. “What do you think,” he asked the host, “will Vladimir Putin hang a portrait of Dmitry Medvedev in his prime minister’s office?” The answer has been received. No, he won't hang him. Or rather, he will hang, but not Medvedev. Whose? I think you already guessed it yourself. Of course, Igor Sechin. And this will be the right and honest thing to do.

Last week, Prime Minister Zubkov accused Deputy Prime Minister Kudrin that he had “lost a billion” on the way to Sakhalin. Then let us stop for a minute. Imagine that I, a journalist Latynin, will say that Minister Kudrin stole a billion. This, to put it mildly, is not entirely correct. Because if I make a sensational statement that Kudrin washed a billion, I must at least indicate where and when. So that Kudrin could refute the information.

It would seem, more precisely, “got it.” But no. Since the whole society willingly played these games, as they say among TV prostitutes - “we all”, it means that we got it. Medvedev is the “sic-president for foreign countries”, Putin is the all-powerful prime minister. Deceitful. Inoperative. Awkward design.

International observers from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on Tuesday will outline in a report their official position regarding the parliamentary elections held in Russia on December 2. This was announced by the first deputy chairman of the Committee on International Affairs of the State Duma of the fourth convocation, Leonid Slutsky.

I believe that PACE’s assessment of the State Duma elections is of key importance for Russia. I'd like it to be as tough as possible. Europeans have the opportunity to influence Putin's Russia without fear that Putin will break with Europe. I am sure that Putin’s leadership will not break with Europe - I am absolutely sure of this. They simply scare: “If you put too much pressure on us, we will then “leave.” They won't go anywhere.

In society Pyrrhic victory December 18, 2007 Boris Kolymagin The head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography, Mikhail Shvydka, fired the director of the Ryazan Kremlin museum-reserve Lyudmila Maksimov because of "reluctance to conduct a dialogue with the church." Thus, he clearly demonstrated that officials from Roskultura are easily ready to give a popular treasure to the mercy of the Russian Orthodox Church.

I can’t believe my eyes: I turn on the TV from the United Russia congress, well, this one, which Medvedev approved as president, and I see lawyer Pavel Astakhov. Leader of the “For Putin!” movement. “We,” says Astakhov, “supported Putin’s course, and not a specific person.” And since Medvedev is Putin’s course, we support Medvedev. Both-on! One of the two is definitely lying, either Astakhov or Yandex.