Opinion Article Riley and Nick Russia is one of the more recent countries to embrace democracy.

Although its very flawed in its democratic credentials. It remains corrupt and under the Dictatorship of one man. The constitution of 1993 gives the president a lot of power in running the country. nli!e in America the "resident has a broad authority to issue decrees and directives that have the force of law without legislative review. In other words the "resident has almost complete control to ma!e mostly any decisions he wants. The #aw on "residential $lections re%uires that the winner gets more than &'( of the votes cast. In 1993 the constitution said that) the "resident could serve only a four year term) but in *''+ the constitution was amended to ma!e it a si, year term. -oris .elsin the former president of Russia hand pic!ed /ladimir "utin and in 0ay *''' he was elected "resident. "utin was reelected in *'1* serving his now 9 year term as "resident. This election was widely critici1ed.

/ladimir "utin) who is now the "rime 0inister of Russia) is one ma2or problem in Russia. After his two terms as president we up in Russia he found a loop hole in their government so that he could !eep power. 3e found that a new president could ma!e him prime minister) and he could !eep all of his power. 4ow he gets to serve at least another term in power) maybe even two) which is not fair to the people in Russia. 3e should have been out of the government when his term was over. Also /ladimir "utin is also strongly against gay people in his country. If you are gay) you can be sent to prison) or beaten. -ut /ladimir "utin says that this law does not discriminate against anyone) and is to protect the children in Russia. -ut when the 5lympics came to 6ochi this winter) "utin did not enforce these laws against the athletes. 3ow could he7 The conditions were already bad enough with many of the hotels not yet finished when the athletes came to compete in the winter games. 0any athletes would get stuc! in rooms where the door !nobs would fall of. Then the athletes would be forced to brea! down the doors to escape. This 2ust shows how much /ladimir "utin did not care about the 5lympics being held in his country. It was one of the most e,pensive 5lympic 8ames ever) and still many of the things were still not ready when the athletes arrived to compete. And one of the rings during the opening ceremony did not wor! when it was fired. 9ust goes to show how much he cares about what is actually going on. I mean he did have hundreds of dogs on the streets !illed so that they

would not be in the way of the games. I mean how low can you actually get7 Although can some say that his way of running the government is wor!ing7 After all Russia is flourishing these days the people are happier then usual. "utins semi forceful way of running a political system is somewhat good. Atleast he is not murdering innocent people li!e 6talin) running the country amuc! and creating terror with every decision he ma!es as leader. .es he is banning gay:s and cheating to stay in power) but should russia be complaining they should be happy that their political system has some form of democracy at all in it after their past political systems. Although I do not believe Russias political system to be a Democracy it still more li!e a dictatorship one person is giving all the orders) but maybe thats the way Russia was meant to be ruled. It hasn:t changed much from the 19'':s. It is understandable that the Russian government and the Russian people want to westerni1e the political system of Russia. ;estern political systems are fair) thorough and comprehensive. A democracy is a better way of governing a country without certain chec!s and balances their is room for people li!e /ladamir "utin to be selfish with power and rule tyrannically. Russia:s political system is corrupt the people in power are constantly watching over people in the country ma!ing sure they do not tal! badly against the government or anybody in it especially "utin. Russia has laws banning protesting if you protest you will be put in 2ail or beaten. There is obvious censorship in Russia passed on greatly from the times of ruler 9oseph 6talin. "utin has the country wired proofing any rebellion. This !eeps the people of Russia from having a say in the government. Russia is politically corrupt it has many problems and is not yet ready to be called a Democracy. The government is to corrupt and will always have the control as long as people li!e "utin are in charge.