You mix up two different things, people: internal relations between peoples of Russia, and relations between Russia and other countries. Putin is talking about NATO, not about chechens, daghestanis, tatars and chukchas..

In Moscow they are not very happy about NATO expansion, about american missiles in Europe, about threats to use Azerbaijan against Iran and so on, and you are again talking about democracy and authoritarism..

So do I...b/c we are already living in a unipolar world.

What did Putin said concretely? Nothing but redundant evidences for a cheering cround of proud russians.
I know Putin. This kind of speech is for the domestic audience only.

Tatars, Chechens, etc. are OK as long they follow Russian rules. They are not allowed to live in Moscow. They have be where they should be and pay taxes. On the day Tatars would like to have autonomy or independency they would be considered as American spies, nationalists, trators, etc. So relationships among nations inside of Russia is not so sweet either. Putin is talking about NATO, but Nato actually encourages those minorities to stand for their rights. Russia is a federation and they are afraid of further divisions. These small nations are fed up with Russia. What do they get in return? Many new small countries that run away from Russia in 1990 are doing much better than they would under Russian supervision. Good examples are Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania. They went even further and joined NATO and EU. Russians consider Georgia as a big problem, they do not know how to handle it. And other nations see it and they would like to get own freedom. On conterary Putin tells them that NATO is very bad and dangerous. He needs to say that, because these other small nations would like to follow Former Baltic States. If Tatars wanted their independency they would become Russians' enemies and need to fall into NATO arms. So Putin is trying to keep whole Russia in 1 hand otherwise it would fall apart.
Greetings
philY

Since we are on the Soviet/African topic, The USSR pumped money into murderous regiemes during the cold war to keep the power balance at the expense of millions. That being said, Africa is the hardest hit region since the end of the cold war. The greatness of democracy (laugh it up) does not automatically mean riches, they are actually poorer now, 50+ yrs after colonialism than they were 20 yrs ago. As for Putin, I am an American, but I think Putin is a good leader, putting Russia back on the global power stage where it should rightfully be.

Good for Putin!  We need more leaders like him to stop this USraeli influence in the region which is greater than ever before. With the ongoing barking by USrael to attack Iran Russia must be very concerned of what is going on around her neighbourhood. You think the idea of partioning is a joke? That's what the USraelis have already tried by creating a rift amongst different minority groups in Iran azeris/baluchis/kurds,,,

The American administration has become a joke. people such as Rice trip around the world and give lessons. No doubt that Putin loves the taste of power just like Sarkozy and Bush.
Read this:

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/10/13/ap4216943.html

USSA=SS? Not a response to my question about a lunatic autocrat after u "burried" democracy in Russia. Look at the US, see how bad it is when democracy is "burried"? A lunatic leading the nation into disasters. Want same in Russia?


then Russia is not for you, becasue, as YOU said,