Russian president Vladimir Putin, facing sanctions that are economic signs in a law that may create a ‘gambling zone’ in annexed Crimea. But could his timing be any worse?
The old story about Roman emperor Nero fiddling while his city burned to the floor possesses mythic quality that could be used to Vladimir Putin these days. Dealing with an international scandal after Russia’s seeming involvement in shooting a Malaysia Air passenger jet out of the sky, the Russian president has chosen now to okay a new gambling area in Crimea; a small region just to the south of Ukraine, where the horrific incident took place the other day.
Of course, unlike Nero, Putin continues to be firmly in charge of all things Russian, and has now borne the brunt of surprisingly little outrage that is international the incident which was allegedly carried out under his military’s auspices.
Putin signed into impact a legislation this week which will transform the territory that is annexed of into a gambling zone for Russian holidaymakers. In the light of recent events in Eastern Ukraine, Putin, faced with all the prospect of increased US/EU sanctions, could perhaps have selected a more moment that is apposite make this specific announcement, but he’s nothing if not bull-headed, and it’s really clear he is determined to make the region economically self-sufficient.
Russia took over the territory that is largely russian-speaking the Ukraine in March, follow Continue reading “As Rome Burns, Putin OKs Crimea Gambling Zone”