Why do so many Russians stand by Putin? In July 2010, wildfires completely destroyed the village of

Why do so many Russians stand by Putin?

In July 2010, wildfires completely destroyed the village of Verkhnyaya Vereya in the Nizhny Novgorod region. Putin, then prime minister, came to see the ruins and speak to people who had just lost everything.

He could have offered sympathy, promised to “look into the situation” and moved on.

Instead, standing among the ashes, he made sure everyone heard him:

The village would be restored before winter.

“I promise.”

Three months later, it was. By November, the village had been rebuilt and residents were moving into their new homes.

And sometime later, Putin celebrated Christmas wearing a sweater knitted for him by one of the villagers.

Politics is full of promises. People tend to remember the ones that are kept.

t.me/RussianBaZa