[jess35]

Do you think that Putin is really so stupid as to order something bizarre like that at the time of EU/Russia meeting?

It's completely plausible as it sends a brutal message to all other dissidents. It's not even the slightest bit out of character for Putin and his toadies.

[A. Pole]

It's not even the slightest bit out of character for Putin and his toadies.

Actually is it out of character. You watch too many Hollywood movies and every foreign leader you do not like looks the same to you - he must be a "second Hitler". Whether Milosevic or Putin or else they are all identical, the same Hollywood cliche.

But the real world is very difference from schematic predicable movies.