[goldstategop]

In a post-Communist Russia, the only thing every one can agree on is the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in WW II.

Beyond the consensus on national patriotism, there are deep divisions over the country’s direction.

No one should be fooled into thinking Putin or United Russia have managed to entirely bridge them.

[dfwgator]

In a post-Communist Russia, the only thing every one can agree on is the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in WW II.

While neglecting the fact, that in the beginning of the war, Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union were allies. And the Soviets engaged in their own offensive war against Finland and the Baltic countries.

[GoldenState_Rose]

If Putin were ever a good leader, even during the years when things were on the up and up, he would have at least had the prescience to understand that he’s not immortal and he should probably construct Russia’s state institutions so as to ensure stable, democratic succession long after his death, incapacitation, or retirement. In general, he would use his authority to build a system based on rule of law and some kind of values as opposed to a cult of personality surrounding himself. He barely toyed with the concept back in 2008 when he let Medvedev take the reins, but he was so paranoid and concerned with image that he decided to come back to the presidency early.

- Russia Without BS blog

As far as "divisions" over WWII, the Kremlin either made the division worse, or forced them into non-existence. As even people who may have initially been anti-Stalin have gone from viewing him as evil to "acceptable" and "necessary."

Thereby insulting and trampling on the memories of all the victims of mass atrocities that surpassed even the Holocaust in scale.