Russian opposition leader, a Putin critic shot dead

[Monsterboy]

Boris Nemtsov was shot in the head 4 times.
http://m.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31669061

An unidentified attacker in a car shot Mr Nemtsov four times in the back as he crossed a bridge in view of the Kremlin, police say.

He died hours after appealing for support for a march on Sunday in Moscow against the war in Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has condemned the murder, the Kremlin says.

President Putin has assumed "personal control" of the investigation into the killing, said his spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

 

[Vanadium 50]

Pour encourager les autres.

 

[Raghav Gupta]

Pour encourager les autres.

For reference:Physics Forums Global Guidelines
All posts must be in English .

 

[Monsterboy]

For reference:Physics Forums Global Guidelines
All posts must be in English .

I just googled it ,I think he indicated some battle http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Minorca_(1756)

 

[Vanadium 50]

Deja vu. Ipso facto. Chutzpah. Avatar. Kindergarten. Libretto. Smorgasbord.

The phrase first appeared in Voltaire's Candide. It means "to encourage the others". The point is that it is not about Nemtsov per se (oh, there I go again) but this was intended to discourage people from following in his footsteps.

Capisce?

 

[Czcibor]

I think that we perceive it too much through Western perspective where ordering to assassinate a political opponent is a big deal. From Putin's perspective it does not change much. I mean that if he any day would have to face a tribunal, he would have to answer for Russian apartment bombings of 1999, war crimes from Second Chechen War or recent de facto Russian-Ukraine war. One assassination more or less... doesn't matter.

Anyway, I run on my computer trivial regression model (just time as explanatory variable + Russian declining currency reserves from last half year; R^2 of 98%). After updating it today, the line reaches zero at 2nd November 2016.

 

[Astronuc]

Who was Boris Nemtsov and why was he murdered?
http://news.yahoo.com/boris-nemtsov-why-murdered-194722631.html
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was fatally gunned down in Moscow Friday. A look at some of the leading theories by a Russia expert who knew Nemtsov.

Certainly, anything coming out of the Kremlin is dubious at best.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I would think this would lead to more protests and another person will just take his place. You can't stop a public movement by killing an icon. You just make a martyr.

 

[mheslep]

I would think this would lead to more protests and another person will just take his place. You can't stop a public movement by killing an icon. You just make a martyr.

Except for ... much of the last five thousand years or so of human history where public movements are annihilated, or the threat of same terrorizes people into inaction.
Spartacus, 6000 crucified.
Stalin and The Great Terror
Hitler's Night of the Long Knives
Khmer Rouge assassination of very popular figures, e.g. Pan Ron, Ros Serey Sothe, Sinn Sisamouth

 

[Czcibor]

Who was Boris Nemtsov and why was he murdered?
http://news.yahoo.com/boris-nemtsov-why-murdered-194722631.html
Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was fatally gunned down in Moscow Friday. A look at some of the leading theories by a Russia expert who knew Nemtsov.

Certainly, anything coming out of the Kremlin is dubious at best.

Does Kremlin Web Brigade count as official Kremlin version? If yes that officially this guy was shot down to frame Putin or because he took money from the West, but failed to deliver promised revolution.

Anyway, more seriously his last interview:
http://www.newsweek.com/final-interview-boris-nemtsov-310392Anyway, in different one that I've seen only in Polish translation there were a few new things:
-that Crimea annexation medal actually as start of operation 20th January, while Yanukovych fled on 22/23rd;
-in Minsk accord there is a promise to withdraw Tornado-S launchers which are only owned by Russian army.

 

[Nikitin]

Watching these people here automatically assume Putin killed Nemetsov shows the remarkable power of constant propaganda mixed with ignorance. IMO Westerners who follow this conflict are just as brainwashed as the Russians who follow it. Kind of interesting considering most people here have a college education, but I guess I am not surprised. When I first read about Goebbel's take on propaganda as a teenager, I thought he was full of dang. I thought: "How can so many people be tricked by such obvious lies? No way they actually believed those absurdities, they must have known". Though now I understand where he was coming from.

Honestly, take a pause to think guys. Putin is not some kind of Hitler/Stalin who rules thru fear. He has to have the support of the Russian people to rule, and he won't have that support by actively murdering the opposition and sewing chaos. Particularly not an opposition that is completely toothless and regarded by most Russians as incompetent.

 

[russ_watters]

Who's propaganda, Putin's? Yes, our reaction based on the importance/effort Putin places on propaganda is to conclude he's behind it. I think its a reasonable conclusion.

But of course, that's not what you mean. You are implying western propaganda is brainwashing us. Problems:
1. That's a lot of separate countries you are referring to as if they have a unified message.

2. Unlike Russia, most do not have state run media, which makes it difficult to promulgate a unified message even in a single country.

3. Goodwin's law fail: Hitler did not, by and large, rule with fear. That's the whole point of the power of propaganda. Putin rules with propaganda. He gets high approval ratings despite a floundering economy and international crimes because of propaganda.

 

[Nikitin]

Reasonable? OK, then how would it help Putin's propaganda to publicly slay his opponents? I mean, lots of people will be blaming him for the murder, and that is hardly something a politician wants to be blamed for.

And yeah, most of Russia's media runs propaganda on Ukraine because united Russia and its allies controls it. Most of the media in the west (with many strong exceptions), on the other hand, run propaganda (on Russia) mostly because that's what westerners want to hear. Running stories on the threat of evil villain Putin is a safe bet that sells. Why does it sell? Cold war legacy, inflammatory rhetoric from politicians (using the 'common enemy' card means easy voters), old stereotypes and so on.

 

[lepori]

You can't stop a public movement by killing an icon. You just make a martyr.

You can,
If you kill enough

In Sovie Union all public movement were stopped by killing leaders?.. :)

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

how would it help Putin's propaganda to publicly slay his opponents?

Sends a pretty powerful message to other opponents

I mean, lots of people will be blaming him for the murder, and that is hardly something a politician wants to be blamed for.

You really think Putin cares? He has total control of the country. What people suspect and what will be pumped through Russian media is totally different. Putin has light years distance between the murder and himself.

 

[Czcibor]

Watching these people here automatically assume Putin killed Nemetsov shows the remarkable power of constant propaganda mixed with ignorance. IMO Westerners who follow this conflict are just as brainwashed as the Russians who follow it. Kind of interesting considering most people here have a college education, but I guess I am not surprised. When I first read about Goebbel's take on propaganda as a teenager, I thought he was full of ****. I thought: "How can so many people be tricked by such obvious lies? No way they actually believed those absurdities, they must have known". Though now I understand where he was coming from.

Honestly, take a pause to think guys. Putin is not some kind of Hitler/Stalin who rules thru fear. He has to have the support of the Russian people to rule, and he won't have that support by actively murdering the opposition and sewing chaos. Particularly not an opposition that is completely toothless and regarded by most Russians as incompetent.

Following problems:
-before his death Nemtsov said that he is afraid of being assassinated by Putin (was he also brainwashed by Western media?);
-Putin already used assassination as his weapon against his opponents, like Litvienko;
-Putin credibility after his lies concerning no Russian troops in Crimea / east Ukraine (not mentioning one downed Malaysian plane) is actually lower than credibility of creationist blogs;
-Putin's paid trolls are already spreading on Polish forums quite funny conspiracy theories, thus it looks like covering up crime.

(actually you pay for covering up this crime with your own taxes, so should be happy about it :D )Yes, Ockham razor. I assume the most likely scenario.

And yeah, most of Russia's media runs propaganda on Ukraine because united Russia and its allies controls it. Most of the media in the west (with many strong exceptions), on the other hand, run propaganda (on Russia) mostly because that's what westerners want to hear. Running stories on the threat of evil villain Putin is a safe bet that sells. Why does it sell? Cold war legacy, inflammatory rhetoric from politicians (using the 'common enemy' card means easy voters), old stereotypes and so on.

Wrong. There is no symmetry here. Western media were giving for a long while Russians a benefit of doubt.

 

[Nikitin]

Czibor,

"-before his death Nemtsov said that he is afraid of being assassinated by Putin (was he also brainwashed by Western media?);"

Irrelevant point, but guess what, after that tweet anyone who wanted to hurt Putin could kill him. As for Litvinenko, it is not known who killed him and why, but even if the FSB killed him it was not because Litvinenko BSed about Putin. It would be because he betrayed state secrets.

Sends a pretty powerful message to other opponents
You really think Putin cares? He has total control of the country. What people suspect and what will be pumped through Russian media is totally different. Putin has light years distance between the murder and himself.

So you are saying Putin, who built up his support base by creating order and fighting crime, benefits from killing random opposition leaders. Why? Because apparently people will become too afraid to openly oppose him. Next you claim Russians will not suspect him of killing Nemtsov because propaganda.

OK, let us deal with this logically.

What would Putin gain from this murder?
* Silencing a nobody-opposition.
* Instilling some degree of fear in the ranks of an already dead opposition.

What would Putin lose from this murder?
* His morality - nobody has claimed Putin is a psychopath.
* Massive media carnage, hate from the west.
* Increased suspicion.
* Loss of order in society.
* Risk of getting caught (what if somebody talks and links the murder to the Kremlin?) that would spell his end.

Are you SERIOUSLY thinking people will not suspect Putin because of propaganda? Guess what, Russian society is full of speculation about who did it, and there is not a shortage of extremists blaming Putin directly. Do you realize how pointless it is to start murdering liberal opposition when you have an above 70% approval rating, while the entire liberal opposition combined cannot even get to 10%? Do you realize how obvious it would be that he would become the #1 suspect after the murder? Do you realize what would happen to him if he was caught (hint: lynching)? And, importantly, do you think it would be intelligent to undermine the main reason for your success: imposition of law and order by murdering the opposition?

The entire thought is ridiculous. It's about as likely as the CIA being behind it to sow chaos and hurt Putin.

 

[russ_watters]

Reasonable? OK, then how would it help Putin's propaganda to publicly slay his opponents?

There is no surer way to silence someone than to kill them.

I mean, lots of people will be blaming him for the murder, and that is hardly something a politician wants to be blamed for.

What people? By killing (or otherwise silencing) the loud opposition voices he eliminates potential loud dissenting voices and (hopefully) scares the softer voices into remaining silent.

And yeah, most of Russia's media runs propaganda on Ukraine because united Russia and its allies controls it.

I know at least part of that is a typo, but can't figure out what you mean. Are you saying that Russia has a coherent, government propaganda machine to counter the nonexistent propaganda machine of the West?

Most of the media in the west (with many strong exceptions), on the other hand, run propaganda (on Russia) mostly because that's what westerners want to hear. Running stories on the threat of evil villain Putin is a safe bet that sells. Why does it sell? Cold war legacy, inflammatory rhetoric from politicians (using the 'common enemy' card means easy voters), old stereotypes and so on.

Again, given the lack of central control, a coherent message would be very difficult to coordinate. It would have to happen by pure luck. And if you really think there is any significant desire in the west to return to the Cold War...well, I guess Putin is doing a good job of that.

I, personally, much preferred the relative peace of the 1990s to both the Cold War and Putin's attempt to resurrect it.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

What would Putin gain from this murder?
* Silencing a nobody-opposition.
* Instilling some degree of fear in the ranks of an already dead opposition.

You diminish the power of both of these way to much. Nemtsov also wasn't a nobody.

What would Putin lose from this murder?
* His morality - nobody has claimed Putin is a psychopath.
* Massive media carnage, hate from the west.
* Increased suspicion.
* Loss of order in society.
* Risk of getting caught (what if somebody talks and links the murder to the Kremlin?) that would spend his end.

If Putin was rational leader doing everything in the best interest of his country we'd see a vastly different track record. Putin doesn't care what the west thinks. Get that through your head :) Putin has zero chance of getting caught. Dissent from KGB is a death sentence itself and even if someone did talk, the Russian media machine can handle it easily.

 

[Czcibor]

Reasonable? OK, then how would it help Putin's propaganda to publicly slay his opponents? I mean, lots of people will be blaming him for the murder, and that is hardly something a politician wants to be blamed for.

And yeah, most of Russia's media runs propaganda on Ukraine because united Russia and its allies controls it. Most of the media in the west (with many strong exceptions), on the other hand, run propaganda (on Russia) mostly because that's what westerners want to hear. Running stories on the threat of evil villain Putin is a safe bet that sells. Why does it sell? Cold war legacy, inflammatory rhetoric from politicians (using the 'common enemy' card means easy voters), old stereotypes and so on.

You know, this invasion on Ukraine was not specially rational if we think about it. I don't mean that Gruz 200 that returned home, because Russian life for Russian rulers is not worth much. I mean lost money and price per hectare of conquered area. However, Putin did it and turned Ukrainians from moderately friendly nation into hard line enemies. I haven't foresee that because it is simply too stupid.

Same with putting embargo on food for his own people was another brilliant move. Do you appreciate higher food price? I hope so. Maybe he wanted to make a show off and does not care about his subjects?

Answer is quite simple. Because if sanctions and low oil price keep in 2 years Russia would be without money and potential opposition leaders would be able to take advantage of that.

What if we assume that he is not a mastermind? Yes, which other type of person would behave in this way? An overly aggressive gangsta with KGB experience? He would be able to shock and outmanoeuvre, wimpy West from time to time which such outlaw behaviour. Fits so far all observation better, than mastermind doesn't it?

 

[Nikitin]

You know, this invasion on Ukraine was not specially rational if we think about it. I don't mean that Gruz 200 that returned home, because Russian life for Russian rulers is not worth much. I mean lost money and price per hectare of conquered area. However, Putin did it and turned Ukrainians from moderately friendly nation into hard line enemies. I haven't foresee that because it is simply too stupid.

Same with putting embargo on food for his own people was another brilliant move. Do you appreciate higher food price? I hope so. Maybe he wanted to make a show off and does not care about his subjects?

Answer is quite simple. Because if sanctions and low oil price keep in 2 years Russia would be without money and potential opposition leaders would be able to take advantage of that.

What if we assume that he is not a mastermind? Yes, which other type of person would behave in this way? An overly aggressive gangsta with KGB experience? He would be able to shock and outmanoeuvre, wimpy West from time to time which such outlaw behaviour. Fits so far all observation better, than mastermind doesn't it?

If you view things from the most biased angle possible, and ignore any arguments that oppose you, sure. You would reach the conclusion that Putin is a 'KGB gangsta'.

Take the food thing for example: The prices have risen, yes. But what have the counter-sanctions done to discourage western sanctions, and support Russian domestic agriculture? Or what about Ukraine? Do you think the only point with wars is "profit per hectare", and not things like geopolitics, answers to provocations, preservation of self interests, emotions etc. ?

BTW it might be interesting to note that I'm not a big fan of Putin, really. It just appears to me that the posts and assumptions made here are ridiculous.

 

[Czcibor]

If you view things from the most biased angle possible, and ignore any arguments that oppose you, sure. You would reach the conclusion that Putin is a 'KGB gangsta'.

Which were arguments against it?

Take the food prices for example: They have risen, yes. But what have they done to discourage western sanctions, and support Russian domestic agriculture?

To discourage Western sanctions - nothing. (In Poland we joke that Putin's sanctions are more harmful for Russia that anything we can offer)
In Russia? I don't have hard data. But my guess is that nowadays it is not a time to invest in Russia. You know now there is still, too high risk of expropriating, as Vladimir Yevtushenkov may tell you. As an economist I'd say that under high risk you invest only to rip very high profits. And sanctions could be lifted next year, while many investment (like fruit tree) would need a few years. So not much profits.

My guess? Dacha food production would go up a bit. For a mastermind plan rather not impressive.

Or what about Ukraine? Do you think the only point with wars is "profit per hectare", and not things like geopolitics, answers to provocations, preservation of self interests, emotions etc. ?

Honestly speaking yes, just one sometimes use terms like "geopolitics" to cover up that he mean "cheap hectares but in ten years".

And that geopolitics part is where he failed miserably. Instead of starting a war with Ukraine, he could congratulate the new gov, raise gas price, ask for loan back and see how Ukrainians quarrel with each other, implement austerity and pro-Russian candidate wins in next election.

Or his main "ally" is China which also believe in zones of influence for great powers, just its natural zone of influence is in Siberia. Russia already have simmering conflict in Caucasus and "friendly" China, so I consider starting this confrontation and getting additional enemy as something as "brilliant" as W. Bush invasion on Iraq.

You know Putin could have been a new mutation of Peter I or even contemporary Sakashvil. Reform his country and so on. He wasted times of expensive oil. And now capital poor, land rich country is trying to capture a bit more land, keeping loss generating Crimea.

"Emotions"? Cool, it seems that finally we have a partial agreement.

 

[Czcibor]

Concerning logic of this assassination, there is one interesting idea:

Russia's multifarious opposition parties — including Alexei Navalny's Progress Party and Sergei Mitrokhin's Yabloko party — are headed by what Pozhalov referred to as ambitious "mini-leaders." These individuals, who present themselves as capable leaders in their own right, often struggle to agree on such crucial matters as the standards that elections should be held to, or how best to organize general opposition protests.

"One of Nemtsov's roles within the opposition was that of moderator," Pozhalov said. "He helped different opposition forces come together. He was a professional politician [having served at various times as a regional governor, deputy prime minister and a lawmaker] with loads of experience, much more than any other current opposition leader."

In the absence of such a figure, it seems that the non-systemic opposition — parties that are not represented in the State Duma — will have to search for a new moderator. But the odds of finding a figure capable of balancing the demands of all the opposition forces are slim, according to analysts.

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/...-t-consolidate-russian-opposition/516850.html

 

[Astronuc]

Kerry: US seeks 'transparent, real' probe into Nemtsov murder
http://news.yahoo.com/kerry-us-seeks-transparent-real-probe-nemtsov-murder-190056504.html

"Our hearts go out to the Russian people... This was a man who was deeply committed to a better relationship with the world."

Woman with slain Putin critic says she didn't see his killer
http://news.yahoo.com/russian-opposition-leader-asks-early-release-072058237.html

 

[Czcibor]

Czibor,

"-before his death Nemtsov said that he is afraid of being assassinated by Putin (was he also brainwashed by Western media?);"

Irrelevant point, but guess what, after that tweet anyone who wanted to hurt Putin could kill him. As for Litvinenko, it is not known who killed him and why, but even if the FSB killed him it was not because Litvinenko BSed about Putin. It would be because he betrayed state secrets.

Irrelevant point? :D :D :D

Honestly speaking I thought that irrelevant point would be the result of the whole investigation. Because that would be Putin chasing Putin.

Explain me this logic, because it's quite interesting. "As for Litvinenko, it is not known who killed him and why". Litvienko had no doubts. And you know, such Polonium is hard to buy.

No, I mean seriously. That what you say simply touches wilful blindness.

In Putin's Russia something like truth does not exist, doesn't it?Seems that Guardian reached that conclusion:

Nietzsche said it first: “There are no facts, only interpretations.” But Vladimir Putin has perfected it into a political strategy. Within hours ofopposition leader Boris Nemtsov’s murder on Friday, multiple explanations of what had gone on had been supplied to media organisations. It was because Nemtsov had forced his girlfriend to have an abortion. It was connected to Ukrainian nationalism. It was something to do with his business interests or his take on Charlie Hebdo.

Like so much electronic chaff dropped out of the back of a Tupolev bomber to confuse an incoming heat-seeking missile, the idea that there are multiple interpretations of the truth has become the founding philosophy of state disinformation in Putin’s Russia, designed to confuse those who would seek out the truth with multiple expressions of distracting PR chaff. The tactic is to create as many competing narratives as possible. And, amid all the resultant hermeneutic chaos, to quietly slip away undetected.

http://www.theguardian.com/commenti...rdian-view-russian-propaganda-truth-out-there

So you are saying Putin, who built up his support base by creating order and fighting crime, benefits from killing random opposition leaders. Why? Because apparently people will become too afraid to openly oppose him. Next you claim Russians will not suspect him of killing Nemtsov because propaganda.

No, clearly I'm not saying that he "who built up his support base by creating order and fighting crime".

He built base by:
- being lucky to have high enough oil prices to pay salaries /pensions
- burning Chechenya to ground (and presumably blowing up a few buildings before)
- consolidating state power, kept any other center of power in line (including oligarchs which is not s
- took over effectively all media to be able to brainwash his subject
-

What would Putin lose from this murder?

* His morality - nobody has claimed Putin is a psychopath.

Already perceived so from Chechen war and his infamous infiltration times.

* Massive media carnage, hate from the west.

By same logic he shouldn't have invaded Ukraine. Anyway, he is not hated for that one assasination but for more than 5000 dead in east Ukraine.

* Increased suspicion.

But he reduced price of vodka.

* Loss of order in society.

As you see - no result.

* Risk of getting caught (what if somebody talks and links the murder to the Kremlin?) that would spell his end.

In civilized country - yes. But in Russia? He so far pretends quite well not downing one Malaysian plane.

Don't you think if when brainwashed masses would immediately try to believe that Putin is innocent, then shooting a few more people is not so big deal.Anyway, you mentioned this "we don't know" concerning Litvienko. Does this relativism work both ways? I mean in cases where it's for example being claimed that Chcechen separatist did it, while are you ruling out Putin and his KGB buddies? Or you believe in relativism only in one way?

 

[Astronuc]

Nemtsov ally says Islamist motive in murder 'absurd'
http://news.yahoo.com/two-charged-nemtsov-murder-russian-court-004552765.html

How the Kremlin explain the ransacking of Nemtsov's apartment and the selective removal of material that reportedly implicates Putin in the Russian involvement in Ukraine, among other misbehavior.

 

[Czcibor]

I'm not sure which topic it fits, however Putin disappeared for a week, while official explanation are somewhat weird.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/putins-disappearance-implies-a-russian-dictatorship-20150313-142tjo.html

The last time he was seen publicly with Silvio Berlusconi. Well, of course it can be a party after which one is terribly exhausted. Anyway, its somewhat too long. :D

In Poland we joke that after Russian oligarchs lost billions on recent Putin misguided aggression, then he risks dying in a ski accident, even in the middle of summer. That would be presumably too optimistic, if he was dead I think that some usual Zionist Bandera Disciples would be blamed. However, if suddenly so many of his meetings are canceled I would assume that he had serious health emergency.

 

[JonDE]

I'm not sure which topic it fits, however Putin disappeared for a week, while official explanation are somewhat weird.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/putins-disappearance-implies-a-russian-dictatorship-20150313-142tjo.html

The last time he was seen publicly with Silvio Berlusconi. Well, of course it can be a party after which one is terribly exhausted. Anyway, its somewhat too long. :D

In Poland we joke that after Russian oligarchs lost billions on recent Putin misguided aggression, then he risks dying in a ski accident, even in the middle of summer. That would be presumably too optimistic, if he was dead I think that some usual Zionist Bandera Disciples would be blamed. However, if suddenly so many of his meetings are canceled I would assume that he had serious health emergency.

It probably deserves its own thread, as there is no evidence of this mans murder being linked to Putins disappearance.

Yet, to make the story even more interesting, the Kremlin has been caught lying again about Putins whereabouts.
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/putins-reappearance-lie-hes-sight-150453763.html
They said he met with the chairman of the supreme court, except the footage is from October.

 

[Czcibor]

It probably deserves its own thread, as there is no evidence of this mans murder being linked to Putins disappearance.

Yet, to make the story even more interesting, the Kremlin has been caught lying again about Putins whereabouts.
https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/putins-reappearance-lie-hes-sight-150453763.html
They said he met with the chairman of the supreme court, except the footage is from October.

Main suspect disappears and you consider it as unrelated? :D

More seriously: I considered making additional thread as superficial, as there is so far not much that can be said about it, without really wild speculations. Let's wait... so far journalist were suggested to not leave Moscow for weekend, not to lose some mayor announcement.
http://www.westernjournalism.com/kremlin-tells-journalists-not-leave-moscow-weekend-expect-major-announcement/#RXzHZQBlHASojxf8.97

 

[Vanadium 50]

The Swiss press seems to think that Mr. Putin is in Lugano, visiting not-his-mistress Alina Kabayeva, who just gave birth to not-his-daughter. That would explain both his absence and the unwillingness of the Russian media to report it.

 

[Astronuc]

Ostensibly, the Swiss government would know if he was in Switzerland, otherwise the Italians would know. I wonder how they do border crossings on the lake.

 

[Vanadium 50]

It's all Schengen now - no border crossings.
I don't think it would be difficult for Vladimir Putin to enter Switzerland incognito. Especially with Swiss privacy laws being what they are.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

I don't think it would be difficult for Vladimir Putin to enter Switzerland incognito.

Still, this day in age, something has to leak

 

[Vanadium 50]

something has to leak

And, as I said, it's in the Swiss media.

 

[Astronuc]

I can just imagine that EU tabloid paparazzi swarming Lugano.

I once had trouble getting into France and Spain, even though in theory they were in the Schengen agreement. As an Australian, Germany didn't require a visa, while France and Spain did. I was detained until I obtained a visa at immigration office. In Spain, my passport and plane tickets were confiscated, while I was in the country, and I could only get my passport back by presenting a boarding pass. I was on Iberia for the return trip, but then the one of the unions went on strike, so the flight was suspended. I had to get Iberia to transfer me to KLM. I wasn't sure if I could leave Spain on time.