And this changes things how exactly? The Russian population is not going to replace their rulers. Think about it, Romanians, generally regarded as one of the most oppressed and backwards population in the Soviet block--they were so desperate that they stopped tourists passing through Romania and begged them for contraceptives (banned under the Ceausescu regime); they were as demoralised and impoverished as you can imagine. Ownership of typewriters was controlled by the state and you had to register your machine with the local police station. And yet, they finally rebelled and got rid of the dictator. There is nothing that makes me think Russians are willing to do the same, ever. At the core of it is total disregard for human life and freedom. The state teaches the people that they do not matter and the people do not care for each other and for what will happen to them.