The best part about Russia is that Putin has to die of old age at some point.

[Moses]

And the falling GDP?

Ok, one more legend should be destructed

Since 2000 Russia had 4 years when GDP was falling : 2009 (result of World crisis), 2014, 2015 and 2016 (results of oil prices). At 2017 and 2018 GDP is growing again. For comp. UK had 6 years of falling GDP since 2000, EU - 5 years.

Source: World bank https://data.worldbank.org/indicator...D?locations=RU

but if we will talk about GDP PPP (what is more fair since 3/4 of GDP been consumed internal within Russia) - then only 2 years: 2009 and 2015 were with falling GDP

Source: World bank https://data.worldbank.org/indicator...=RU&start=1990