What Putin and Gandhi Have in Common

From Georgy Bovt in the Moscow Times:

It is clear that Putin and Gandhi are kindred souls in at least one aspect: Both see, or saw, themselves as people with a mission. It is abundantly clear that Putin sees himself this way, and the importance of his own personal role is accentuated by his lack of trust in the country’s political and economic elites. This is why Putin is so bent on maintaining personal control over everything — a desire that has only increased over the years. If someone makes an unauthorized move, he or she will regret the show of independence.