Alexander J. Motyl: Lights out for the Putin regime
Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles at a meeting with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (not pictured) in Moscow on Jan. 18.
Russian President Vladimir Putin used to seem invincible. Today, he and his regime look enervated, confused, and desperate. Increasingly, both Russian and Western commentators suggest that Russia may be on the verge of deep instability, possibly even collapse.
