- What was the situation in Russia just before Putin's first term?
- Just before Putin came to power, Russia could be compared to an accident-prone car that had a failing engine and needed a repair and whose brakes did not function well. Some kind of repair has been made over four years. The engine is working a bit more regularly and a cosmetic repair has been conducted. It is advisable to launch this car on that broad road that Russia deserves. Putin has at least slowed down processes connected with disintegration of the country, non-payment of wages, the situation in the Army. Morally and materially, the population wants to feel it in its stomach, feel the improvement in housing, healthcare, and education. It is more difficult to let people feel it. What he has done is not too affordable for individual citizens.
- Do you agree with an opinion that over four years Putin has managed to bring back the manageability of the enforcement structures and repressive apparatus?
- In principle, yes. The danger of a state coup conducted by some political forces or the Army does not exist any more. There is no danger of the underworld capturing the whole or a part of the country. The level of security is higher and resources are not being squandered as was the case under Yeltsin, Berezovskiy, and their ministers. But again, the life of individual people has not improved. Yet, our car is still moving, its engine is working, it is no so cold inside -- there are fewer problems. In state terms, the strengthening is tangible. In terms of social issues, the only achievement is that the (pay) arrears are eliminated.
- Why have some of Putin's actions aimed at resuscitating the state caused panic on the part of the elite?
-Our country is in a condition requiring screw-measures. The elite is afraid of them. It can be compared to medical treatment: Surgery is needed, you have to cut, but all are afraid of blood. A new surgeon comes and says: "I must conduct one more operation." The elite has this kind of fear, but it is a very insignificant part of the population. If Zyuganov had stayed in power for four years and revived gradually Soviet standards, that could have provoked fear. Yet, Putin has shown with his policy that Russia will have a multi-party system, that its economy will be diverse, and that the West will no longer be the No. 1 enemy for us. He has achieved it.
- What would be now had we not had Putin?
- Chaos would have continued because instead of Putin the president would have been Aksenenko or Chernomyrdin and prime minister -- Berezovskiy or his man, such as Khodorkovskiy or Kasyanov, but the situation in the country would have been much worse. If Zyuganov had come, it would have been even worse. I select two options: My team and I, we would have faster conducted the actions improving the domestic situation. Putin does it slowly and cautiously.
- Does your party or do you personally have complaints about Putin?
- Only one complaint: personnel policy. He will rely on those who do not raise enthusiasm among our people. Putin's threat is 2008. He will try to take a successor from his team, from among such silent people who will never do or promise something radical. Modernization will not work out. Our country is so big and cold that it cannot be renovated -- painted, repaired -- with European brushes. Russia is an explosive country. It needs another Aleksandr Nevskiy or Peter the Great, or Stalin. This is a problem of the Putin regime: They want to do it slowly but people cannot take it. People will die or take up arms. With this team, he will not be able to get over the year 2008.
Putin does many good things but they are neutralized by continuing negative processes. We need a breakthrough. It is like with a sick man: He takes medicine and his body temperature is 37.5 degrees. But it was 39 under Yeltsin. Putin has reduced the fever but has not eliminated it. In other words, the man feels unwell. Thanks to Putin, the fever is lower but I am still sick. Let me get well.

 Izvestia