MOSCOW -- 2004 is a leap year. Merely an astronomical convenience in most countries, in Russia a leap year has been traditionally regarded as a bad year, potentially charged with calamities. Ironically enough, none of the country's worst years was a leap year: neither 1917, when the Communists took power, nor 1937, when Josef Stalin's great terror struck, nor 1941, when Germany attacked.
The last leap year, 2000, was important, though. On New Year's eve, President Boris Yeltsin abruptly stepped down, and Vladimir Putin grabbed the helm.
Putin is one of those rare leaders who always has a plan -- whether realistic or not. In 2000, he aspired to win the hearts of his fellow citizens, purge financial oligarchs who had brought him to power -- and, therefore, hoped to manipulate him -- improve the economic situation and, last but not least, safeguard Russia against democracy and cosmopolitanism. Remarkably enough, he was successful in all his endeavors: His ratings soar, the oligarchs are in exile or in jail, exports of oil have kept the treasury full and authoritarianism and nationalism are quickly extinguishing democracy and Westernization.