MOSCOW -- Relapses are always regrettable, particularly when the gains lost had been won at such a high cost.
It took the Russian people about two centuries to get a political system that provided for free elections, but it has taken only 15 years for them to lose it. The presidential elections scheduled for March 14 are farcical: Russian President Vladimir Putin won't be the only person on the ballot, yet the participation of the candidates is purely symbolic. Not one has the slightest chance of challenging Putin in earnest.
Without doubt, Russia is doing better economically under Putin than under his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, and it has become more politically stable as well. But the overall improvements are not enough to assure Putin an easy victory in March without special efforts on the part of him and his team.