VIENNA — For those who still wondered who Vladimir Putin is, the mystery is over. His latest actions show that he is Russia's new autocrat. He is a czar, pure and simple. The seven years since Putin assumed power in the Kremlin have been a time of conflicting signals. On one hand, he appears to be an educated and dynamic leader committed to modernizing Russia. On the other, with the help of the military-industrial KGB complex — the "siloviki" — he has systematically weakened or destroyed every check on his personal power, while strengthening the state's ability to violate citizens' constitutional rights.
Last week, Putin told the United Russia party that he will place his name at the top of its ballot for the parliamentary election scheduled for Dec. 2, which could enable him to become Russia's new prime minister after the presidential election due in March 2008.
Of course, as he put it, Russia will have to elect as president a "decent, competent, effective, modern person with whom it would be possible to work in tandem." But what that really means is that Russia will have to choose a man Putin has handpicked to do his bidding.