Behind the Headlines: Vladimir Putin: 'Dictatorial Thug' or Anti-Imperialist Stalwart?

In recent weeks Russian President Vladimir Putin has gone from being a relatively obscure leader of the Russian Federation to a house-hold name around the world. As part of that process, he has been subjected to 'trial by Western media', and the judgement is conclusive: he's a 'thug' determined to reestablish the Soviet Union at the expense of the people of Ukraine who simply want some good old fashioned freedom and democracy. But is the portrayal of Putin accurate, or even close to...