Gleb Pavlovsky: Putin will soon face same problem as Stalin

'Putin will soon face the same problem as Stalin faced in the 1920s. This is the problem of unchallenged leadership.'

As a Rosbalt correspondent reports, this was announced today by President of the Effective Policy Foundation Gleb Pavlovsky, while speaking at a conference entitled Modernisation of Russia: Conflicts and Dangers in Building a Post-Industrial Society.

In Mr Pavlovsky's opinion, the Soviet leader was unable to build a non-violent system of power. 'However, this was not only down to Stalin. This is a real problem which will continue to arise in Russia.' He said the question lies in how Mr Putin decides to use his power.

He added that 'the problem of unchallenged leadership is a very serious political problem and only an idiot can fail to understand this.'