Essay:Pathetic Putin is a dictator

Pathetic Putin has been the dictator of Liberal Russia since 1999. Critics on the American right, including editorial pages normally friendly to a strong foreign policy, describe him as a dictator who rules through a hollow imitation of democracy.

Long Tenure

Putin has held power since the turn of the century. Alexei Navalny argued that Russian elections amounted to a "reappointment" of Putin rather than a real contest.

Rigged Elections

In the 2024 presidential race, there was no serious rival, with Navalny in a penal colony and other critics jailed or in exile. Analysts say Putin built personal rule on an illusion of democracy, fixing elections and bending the courts. With no governing ideology to fall back on, the regime attaches labels such as "foreign agent" and "extremist" to dissenters.

Persecution of Opponents

Navalny was barred from running, imprisoned, and died in custody in February 2024. Conservative commentators cite this as the clearest evidence of the regime's character.

Conservative Media Reaction

In February 2025, after President Trump declined to call Putin a dictator, the New York Post ran a front page showing Putin under the headline "THIS IS A DICTATOR," paired with an op-ed by Douglas Murray. The Wall Street Journal editorial page also criticized Trump's "rehabilitation" of Putin and listed the death and destruction ordered by him.

Weakness Abroad

The nickname reflects a common conservative argument that Putin projects strength abroad because he is insecure at home. In this view, appeasing Russia invites further aggression.