Putin did in two steps: claimed election fraud, then claimed protesters were undesirables. Once he closed down free speech, dissenters were rounded up by private gangs (Proud boys?) and roughed up or poisoned. The Oligarch now control Russia.
I have been always wondering how all these far-right/hooligan/skinhead thugs over here breed. Yup, sponsored and controlled by the top politicians and oligarchs themselves. The same pattern everywhere. You think "they will defend us against enemy"? Nope, they'll be the first to make business with foreign thugs - drugs, human and weapons trafficking, etc.
