In a new film, Vladimir Putin makes several startling statements. Some of them make it go cold down the backs of neighboring countries.
—
Until a few years ago, taking a taxi in Russia was synonymous with pirate taxis. They just held out their hand, and immediately a queue of cars stood ready. It was usually a rusty Lada or a Volga.
When the Soviet Union collapsed 30 years ago, the economy stopped completely. Poverty exploded. Driving a taxi was the lifeline for many. Several times I have sat with physics professors, diplomats or other highly educated people who had to speculate on the meager income. In the 1990s, President Vladimir Putin did this to survive. He says this in a new documentary: «Russia. The latest story. “
– Sometimes I had to work as a taxi driver to earn extra money. I do not like to talk about it, but unfortunately the conditions were like that at the time, says the president in the documentary, where he makes several sensational statements.
Read the whole case with subscription
—