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Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow late on April 29, 2026. (Getty Images)
Who is the real Vladimir Putin and what are his intentions? In Putin’s Kleptocracy, Professor Karen Dawisha provides an answer, describing how Putin rose to power, the cabal he brought with him, the billions they looted, and his plan to restore Greater Russia.
Professor Dawisha exposes the origins of modern Russian corruption, presenting extensive new evidence about the links among ex-KGB officers, businessmen, and organized crime in the early 1990s before Putin became president.
On December 10th, Hudson Institute’s Kleptocracy Initiative (KI) hosted a discussion with Professor Dawisha on the origins of Russia's kleptocracy. This session was moderated by KI Executive Director Charles Davidson.
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A sign is displayed at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) headquarters on June 1, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Getty Images)
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A man walks past an electronic board displaying the movement of 10-year government bonds in Tokyo on December 22, 2025. (Getty Images)
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(Screenshot via YouTube)
