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A flag of the United Nations flies at the United Nations Offices in Geneva on August 14, 2025. (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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Representative Don Bacon (R-NE) talks with reporters in the Capitol Visitor Center after a briefing on December 16, 2025. (Getty Images)