Mugshots with Michael Crick

Vladimir Putin: The Sphinx of the Kremlin

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Episode notes

Michael Crick profiles the people who shape our world. This time: Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine has unmasked him as a paranoid autocrat and a probable war criminal. But for much of his career the Russian leader was an unreadable mystery. The West thought it could manipulate this former KGB/FSB officer… yet he ended up manipulating them. What made Putin so effective? And where will his brutal adventures end?

Michael Crick looks at the making of a tyrant with former NATO Secretary General Lord George Robertson, former British ambassador to Russia Laurie Bristow and intelligence expert Mark Galeotti.

• “Russia is not going to stand in a queue with a bunch of other countries that don’t matter.” – George Robertson
• “Once Putin is in the top job, he very quickly makes it clear that he’s not planning on being anyone's factotum.” – Mark Galeotti
• “There isn’t a great deal of mystery about what Mr Putin thinks about Russia and the world. There’s quite often a lot of doubt about what he'll actually do.” – Laurie Bristow
• “Putin doesn’t want to kill you unless you force him to.” – Mark Galeotti

Written and presented by Michael Crick. Produced by Neil Fearn. Additional research by Mathilda Walters. Audio production by Alex Rees. Music by Jade Bailey. Group Editor: Andrew Harrison. Mugshots is a Podmasters Production.

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