>> the crackdown was not shown on russian television. >> for 94% of russians, their main source of news is television. if it didn't happen on television, it didn't happen. >> putin's control of television is absolutely no critical word about vladimir putin on the russian air waves, none, not one word. >> putin controls everything in russia. >> putin has an untrammeled authority. >> i don't see any checks on his power. >> he is able to make singular, rapid decisions. the absolutism there is unlike anything i've ever seen in russia.