nobody noticed? that s what s going to happen here, except i think worse. so you actually think there s this kind of pause as russia is so clearly in the world sp spotlight and as soon as everyone packed up and has gone home, the crackdown will continue and worsen? i think it will intensify. putin feels his main concessions, because he actually released high-profile political prisoners. pussy riot among them. low-profile political prisoners have been getting harsh sentences as the preparation for the olympics continue. i think it will still lash out after the games are over. believing the eyes of the world are no longer on him. jeff, one of the things that comes through in your article and is the most upsetting about chronicling what has happened in russia is a the fact things have moved backwards but b this combination of thuggish vigilanteism with tacid state support. what you re seeing are people, citizens, stoning and beating up