Freedom House Putin's Foreign Admirers “As an operator, but not as a human being, | would say Putin [is the most admirable world “Putin decides what he wants to do, and he leader]. The way he played the whole Syria does it in half a day, right? He decided he had thing. Brilliant.” to g§0 to their parliament—he went to their —Nigel Farage, former leader of UK Independence Party parliament, he got permission in 15 min- utes.... He makes a decision and he executes z are i ; : | admire his cool head. Because there is a it, quickly. Then everybody reacts. That's what : Ila leader” cold war being waged against him by the EU you ca at the behest of the United States, which is —Rudolph Giuliani, former New York City mayor defending its own interests. | admire that he has managed to restore pride and content- “In my opinion, Putin is right on these is- ment to a great nation that had been humili- sues.... Obviously, he may be wrong about ated and persecuted for 70 years.” many things, but he has taken a stand to pro- —Marine Le Pen, leader of France's National Front tect his nations children from the damaging effects of any gay and lesbian agenda. “Between Putin and [Italian prime minister —Franklin Graham, American Christian evangelist Matteo] Renzi | will always choose Putin. | wish Putin tomorrow morning became chair- “Putin is certainly a pure democrat, but with man of the Council of Ministers of Italy.... Pun- an authoritarian style. Russia is a great state. ishment against Russia [through sanctions] is The president has been endowed with great a stupid measure, which will cost us 5 billion power by the constitution... Putin tries to euros. If there is a part of Ukraine, which keep Russian interests from his perspective.” wants to be Russia, | don’t see why not." —Heinz-Christian Strache, leader of Freedom Party of —Matteo Salvini, national secretary of Italy's Northern Austria League parties supported Russian interests on a select group For Russia, the payoff from