Vladimir Putin - improving his image

 
Back in 1944 Josef Stalin sent all the Crimean Tatars, as well as Crimean Armenians, Greek, Germans and Bulgarians to central Siberia, claiming they were enemies to the Sovjet Union.  

In less than a week they were all gone from the Crimea peninsula, a lot of them died during the very hard trip with railroad heading east - maybe as many as 40 - 50 % ! 

The transportation was arranged by the secret police, called NKVD. Definatly not the kind of people you would like to use for travel planning. 

The deported could not return to the Crimean peninsula until 1989, maybe it is better to say the children and grandchildren of the deported returned - and today some 260 000 - 270 000 Tatars again live on the Crimaen Peninsula.

Recently Putin said he will sign a decree to rehabilitate the  people Josef Stalin deported back in 1940:ies.

This decree shall help the Tatars as well as others, like Armenians, Germans, Bulgarians and Greek, to once more settle in the old land.

So far Putin has mostly worried about his image amongst Russians. But now he is clearly working on his image also amongst the different ethnic groups within Russia.

Nobody can picture Josef Stalin worrying about his image, why should he - nobody was questioning his position ?  And if someone did, there was always a one way ticket to Siberia.  

But in April 2014 Vladimir Putin is working to improve his own image, not necessary worldwide, more like within Russia.

The more Putin stands up to the foreign politicians, and different foreign threats, the more popular he will be in Russia.

Putin realizes that in 2014 he to needs to have the right image amongst his fellow Russians.