Unsurprising connected headlines

Villas-Boas sacked by Chelsea: AVB goes after just nine months.

A statement on the club’s website read: “Unfortunately the results and performances of the team have not been good enough and were showing no signs of improving at a key time in the season. [BBC]

By any measure Abramovich is an autocrat in a world not built for the expression of extreme personal whims. A close ally of Vladimir Putin, he applies comparable impatience and intolerance to his sporting empire. Those who can hide their mistakes and display unconditional obedience survive. The front-of-house stooge — the manager — picks up the tab whenever things go wrong. The awkward squad in Chelsea’s dressing room will be feeling very smug. Another victim is chalked up. But there is a deeper problem for them and their capricious owner. You look at this Chelsea side now and see a lack of players good enough to mount another title challenge. With a 3-1 first-leg deficit against Napoli, Abramovich’s Champions League dream is receding. In management circles, the deal has long been clear: take the Chelsea job, watch your back and wait for the dismissal cheque. [Telegraph]

Russia election: Vladimir Putin celebrates victory.

Mr Putin, who supported Mr Medvedev in the Kremlin race in 2008 and became prime minister because of a constitutional ban on a third consecutive term as president, will now be in office until 2018. He could then run for another six-year term. At a news briefing on Monday, the electoral commission said that with more than 99% of the votes counted, Mr Putin won 63.75%, enough to give him a first-round victory over nearest rival Gennady Zyuganov, who polled 17.19%. [BBC]

Kremlin planning to rig election

According to the Guardian, and widespread popular belief/knowledge, Russia is resorting to threats, fraud and many other non democratic means to make sure that Medvedev, Putin’s pal, wins.

What are we to think of all this? Is there a healthy dose of hypocrisy in the behaviour of western nations when they badger other countries about their electoral processes but don’t do the same to Russia? Is this something we, normal folk, should be getting our knickers in a twist about, or is it the right policy to treat Russia as a special case? It’s a big place, it reacts badly to interference, it has immense natural resources and it tends to get all weird when not managed properly.

In some ways I think that passing Russia very carefully from one safe (as viewed from a great distance) pair of hands to another is perhaps the best thing to do. But why bother pretending to have democratic elections then? It appears that the Russian people know they are playing a game but don’t care too much about it, so why should we worry? Then again, whilst Moscow might be the world’s billionaire generator what is life like for normal Russian citizens and would it be any better if they did ever have a properly managed election?

From conversations I’ve had when visiting Moscow, it was clear that for many people there is no connection between high level politics and normal life. They just don’t think about this in the same way an American would when choosing between Clinton’B’ and Obama. They know it’s crooked and they just laugh about it. So if they don’t care, why should anyone else?

Like I said, I really don’t know what to think.