Perestroika's gone - Are we surprised?

Stefan Nicola of the UPI writes: The Kremlin’s violent crack down on opposition protestors has sparked outrage, but no real diplomatic action in Western Europe. Later in his article Mr. Nicola explains this is because of Russia’s rising importance as an energy exporter.

Perhaps.

It may also be that no one expects the Russians to be otherwise. Perestroika disappeared years ago… Mother Russia never changes. [Who would want to live there?-ed. Certainly not me.]