Putin, whose grandfather had been a cook in Stalin’s court, did not cringe. For him, Stalin was not a symbol of repression but the ultimate expression of state power. Putin was neither a Stalinist nor a liberal. Trained to be a spy, he was nondescript and a skilled mimic. He could assume whatever personality best suited the situation to win the trust and sympathy of his interlocutor. His ability to perform and to blend in made people who talked to him feel that he shared their views.
