Vladimir Putin will use election to show war-weary Russia he’s still calling the shots

Russia’s presidential is a foregone conclusion, but the appearance of democracy still matters greatly to its leader

In news that likely shocked no one, Vladimir Putin last month announced that he will seek a fifth presidential term in the upcoming March elections.

In a country where Putin, 71, has come to dominate Russia’s political system and the media over the past two decades, the outcome will probably leave little room for imagination.