"This year Russia has become a different country. It is no longer a democratic country. It is no longer a free country". Andrey Illarionov
This is a significant quote because Illarionov was the senior economic adviser to Vladimir Putin. It was he who persuaded Putin to begin a flat tax in Russia that caused its economic boom. He also played a key role in eliminating Russia's foreign debt and in creating the fund that used oil revenues to boost foreign reserves and create a soverign wealth fund. He also obtained admittance for Russia into the G8 and was Putin's personal representative to that organization. The above quote was stated at the time of his resignation. He now lives in the West and works for the Cato Institute.
Here is an excellent article in which many Russian citizens who are striving for basic human rights in their country condemn Russia's invasion of Georgia. It is a factual, unbiased recitation of events thus far:
Human Right Defenders Condemn Russia's Operation in Georgia
