There's a decent documentary about his rise to power. He clawed his way to the top by whatever means available to him during the Soviet era, so he isn't "good" per se, at least THEN he wasn't a good guy. I agree with other replies that his professed Christian foundations at this stage in life would indicate he isn't the ruthless Kleptocrat of his younger days.
Regardless, to maintain power as he has, in that environment, would at least hint that he knows how to make an enemy disappear quickly, quietly, and forever.
There's a decent documentary about his rise to power. He clawed his way to the top by whatever means available to him during the Soviet era, so he isn't "good" per se, at least THEN he wasn't a good guy. I agree with other replies that his professed Christian foundations at this stage in life would indicate he isn't the ruthless Kleptocrat of his younger days.
Regardless, to maintain power as he has, in that environment, would at least hint that he knows how to make an enemy disappear quickly, quietly, and forever.