Who are the people keeping Vladimir Putin in power? Much is made of the oligarchs and their billions of dollars. Their support has been vital to keeping Putin financed. But how is his influence protected? This is now down to his Saint Petersburg friends: a collection of "hard men" who are in positions of power that they own to Putin. If the Russian leader were to be deposed – or even more unlikely – democratically voted out of power, these strongmen would do everything possible to stop that. Our guests discuss how democracy, freedom and the truth are quashed in Russia today.