Part 5/9:
Meanwhile, the media continues to perpetuate a narrative glorifying the government while stifling dissent. A powerful seeming "propaganda machine" has managed to keep many citizens engrossed in a cycle of manipulation, failing to see the decaying infrastructure and rising poverty around them.
The phantasm of Putin as a traditionalist protector resonates with portions of the population who remain ensnared by his charisma and promises, despite the widespread evidence of broken commitments.