Russia

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World history is filled with authoritarian rulers who have pretended to excel athletically, including Russia President Vladimir Putin on the hockey rink.

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A video showing Chechen insurgent leader Doku Umarov was released Feb. 7, 2011, after a deadly suicide bombing at Russia's largest airport for which he claimed responsibility. Russian authorities say Chechen separatists were involved in a foiled plot targeting Sochi, the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. (Associated Press)

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Hotels are under construction in December 2011 at the Rosa Khutor ski resort in Krasnaya Polyana, Russia, near the Black Sea resort of Sochi, site of the 2014 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Igor Yakuninm)

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Vladimir Putin enters St. Andrew's Hall on Monday to take the oath of office as Russia's president in the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow. Mr. Putin was sworn in for a third term after four years as prime minister. (Associated Press)

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New York Rangers center Artem Anisimov (42), of Russia, shoots the puck past Washington Capitals goalie Braden Holtby (70) for a goal during the second period of Game 4 of an NHL hockey Stanley Cup second-round playoff series, Saturday, May 5, 2012, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

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Russia's Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov warns that talks between Moscow and Washington on the U.S.-led NATO missile defense plan in Europe are "close to a dead end" on May 3, 2012, as officials scrambled to save the deal at a top-level conference. (Associated Press)

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Russian leader Vladimir Putin (right) examined a proposed project last year in Tver, one of his country's poorest regions. Residents are becoming increasingly frustrated as government spending on roads and other infrastructure has dried up. (Associated Press)