Various groups in Russia have been claiming that Vladimir Putin is shutting down free democracy. So when they decided to organize a march in Moscow, Putin did what any self-respecting bastion of freedom would do: sent in the military and arrested people.

Russian riot police detained as many as 200 demonstrators Saturday, including opposition leader and former chess champion Garry Kasparov, in a crackdown on a banned protest in central Moscow. Thousands of riot police and interior ministry soldiers in camouflage battledress flooded the city centre to prevent a march by The Other Russia, a coalition of groups that accuse President

Vladimir Putin of dismantling democracy. Kasparov, one of the leaders of The Other Russia, was detained as he attempted to lead demonstrators on to the historic Pushkin Square, an AFP correspondent saw.

Sometimes I wonder how I was lucky enough to be born in America. I routinely criticize our government for their designs on restricting freedom. But here, freedom is the rule, not the exception. In most other countries, it’s the exact opposite.

Now, considering April 15th is almost upon us, it would be nice if our government could learn a little bit from one of the good things Putin has done…