The murder of an innocent infant attributed to Godunov was an accusation later rejected by many historians, leaving a stain on Boris Godunov's enlightened reign.
He maintained the Oprichnina past:
Subjects were duty-bound to offer daily prayers for the sovereign's health.
Secret services sought out anything that could lead to rebellion and forced people to inform.
When famine struck Russia in 1601, Godunov opened food warehouses, but his good intentions raised bread prices.
As life worsened, voices grew louder, attributing the murder of Dmitry to the Tsar.
An impostor appeared, claiming to be the "miraculously saved" Dmitry.
False Dmitry's army occupied Moscow, boyars defected, people fled, and Boris, who had not complained of his health, died at age 53.
The suddenness of the Tsar's death led people to suspect pangs of conscience.
A crisis began in Russia, leading to "times of trouble" due to the death of an innocent child.
Vladimir Putin's Rule
Unlike Godunov, Vladimir Putin cannot boast of particular successes.
Two and a half years of his rule have been spent bringing the media, governors, and parliament into submission.
Special services officers compete with corrupt apparatchiks inherited from Yeltsin to snatch more money and influence.
The people continue to grow poorer despite loud statements about economic growth.
Current Social and Political Issues
Protests in Voronezh: Last week, about 25,000 people protested high utility service prices in Voronezh, stating they had nothing to pay with, and tariffs were growing faster than salaries. One poster read, "Exchanging a two-room apartment for a single grave."
Regional Hardships:
In the Krasnoyarsk region, rural school teachers declared a "hunger strike of despair."
Miners in the Urals are starving, refusing to leave the mine face due to unpaid salaries.
War and Unresolved Issues:
The war in Chechnya, which led to Vladimir Putin's rise to the Kremlin, forces gravediggers to dig more graves.
Those responsible for the explosions in Moscow and Volgodonsk remain at large.
Conclusion
Unlike the dubious accusation of murdering one infant, the accusations regarding the deaths of 247 innocent people (in the apartment bombings) are unlikely to cause the current regime's collapse, given that in modern Russian history, the number of innocent victims is counted in millions.
However, the more public discussion surrounding these issues becomes, the gloomier the prospects. One day, this whisper may grow into a formidable roar.