Sergei Pugachev in BBC's film Putin The New Tsar

How did a poor boy from a tiny flat in St Petersburg become one of the world's most powerful leaders? There are revelations from Putin's inner circle at the Kremlin, including former confidante Sergei Pugachev, who helped Putin to power before falling from favour.

[@tatsianaketsko1479]

Вот ,что случается,когда люди играют в Бога.

[@user-lu9rg8yj7k]

С кем случается?

[@USGrant21st]

It's mindboggling how such a mediocrity, total nobody could become the ruler of a great country. It's totally understandable that Sobchak went nuts when he heard about those plans. But why in the world nobody else objected? It's like that movie Being There, only a lot more tragic.

[@Freigeist2008]

Because they thought, that they could use him as an marionette. But he was more clever and in power cut the power of the oligarchs

[@user-gf3wn1ne9n]

What do you mean, Sobchak went nuts? I don't think I've heard about him objecting to Putin as President before.

[@USGrant21st]

@@user-gf3wn1ne9n you haven't heard because you haven't listened to other Pugachev's interviews.

[@user-gf3wn1ne9n]

@@USGrant21st I was not trying to cast doubt on what you said. I thought you could mention where exactly you learned that so I could read about it myself.

[@tatianahawaii13]

А меня физически тошнит как какие то никто поделили страну, и н@срали на людей.

[@wowki]

А голосовать то за кого?

[@sausar5014]

Интервьюер про него сказал вы француз... стал русским, таких пруд пруди на верху и воруют у якутов, бурят, татар, тувинцев, народ никому не нужен, угнетён.

[@ibrahimaden5707]

How can he be weak if he rose from a mayors office to president in a country that was messy and disorganized i sense nothing but jealousy here and am not even russian or the smartest but i know when i see how one can rise from the ashes and not only taker over a fragile nation but also turn it i. To a strong one

[@alect5953]

Every world leader since the 1920s has been bought out and are the weakest individuals mentally. Only weak leaders bring in authoritarian measures for control. Putin is known for imprisoning opposing politicians, journalists who criticize him negatively, protesters and, musicians who are against the orthodox church or criticize putin or mention the atrocities committed by the Soviet Union. He's also known for terrorizing neighboring countries over Soviet territories that are no longer part of Russia due to the USSR collapsing.

[@USGrant21st]

@Ibrahim Aden -- he didn't rise to anywhere, he was lifted there, first by irresponsible actions of Yeltsin's family and a few oligarchs, then by his KGB cronies. The world's never seen such a mediocrity on Russian throne.

[@tatianahawaii13]

@@USGrant21st can’t agree more