Fascist leaders like Putin play a dangerous game: they must always appear strong to ward off challengers to their tyranny. But, each time they lie they incur a debt to the truth that they are fundamentally weak, which is why they became fascists in the first place. Eventually the lies only serve to make them appear weaker until their brittle power crumbles in their clenched fists.

Apparently Putin has taken to living in his gilded cages to avoid assassination.