Lately, whenever I see another article blaming Russia for turning authoritarian again, or threatening Europe (with the infamous “energy weapon”), or bullying its – usually gutsy – neighbors, I cringe.

The anti-Russian drumbeat in that period has been consistent and persistent, replete with talk of a new Cold War, uniformly blaming Russia for the tense relations now existing between them and the West, such that the image of Russia again is that of a dangerous, treasonous and unpleasantly powerful enemy, led by vicious ex-KGB officers, and crushing democracy and human rights within and without.