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I've read it took Putin something like four years.

He came into power 1st Jan 2000, and by 2004 people were no longer speaking openly, from fear.

We can say there were autocratic tendencies from the beginning, as well as "tightening the screws", but he went full batshit insane only somewhere after the Maidan revolution.

No it started on the day of a particular nato meeting (Munich) where putin gave a bizarre speech.

Which 1 year after he invaded Georgia.

I take it you mean the 2007 Munich speech: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_Munich_speech_of_Vladimir...

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