Luke Harding - On the Frontline of Ukraine's Struggle to Survive Russia's Illegal and Bloody Assault

There was a time when those calling Russia a mafia state, and Putin a  terrorist, were in the minority, and who were even thought of as extreme  voices. My guest today was one of those people, who along with a  handful of other writers and journalists like Edward Lucas and David  Satter called Putin out early on, while his oppressive regime was just  starting to flex its muscles. Luke Harding has observed Russia’s decent  into tyrannical absolutism and terrorism over many years, and charted  the malign influence or that country abroad, as exercised in wars,  energy politics and Active Measures.

Luke Harding is a foreign correspondent for The Guardian. He was based  in Russia for The Guardian from 2007 until, returning from a stay in the  UK on 5 February 2011, he was refused re-entry to Russia and deported  the same day. His expulsion was likely linked with his articles critical  to Russia. His 2011 book Mafia State discusses his experience in Russia  and the political system under Vladimir Putin, which he describes as a  mafia state.