Russia Rising...

From the ashes of the Soviet Union, Russia has again risen to world power status, flushed with money, oil and attitude. The country has embraced capitalism and flung its door wide open to all the luxuries money can buy. Yet dark forces remain. The country is dominated by one man, Vladimir Putin, and democracy is dead.

This series looks at the winners and losers of Russia's resurgence and asks why people are willing to support Putinism, and exchange freedom for wealth. From military brass to social elites, oligarchs to construction workers, this series looks at those participating in the modern Russia.

Russia Rising...

Photos by ŠJustin Jin/LightMediation Contact - LightMediation Photo Agency - Thierry Tinacci +33 (0)6 61 80 57 21 thierry@lightmediation.com

1980-001: Rustam Tariko, billionaire oligarch owner of the vodka brand "Russian Standard", waves mock dollar bills to pledge donation during a charity ball in Moscow.

1980-001: Rustam Tariko, billionaire oligarch owner of the vodka brand "Russian Standard", waves mock dollar bills to pledge donation during a charity ball in Moscow.

/ 1980-02: Models getting ready for the catwalk at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow.

Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited

1980-003: A client at the MOST Club in Moscow. MOST is one of Moscow's elite nightclub.

/ 1980-04: People walk into a metro outside a casino and surrounded by billboards in central Moscow.

The Rolls-Royce is displayed as a price for the jackpot. / Russian Federation / moscow

/ 1980-05: Russian fashion designer Julia Helen, accompanied by an unidentified man, smokes a cigar at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow. Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were

/ 1980-06: Diners at the famed Turandot restaurant in central Moscow. The restaurant, built and owned

by Andrey Dellos, is modelled in Baroque style. It is a favourite among the city's rich. / Russian Federation

/ 1980-07: A male visitor at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow approaches female sales assistants bathing in whirlpools. Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands

/ 1980-08: Youngsters party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow / Russian Federation / Moscow

1980-06: Diners at the famed Turandot restaurant in central Moscow. The restaurant, built and owned by Andrey Dellos, is modelled in Baroque style. It is a favourite among the city's rich.

Russians shop at the Barvikha Luxury Village in Moscow / 1980-09: A woman and two young girls get out of a Rolls-Royce at the Barvikha Luxury Village in Moscow. / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-10: Youngsters party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-11: Female models kiss at a party organised by a Russian model agency.

Russia supplies many models to the West.

/ 1980-12: Russian artist Andrej Dzjikija talks to models standing by a car at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow. Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands

/ 1980-13: Sophia, 9, holds her rodent which she parades on the catwalk at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow. The fashion show is organised by her mother, the Russian fur designer Julia Helen. Millionaires,

/ 1980-14: Models getting ready for the catwalk at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow.

Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited

/ 1980-15: Youngsters party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow / Russian Federation / Moscow

Russians party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow / 1980-16: Russians party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow / Russian Federation / Moscow

1980-43: A homeless Russian man drink vodka on a street in Moscow several days after the New Year celebrations. Alcoholism is one of the main causes of death in Russia.

/ 1980-17: At the Vremena Goda (Seasons) shopping mall in Moscow's Kuozovsky Prospekt. / Russian Federation / Moscow

1980-018: A woman tries a dress at the Vremena Goda (Seasons) shopping mall in Moscow's Kutuzevsky Prospekt.

/ 1980-19: At the Vremena Goda (Seasons) shopping mall in Moscow's Kuozovsky Prospekt. / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-20: Nashi members, an organisation of youth activists said to be bankrolled by the Kremlim, gather at the Red Square in Moscow to demonstrate during Russia Day, a recently-created holiday celebrating

/ 1980-21: Nashi members, an organisation of youth activists said to be bankrolled by the Kremlim, gather at the Red Square in Moscow to demonstrate during Russia Day, a recently-created holiday celebrating

Pro-Putin Nashi youths summer camp in Russia / 1980-22: Pro-Putin Nashi youth Dmitry Ivanov, 20, dresses as Uncle Sam plastered with dollar bills and parading a pig at a summer camp on Lake Seliger in

Pro-Putin Nashi youths summer camp in Russia / 1980-23: Pro-Putin Nashi youths putting up a poster demonising Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili during a summer camp on Lake Seliger in Russia.

/ 1980-24: Communist supporters, carrying red flags and portraits of Lenin and Stalin, pour out on the street in Moscow on Labour Day to demonstrate. / Russian Federation / Moscow

1980-10: Youngsters party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow

/ 1980-25: Communist supporters, carrying red flags, pour out on the street in Moscow on Labour Day to demonstrate. / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-26: Bus passengers ride pass a statue of Lenin in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia's third largest city.

Dubbed Russia's third capital, the city of 1.3 million was closed to foreigners for many decades because of

/ 1980-27: Russian Neo-Nazis chant "sieg heil" in Moscow during a demonstration to celebrate Hitler?s birthday. Russia is experiencing a surge of extremism, sometimes resulting in violent attacks on

Pro-Putin Nashi youths summer camp in Russia / 1980-28: Pro-Putin Nashi youths putting up a poster demonising Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko during a summer camp on Lake Seliger in Russia. The

Pro-Putin Nashi youths summer camp in Russia / 1980-29: Pro-Putin Nashi youths participate in a summer camp on Lake Seliger in Russia. The yearly camp, organised by the nationalistic group, trains

/ 1980-30: Priests conduct a service at the world-famous Srentenski Monastery Church in Moscow, Russia. / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-31: Street sweepers clean Moscow's Red Square littered with Russian flags after a party. / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-32: Russian citizens gaze at the Church of Christ Our Saviour, where former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is having his funeral, two days after his death from a heart failure. He was 76. / Russian

1980-39: Migrant workers from Uzbekistan look at a mobile phone in a cellar in Moscow. Eleven people cram into the space. Russia is clamping down on unregistered migrant workers.

/ 1980-33: Overview of the Moscow-City, an area marked out for construction of premium office blocks. / Russian Federation / Moscow

Turkish construction workers cook meal in Moscow City / 1980-34: Turkish construction workers cook meal in Moscow City / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-35: Overview of the Moscow-City, an area marked out for construction of premium office blocks. / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-36: A policeman searches a Georgian worker before putting him and a Tajik worker (right) in prison after they were arrested for working without a permit in Moscow. Russia is cracking down on foreign

/ 1980-37: A policeman locks up four Tajik workers in a prison cell after they were arrested for working without a permit in Moscow. Russia is cracking down on foreign nationals working in its markets and

1980-038: Uzbeki migrant workers bathe in Moscow after work. The workers, who are restoring a luxury apartment, live in the houses where they work.

/ 1980-39: Migrant workers from Uzbekistan look at a mobile phone in a cellar in Moscow. Eleven people cram into the space. Russia is clamping down on unregistered migrant workers. / Russian Federation /

/ 1980-40: Migrant workers from Uzbekistan eat in a construction site in Moscow where they work and temporarily live. The workers are crammed 8 to this basement.

1980-35: Overview of the Moscow-City, an area marked out for construction of premium office blocks.

/ 1980-41: A migrant from Moldova talks to dormitory mates in the outskirts of Moscow where he lives.

The workers, all doing different jobs, are crammed 15 to a room.

1980-042: A woman walks on snow along a tram track in Oryol, a poor city in the heart of Russia.

/ 1980-43: A homeless Russian man drink vodka on a street in Moscow several days after the New Year celebrations. Alcoholism is one of the main causes of death in Russia. / Russian Federation / Moscow

1980-044: Two men pull sledges across the snow in Dzherjinsk, one of the world's most polluted cities in Russia. The city, named after founding KGB chief Felix Dzherjinski, at the heart of the former Soviet

/ 1980-45: Children play in a crumbled house in the town of Tver, between Moscow and St Petersburg. / Russian Federation / tver

/ 1980-46: A woman sells stuffed toys near a disused car that lays trashed in front of a wooden house on the road between Moscow and St Petersburg, near the town of Tver. / Russian Federation / tver

/ 1980-47: A man walks past a burnt bus that lays trashed in front of a wooden house on the road between Moscow and St Petersburg, near the town of Tver. / Russian Federation / tver

/ 1980-48: / Russian Federation /

1980-58: Members of Russia's OMON (Special Force) beat a crowd of peaceful protesters in Moscow. Police detained Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion who now leads one of Russia's strongest opposition movements, and at least 100 other activists as they gathered for a forbidden anti-Kremlin demonstration in central Moscow.The demonstration, one in a series of so-called Dissenters' Marches, increased tension between opposition supporters who complain the Kremlin is cracking down on political dissent and authorities who vow to block any unauthorized demonstrations.

1980-049: Two women push a baby pram across train tracks in Dzherjinsk, one of the world's most polluted cities in Russia. The city, named after founding KGB chief Felix Dzherjinski, at the heart of the

/ 1980-50: People push baby cart in the town of Rodniki, near Ivanovo. / Russian Federation / Ivanovo

1980-051: A Russian man falls asleep after drinking on Tverskaya street in the heart of Moscow.

Alcoholism is one of the main causes of death in Russia.

/ 1980-52: A drunk Russian youth lays in a subway in Moscow several days after the New Year celebrations. Alcoholism is one of the main causes of death in Russia. / Russian Federation / Moscow

/ 1980-53: / Russian Federation /

/ 1980-54: A couple weds on a bridge in Tyumen. The Siberian city enjoys a flush of cash from its oil and gas reserves. / Russian Federation / Tyumen

/ 1980-55: Russians watch a rehearsal of military parade for the Victory Day on May 9th in Moscow to show off Russia's arsenal and commemorate the Second World War. / Russian Federation / moscow

/ 1980-56: A man in "Russia" jacket stands in front of riot police guarding a demonstration by Communist supporters on Labour Day. / Russian Federation / Moscow

1980-11: Female models kiss at a party organised by a Russian model agency.

Russia supplies many models to the West.

/ 1980-57: Jet fighters fly over Russians celebrate Victory Day in Moscow. / Russian Federation / moscow

/ 1980-58: Members of Russia's OMON (Special Force) beat a crowd of peaceful protesters in Moscow.

Police detained Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion who now leads one of Russia's

/ 1980-59: Russian soldiers march on the Red Square after guarding it during the Russia Day celebrations. / Russian Federation / moscow

/ 1980-60: Russians watch a rehearsal of military parade for the Victory Day on May 9th in Moscow to show off Russia's arsenal and commemorate the Second World War. / Russian Federation / moscow

1980-27: Russian Neo-Nazis chant "sieg heil" in Moscow during a demonstration to celebrate Hitler's birthday. Russia is experiencing a surge of extremism, sometimes resulting in violent attacks on foreigners.

1980-61: A fashion model wears underwear designed by Pro-Putin fashion designer Antonia Shapovalova. The words say "Vova, I'm with you" (Vova is a dimunitive of "Vladimir", the first name of Mr Putin.). Shapavalova belongs to the activist youth group "Nashi", created by the Kremlin to quash political opposition.

1980-62: Youngsters kiss and collapse on the metro in Moscow, Russia.

Captions.

1980-001: Rustam Tariko, billionaire oligarch owner of the vodka brand "Russian Standard", waves mock dollar bills to pledge donation during a charity ball in Moscow.

1980-02: Models getting ready for the catwalk at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow.

Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited the fair held in the Crocus city expo centre. The four-day event, held for the second year in a row, ended on October 30. The products on sale include a diamond-studded mobile phone worth a million dollars, an island, latest sports cars and other items that might appeal to the growing millionaire market.

Twenty years ago, there were no official millionaires in the whole of Russia. Now Moscow has 25 billionaires and the country has 88,000 millionaires, according to Forbes Magazine.

1980-03: A client at the MOST Club in Moscow. MOST is one of Moscow's elite nightclub.

1980-04: People walk into a metro outside a casino and surrounded by billboards in central Moscow. The Rolls-Royce is displayed as a price for the jackpot.

1980-05: Russian fashion designer Julia Helen, accompanied by an unidentified man, smokes a cigar at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow. Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited the fair held in the Crocus city expo centre.

The four-day event, held for the second year in a row, ended on October 30. The products on sale include a diamond-studded mobile phone worth a million dollars, an island, latest sports cars and other items that might appeal to the growing millionaire market.

Twenty years ago, there were no official millionaires in the whole of Russia. Now Moscow has 25 billionaires and the country has 88,000 millionaires, according to Forbes Magazine.

1980-06: Diners at the famed Turandot restaurant in central Moscow. The restaurant, built and owned by Andrey Dellos, is modelled in Baroque style. It is a favourite among the city's rich.

1980-07: A male visitor at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow approaches female sales assistants bathing in whirlpools.

Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited the fair held in the Crocus city expo centre. The four-day event, held for the second year in a row, ended on October 30. The products on sale include a diamond-studded mobile phone worth a million dollars, an island, latest sports cars and other items that might appeal to the growing millionaire market. Twenty years ago, there were no official millionaires in the whole of Russia.

Now Moscow has 25 billionaires and the country has 88,000 millionaires, according to Forbes Magazine.

1980-08: Youngsters party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow 1980-09: A woman and two young girls get out of a Rolls-Royce at the Barvikha Luxury Village in Moscow.

1980-10: Youngsters party at the Rai

Nightclub in Moscow

to Forbes Magazine.

1980-11: Female models kiss at a party organised by a Russian model agency.

Russia supplies many models to the West.

1980-14: Models getting ready for the catwalk at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow.

Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited the fair held in the Crocus city expo centre. The four-day event, held for the second year in a row, ended on October 30. The products on sale include a diamond-studded mobile phone worth a million dollars, an island, latest sports cars and other items that might appeal to the growing millionaire market.

Twenty years ago, there were no official millionaires in the whole of Russia. Now Moscow has 25 billionaires and the country has 88,000 millionaires, according to Forbes Magazine.

1980-12: Russian artist Andrej Dzjikija talks to models standing by a car at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow. Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited the fair held in the Crocus city expo centre. The four-day event, held for the second year in a row, ended on October 30. The products on sale include a diamond-studded mobile phone worth a million dollars, an island, latest sports cars and other items that might appeal to the growing millionaire market.

Twenty years ago, there were no official millionaires in the whole of Russia. Now Moscow has 25 billionaires and the country has 88,000 millionaires, according to Forbes Magazine.

1980-13: Sophia, 9, holds her rodent which she parades on the catwalk at the Millionaire Fair in Moscow. The fashion show is organised by her mother, the Russian fur designer Julia Helen.

Millionaires, billionaires and those who bought 1,000-rouble tickets were among the thousands who visited the fair held in the Crocus city expo centre.

The four-day event, held for the second year in a row, ended on October 30. The products on sale include a diamond-studded mobile phone worth a million dollars, an island, latest sports cars and other items that might appeal to the growing millionaire market.

Twenty years ago, there were no official millionaires in the whole of Russia. Now Moscow has 25 billionaires and the country has 88,000 millionaires, according

1980-15: Youngsters party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow 1980-16: Russians party at the Rai Nightclub in Moscow 1980-17: At the Vremena Goda (Seasons) shopping mall in Moscow's Kuozovsky Prospekt.

1980-18: A woman tries a dress at the Vremena Goda (Seasons) shopping mall in Moscow's Kutuzevsky Prospekt.

1980-19: At the Vremena Goda (Seasons) shopping mall in Moscow's Kuozovsky Prospekt.

1980-20: Nashi members, an organisation of youth activists said to be bankrolled by the Kremlim, gather at the Red Square in Moscow to demonstrate during Russia Day, a recently-created holiday celebrating the independence of Russia from Communism.

was closed to foreigners for many decades because of its connection with the military.

1980-21: Nashi members, an organisation of youth activists said to be bankrolled by the Kremlim, gather at the Red Square in Moscow to demonstrate during Russia Day, a recently-created holiday celebrating the independence of Russia from Communism.

1980-22: Pro-Putin Nashi youth Dmitry Ivanov, 20, dresses as Uncle Sam plastered with dollar bills and parading a pig at a summer camp on Lake Seliger in Russia. The yearly camp, organised by the nationalistic group, trains youth in political activism.

1980-23: Pro-Putin Nashi youths putting up a poster demonising Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili during a summer camp on Lake Seliger in Russia.

The poster reads: "President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili is ensnared by charms of evil spirit Uru-ru!" The yearly camp, organised by the nationalistic group, trains youth in political activism. Georgia, a former Soviet state, has taken a tough anti-Russian stance since Saakashivili took power.

1980-24: Communist supporters, carrying red flags and portraits of Lenin and Stalin, pour out on the street in Moscow on Labour Day to demonstrate.

1980-25: Communist supporters, carrying red flags, pour out on the street in Moscow on Labour Day to demonstrate.

1980-26: Bus passengers ride pass a statue of Lenin in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia's third largest city. Dubbed Russia's third capital, the city of 1.3 million

1980-27: Russian Neo-Nazis chant "sieg heil" in Moscow during a demonstration to celebrate Hitler's birthday. Russia is experiencing a surge of extremism, sometimes resulting in violent attacks on foreigners.

1980-28: Pro-Putin Nashi youths putting up a poster demonising Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko during a summer camp on Lake Seliger in Russia.

The poster reads: "Evil spirit Uru-ru entered into our slavic brother President Viktor Yushchenko!" The yearly camp, organised by the nationalistic group, trains youth in political activism. Ukraine, a former Soviet state, has taken a more distant stance since Yushchenko took power.

1980-29: Pro-Putin Nashi youths participate in a summer camp on Lake Seliger in Russia. The yearly camp, organised by the nationalistic group, trains youth in political activism.

1980-30: Priests conduct a service at the world-famous Srentenski Monastery Church in Moscow, Russia.

1980-31: Street sweepers clean Moscow's Red Square littered with Russian flags after a party.

1980-32: Russian citizens gaze at the Church of Christ Our Saviour, where former Russian President Boris Yeltsin is having his funeral, two days after his death from a heart failure. He was 76.

1980-33: Overview of the Moscow-City, an area marked out for construction of

premium office blocks.

1980-34: Turkish construction workers cook meal in Moscow City 1980-35: Overview of the Moscow-City, an area marked out for construction of premium office blocks.

1980-36: A policeman searches a Georgian worker before putting him and a Tajik worker (right) in prison after they were arrested for working without a permit in Moscow. Russia is cracking down on foreign nationals working in its markets and construction sites.

1980-37: A policeman locks up four Tajik workers in a prison cell after they were arrested for working without a permit in Moscow. Russia is cracking down on foreign nationals working in its markets and construction sites.

1980-38: Uzbeki migrant workers bathe in Moscow after work. The workers, who are restoring a luxury apartment, live in the houses where they work.

1980-39: Migrant workers from Uzbekistan look at a mobile phone in a cellar in Moscow. Eleven people cram into the space. Russia is clamping down on unregistered migrant workers.

1980-40: Migrant workers from Uzbekistan eat in a construction site in Moscow where they work and temporarily live. The workers are crammed 8 to this basement.

Lowe down in the social pecking order in Russia are the Tajiks, Uzbeks and poor whites from odd places such as Transdniestr, the Slav enclave of Moldova, who work on construction sites in the booming city centre and sleep 12 to a room in dingy hostels on the outskirts.

Fights break out regularly in these places, over job openings, over ethnic differences.

1980-41: A migrant from Moldova talks to dormitory mates in the outskirts of Moscow where he lives. The workers, all doing different jobs, are crammed 15 to a room. Lower down in the social pecking order in Russia are the Tajiks, Uzbeks and poor whites from odd places such as Transdniestr, the Slav enclave of Moldova, who work on construction sites in the booming city centre and sleep 12 to a room in dingy hostels on the outskirts.

Fights break out regularly in these places, over job openings, over ethnic differences.

1980-42: A woman walks on snow along a tram track in Oryol, a poor city in the heart of Russia.

1980-43: A homeless Russian man drink vodka on a street in Moscow several days after the New Year celebrations.

Alcoholism is one of the main causes of death in Russia.

1980-44: Two men pull sledges across the snow in Dzherjinsk, one of the world's most polluted cities in Russia. The city, named after founding KGB chief Felix Dzherjinski, at the heart of the former Soviet Union's chemical weapons production. It is 400 KM east of Moscow and is home to a population of 300,000.

1980-45: Children play in a crumbled house in the town of Tver, between Moscow and St Petersburg.

1980-46: A woman sells stuffed toys near a disused car that lays trashed in front of a wooden house on the road between Moscow and St Petersburg, near the town of Tver.

in front of riot police guarding a demonstration by Communist supporters on Labour Day. 1980-47: A man walks past a burnt bus that lays trashed in front of a wooden house on the road between Moscow and St Petersburg, near the town of Tver.

1980-48: 1980-49: Two women push a baby pram across train tracks in Dzherjinsk, one of the world's most polluted cities in Russia.

The city, named after founding KGB chief Felix Dzherjinski, at the heart of the former Soviet Union's chemical weapons production. It is 400 KM east of Moscow and is home to a population of 300,000.

1980-50: People push baby cart in the town of Rodniki, near Ivanovo.

1980-51: A Russian man falls asleep after drinking on Tverskaya street in the heart of Moscow. Alcoholism is one of the main causes of death in Russia.

1980-52: A drunk Russian youth lays in a subway in Moscow several days after the New Year celebrations. Alcoholism is one of the main causes of death in Russia.

1980-53: 1980-54: A couple weds on a bridge in Tyumen. The Siberian city enjoys a flush of cash from its oil and gas reserves.

1980-55: Russians watch a rehearsal of military parade for the Victory Day on May 9th in Moscow to show off Russia's arsenal and commemorate the Second World War. 1980-56: A man in "Russia" jacket stands

1980-57: Jet fighters fly over Russians celebrate Victory Day in Moscow.

1980-58: Members of Russia's OMON (Special Force) beat a crowd of peaceful protesters in Moscow. Police detained Garry Kasparov, the former world chess champion who now leads one of Russia's strongest opposition movements, and at least 100 other activists as they gathered for a forbidden anti-Kremlin demonstration in central Moscow.The demonstration, one in a series of so-called Dissenters' Marches, increased tension between opposition supporters who complain the Kremlin is cracking down on political dissent and authorities who vow to block any unauthorized demonstrations.

1980-59: Russian soldiers march on the Red Square after guarding it during the Russia Day celebrations.

1980-60: Russians watch a rehearsal of military parade for the Victory Day on May 9th in Moscow to show off Russia's arsenal and commemorate the Second World War. 1980-61: A fashion model wears underwear designed by Pro-Putin fashion designer Antonia Shapovalova. The words say "Vova, I'm with you" (Vova is a dimunitive of "Vladimir", the first name of Mr Putin.). Shapavalova belongs to the activist youth group "Nashi", created by the Kremlin to quash political opposition.

1980-62: Youngsters kiss and collapse on the metro in Moscow, Russia.