Russia: Opposition politician Boris Nemtsov shot dead

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Putin did it.

Well, not in person but yes.

we still don't know if Stalin killed Kirov -- he'd probably be found not guilty in a court of law -- so I'd chill on the utter certainty with zero evidence shtick.

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Putin did it.

Well, not in person but yes.

we still don't know if Stalin killed Kirov -- he'd probably be found not guilty in a court of law -- so I'd chill on the utter certainty with zero evidence shtick.

I guess, an obvious observation is that "not enough evidence to convict in the court of law" does not quite naturally apply to those who control the evidence gathering apparatus. But, in any case, even if Stalin never gave any orders to kill Kirov (ok, let me suspend the disbelief), there is more than enough evidence that he used that murder to kill innumerable others.

no doubt on the emphasis added, and that's why I assume you compared the situation to 1934, which we'll have to see.

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to add, if Stalin did not have foreknowledge of the Kirov murder, that explains the Purge just as well as otherwise. 

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to add, if Stalin did not have foreknowledge of the Kirov murder, that explains the Purge just as well as otherwise. 

You do not need any explanation for the purge beyond Stalin wanting a purge, so in that narrow sense you are correct.

from what we know about Stalin, ie what would be regarded today as his clincal paranoia, if someone was willing and able to knock out a pol as prominent  as Kirov w/o Stalin's order, it would have been likely to make Joe lose his head.

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even if Putin "did it", somebody will have to go to jail, no?  it can't be like the murder of Tupac or Biggie.