A number of readers have emailed me to enquire why I didn’t include Vladimir Putin on the list of “Usual Suspects” donors I should approach in support of the Assange cause. (See 11/feb post)

The simple reason is that it would be just too impolite to rain on Puty-pute’s parade and list his name alongside that of some of the world’s greatest lunatics while he is doing such a terrific job hosting the games in Sochi.

Another reason might well be that the Russians have got all they want from Assange (and now Snowden) and it is clear they have no intention of forking out one single rouble more than the 34,758,000 roubles ($US10 million) that has been already agreed to be paid to each of them.
But I’m not so sure about that one …