A lot of history here. Also the backstory of a Eurodance hit.
http://www.vox.com/world/2016/12/22/13982102/russia-putin-trump-hacking
When it comes to Europe's dealing with Russia, there is a strong temptation to weigh individuals according to their pro- or anti-Moscow credentials.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/comment/we-must-stand-up-to-putins-gangster-state-lclxflz9j
https://www.letemps.ch/monde/2016/12/22/france-lodeur-largent-russe-flotte-presidentielle
http://expert.ru/2016/12/22/minsk-2016-slovar-vojnyi-i-mira/
http://www.kasparov.ru/material.php?id=585BEB32C9F79
https://lenta.ru/articles/2016/12/22/face_to_face_with_east/
http://ru.krymr.com/a/28191021.html
http://inopressa.ru/article/22Dec2016/times/gangster.html
http://www.globalaffairs.ru/redcol/V-2017-m-nachnetsya-novaya-epokha-18518