By The Bell Russian President Vladimir Putin would have probably won the elections even if they had been free and fair, as Russians have never lived as well as they do today. The economy would have powered Putin to victory. Nor do people believe that things are about to get worse. This is particularly notable in Russia’s regions, far from the hipsters of Moscow and St. Petersburg, reports The Bell. An economy that is growing because of the needs of the military and rising government spending has ensured that wages are outstripping inflation. After the start of the war, inflation rocketed – but…