“Medvedev’s attack on the West is a message to the Russians. He means ‘if I replace Putin I’ll be tough’ “

LONDRA – Orlando Figes, 62, a celebrated English historian who answers us from his home in Umbria, is one of the greatest connoisseurs of Russia across the Channel, as shown by his bibliography which from September 1 will be enriched with a new, awaited and very topical volume, “The History of Russia “, from December in Italy for Mondadori. Not only that: Figes knows that well Dmitry Medvedev who now wants to “wipe out Westerners” and who was Russian president in December 2008.