April 21, 2014.

U.S.-Russia Relations Come Full Circle After Ukraine

"That’s the one you ought to be taking, not me!" he shouted. "You didn’t hear what he was saying after they bashed his face. Give me a chance and I’ll tell you every word of it. HE’S the one that’s against the Party, not me." The guards stepped forward. The man’s voice rose to a shriek. "You didn’t hear him!" he repeated. "Something went wrong with the telescreen. HE’S the one you want. Take him, not me!"

When then-Prime Minister Vladimir Putin was seeking to return as Russia's president in December 2011, he watched as Moscow's streets filled with the biggest anti-Kremlin rallies in years.

The two sturdy guards had stooped to take him by the arms. But just at this moment he flung himself across the floor of the cell and grabbed one of the iron legs that supported the bench. He had set up a wordless howling, like an animal. The guards took hold of him to wrench him loose, but he clung on with astonishing strength. For perhaps twenty seconds they were hauling at him. The prisoners sat quiet, their hands crossed on their knees, looking straight in front of them. The howling stopped; the man had no breath left for anything except hanging on. Then there was a different kind of cry. A kick from a guard’s boot had broken the fingers of one of his hands. They dragged him to his feet.

Mr. Putin played the anti-American card. He charged on state television that the U.S. treated its allies like "vassals," a line he would repeat as he reclaimed the presidency from Dmitry Medvedev, with widespread support.

"Room 101," said the officer.

The State Department tried to brush aside Mr. Putin's rhetoric, even suggesting the word "vassals" might have been mistranslated.