With a population of only 1.9 million, Latvia views a media grab by, say, Kremlin-friendly oligarchs as a major security threat.
Although there are other Kremlins in Russia, usually when people say "The Kremlin" this is the one they typically mean.
Mr. Khodorkovsky remains in jail awaiting trial on what many political analysts say are Kremlin-inspired charges, including tax evasion.
Andrew Weiss, former director for Russian, Ukrainian and Eurasian affairs on the White House national security council staff, said pro-Kremlin messaging was encouraged by political leaders sympathetic to Putin and those with business ties to Moscow.
"People look at [the inauguration] with interest, with the same interest as the Oscars or the Olympics," said pro-Kremlin blogger Anton Korobkov-Zemlyansky.
Critics of Putin say that Kremlin-controlled Russian media have fuelled unjustified fear of the new Kiev leadership in the east of Ukraine, where Yanukovich had his power base.
Putin denied any Kremlin involvement, saying at the time – in a statement that sounded crass, but was not completely wrong – that her death was "more damaging to the current authorities, both in Russia and the Chechen Republic, than her activities".
"They would rather exchange their country than change it," says Mr Mau.The Kremlin undoubtedly likes things that way.
We visit ROSTOV-on-Don, view the ORNATE Kremlin, say hello to Wassily LEONTIEF and recite an ode on a Russian urn (SAMOVAR).
The West should wish Mr Putin's presidency well.Moreover, the new man in the Kremlin says many of the right things.
