Sir, – Russia used to dislike referendums, fearing they might lead to the break-up of the Russian Federation; such a policy used to be called, after those famous Russian dolls, “matryoshka nationalism”. Then, in South Ossetia, Putin changed his mind; and now he wants them, wherever it suits his objectives. But does he also support them in Buryatskaya, for example, let alone in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Tibet and Xinjiang? – Yours, etc,
PETER EMERSON,
The de Borda Institute,
Belfast.