Putin heads a 'fascistic’ government, says former PM Stephen Harper

National Post: 'Former prime minister Stephen Harper seemed to obliquely compare Russian President Vladimir Putin to Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler at a recent public talk, and accused the Russian leader of heading a “fascistic” government.

'“This is the 1930s all over again,” said Harper in reference to Putin’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine. “This is essentially a fascistic nationalist government in Russia invading a neighbour with total disregard for any kind of legal framework, international or otherwise, and trying to deny its right to nationhood.”

'Harper made the comments Monday during a panel at the Raisina Dialogue geopolitics conference in New Delhi. Also in attendance were former Swedish prime minister Carl Bildt and Jane Holl Lute, deputy secretary of Homeland Security under U.S. president Barack Obama.'