Laboratories of Autocracy

As Putin begins rebuilding the Russian Empire with a grouping of Russia, Khazakhstan, and Belarus--with the addition of Ukraine's Crimea as a placeholder for the eventual absorption of all of "the" Ukraine--Putin's men can treat their new provinces as laboratories of autocracy.

Say, isn't the 19th century way of doing things over?

The FT's Isabel Gorst reports Belarus will no longer allow farm laborers to leave their jobs if they want to move to the city.

Serfdom, eh?

Putin no doubt would love to be able to get away with this. Let's see how Belarus makes it work.

Tip to Instapundit.