Seldom one comes across a country that passes through so many ups and downs, twists and turns and shifts and shuffles. Russia is a country of incredible depth and strength. At the same time it is a country of extreme weakness, which defines the uniqueness of Russian character. Abundantly rich with so many resources, geographically the largest country of the world, has by and large, remained economically poor, militarily strong, philosophically upbeat and intellectually healthy.