In modern Russia there are no free elections, therefore the political elite is almost constant.

Photo: Valentina Matvienko, Mayor of St. Petersburg, attends the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 17, 2011 in St. Petersburg, Russia. Global business leaders have gathered in Russia for the three-day conference. (Photo by Alexander Aleshkin/Epsilon/Getty Images)

Colonel Roscoe Turner, the pilot of an American Boeing plane, showing his wife a model of the plane, at the airfield in Mildenhall. (Photo by R. Wesley/Fox Photos/Getty Images). 19th October 1934

Sara White, dressed as Ginny Weasley, a fictional character in J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series, poses for portrait at the launch of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” at Foyles book store on July 30, 2016 in London, England. The script book of the play of the same name, which is on at Palace Theatre, billed as the eighth Harry Potter story, is on sale from midnight tonight. (Photo by Rob Stothard/Getty Images)

This photo taken on June 19, 2017 shows Indian yoga teacher Mahesh Yogiji attempting a world record for the longest yoga session in Ahmedabad, ahead of International Yoga Day on June 21. According to Guiness World Records, the longest yoga marathon undertaken by a man lasted 69 hours and was achieved by V Gunasekaran in Tamil Nadu in June 2016. (Photo by Sam Panthaky/AFP Photo)

Golden gate Bridge Fog Thick early morning fog engulfed a huge world famous bridge so that only the very tip of it is visible above the clouds. Photographer Ali Erturk, 33, hiked to the spot at 4am to capture the stunning sight of the Golden Gates bridge immersed in the dense swirls of fog. (Photo by Solent News and Photo Agency)

Members of security forces secure Tahrir Square in Cairo, Egypt, November 11, 2016. Egypt imposed a big security clampdown in its cities on Friday as mass demonstrations called to protest against austerity measures failed to take place. Riot police and armored vehicles filled the otherwise empty streets of central Cairo, but most people stayed at home. (Photo by Mohamed Abd El Ghany/Reuters)

German field telegraph operators at work in Warsaw. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images). 1st October 1914

A glass is checked at the table for China's top leaders before the start of a reception to celebrate National Day at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China September 30, 2016. China celebrates its National Day on October 1. (Photo by Damir Sagolj/Reuters)