I’m sure by now you’ve all seen the hilarious video of a group of Russian police singing a version of Daft Punk’s Get Lucky whilst in uniform. Oh how we all laughed as they danced badly, sang in almost clichéd Russian accents and generally looked rather out of place.

And then, perhaps, we remembered that these could well be the same policemen who attacked gay marchers with batons. Maybe some of them are the self-same police who, in the words of The Economist,

shoot, beat and torture civilians, confiscate businesses and take hostages…[who] are feared and distrusted by two-thirds of the country

Or maybe, with their obvious love of modern music, they could be the same police who detained people for daring to protest against the incarceration of punk band Pussy Riot. Ahhh yes, Pussy Riot. They didn’t exactly get lucky did they?

Despots and crooks have always tried to keep the masses amused, often with the help of willing dupes. Putin may have let in Snowden*, but Russia is still a country where they lock up musicians, want to make talking about homosexuality a crime and criminalise anyone stupid enough to disagree with the boss, so let’s not make the mistake of being fooled by a uniformed version of Russia’s Got Talent.

*I hope he has a very long spoon.