In recent years, the Russian state has:
* Been credibly accused of murdering an exile in London;
* Expropriated foreign investments on behalf of an energy company controlled by itself;
* Cut off energy supplies to other states as a means of political intimidation, and
* Assisted secessionist rebels in neighboring states in order to keep their newly independent governments off balance.
Plus, of course, it has now - no more Mr. Nice Guy - invaded and bombed the sovereign state of Georgia.
Also, you can read another great article on the subject by Melik Kaylan at the Wall Street Journal.
