Why is poisoning Putin's go-to method for silencing opponents?

[redstateblues]

Seems like it would be easier to just shoot them-though I guess there is no deniability with that

[Rex]

1. Tradition.

[Lithos]

2. Terror

The threat of an agonizing death...

L-

[moondust]

3. Boris Nemtsov was shot dead 2 years ago.

Near the Kremlin.

Nemtsov had been one of current President Vladimir Putin's most vocal critics.

It may just be a question of what options are available. Maybe they couldn't get close enough to Nemtsov to use more subtle means or perhaps timing was of the essence for some reason.

[mshasta]

4. Slow punishment

so others can learn


and also who will confirm Putin people did it?...

[Dave Starsky]

5. Takes a long time before it's noticed.

Months or even years before you realize what happened to you. Way too late to do anything about it.

[ProudLib72]

6. Poisoning is sadistic, Putin is sadistic

You hear every once in awhile about some sick bastard poisoning dogs with tainted meatballs. The news discusses how sick in the head the person is. They catch him and he turns out to be completely mental.

Same thing with Putin except he graduated from poisoning dogs to poisoning people.