The bear is back. That’s what all too many Russia-watchers have been saying since Russian troops steamrolled Georgia in August, warning that the country’s strongman, Vladimir Putin, was clawing his way back toward superpower status.

Russian stocks fell, extending yesterday’s record drop, as a plan by President Dmitry Medvedev to lend billion to banks wasn’t enough to convince investors the government can halt its worst financial crisis since 1998.

Russia has appointed Yunus-Bek Yevkurov, a paratroop commander, as the new pupppet leader of Ingushetia.   Dmitry Medvedev, Russia’s president, dismissed Murat Zyazikov as president of the region, which is a federal subject of Russia, in an attempt to quell unrest there.