You must know some different leftists because this whole insane Russian collusion distraction is for the most part dreamt up by leftists. And considering the laws against gays in Russia, I doubt you'll get many leftists supporting that.
And what do you mean I lose some credibility regarding my friend being a former KGB assassin? Yes some former KGB assassins have come out about the horrible things they've done. Most haven't and most haven't let go of the fact that the USSR had fallen but that doesn't mean none of them would ever call out the totalitarianism they lived under and unfortunately fought for.
I think Putin's a totalitarian too, I never said he wasn't. It's just that he's also no what the media constantly claims he is and the establishment media has made countless false claims and false equivalencies with him and what he's allegedly done.