They were there in support of Alexei Navalny, Russia’s leading opposition politician, who is in prison and on hunger strike. Stanislav, a university student who did not give his last name for fear of being expelled, had been terrified of joining the protest. But the prospect of walking with others like him, of feeling part of a “political nation”, brought him to the streets. He, like others, expected the worst.
Most of Mr Navalny’s closest allies have been detained or have fled abroad. His political organisation faces liquidation. On April 21st, as Mr Putin addressed the nation, his security goons were whisking away those of his opponents who had not yet left the country. One cameraman, who worked on the investigations into graft with which Mr Navalny shamed Mr Putin, faces two years in prison for a tweet.
Mr Putin witnessed the danger of a popular revolt when protests erupted last August in Belarus, after Alexander Lukashenko, the country’s dictator, stole an election. That uprising lacked a single political leader: Mr Lukashenko jailed his opponents or drove them out of the country. In Russia, by contrast, the opposition had a focus. Mr Navalny, who cheered the Belarus rebellion as a harbinger for Russia, was gaining support. The Kremlin was rattled.
The real reason for Mr Putin’s repression is that he and his party are losing support. With parliamentary elections due in September, approval ratings for his United Russia party have sunk to 27%. Trust in the president is slipping too. And the popularity of other opposition parties, however slight, is rising along with an appetite for economic protest. Mr Putin risks having to rig the results so outlandishly that his position could be even more discredited.
Russia’s aim in amassing so much firepower was probably to squeeze Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s president. Mr Zelensky has clamped down on pro-Russian media outlets and oligarchs in recent months, to the Kremlin’s frustration. He has also resisted granting autonomy to Russian-backed separatists in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Obviamente si Nalvani es peon de ustedes el globalismo mundial con este peon van por Rusia ..logico se pasan mintiendo sobre Putin
He’ll become the world’s nemesis.
Repressive ? What are you, Democrat ?
I love this subject. Followed.
Putin needs support? This is a man that poisoned his opponent and then jailed him when he survived.
The Western press has wanted to take advantage of the Alexei Navalni case, a common criminal who takes refuge in an alleged opposition to Vladimir Putin. But, that same press turns its back on migrants who drowned or blacks killed by the racist gringo police.
The economist is mad that their regime change propaganda failed
U seriously have no other subject? Unfollow.
HillaryTaylorVI UgandaIsBleeding
😂Do you guys have competitions about who come up with the most exaggerated copy For the second time in a row there was zero police brutality during illegal protests in Russia. UK passes Laws to make all protests illegal so does USA where cops cant go a day without murdering ppl
Well maybe Alexei should EAT
People need a little more good news now.
He’s on a hunger strike. Just ask him to eat. That simple.
If Putin kills Navalny all hell will break loose on the streets
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