opposition - Raam op Rusland

No new mass protests in Belarus due to harsh repression

The opposition in Belarus promised a 'hot spring' with new mass protests against Lukashenko. But active repression in the last months precluded that and from 25 till 27 March there were no demonstrations to be seen. It is a failure for the opposition and a seemlingly victory for the regime, but the deep distrust has not disappeared and some day the anger of the people will erupt again.

by Kamyl Klisinski
Team Navalny needs strategy for the ‘phoney war’

With Alexei Navalny in prison and his wife Yulia and some prominent activists abroad, how has the opposition movement to regroup and find a new strategy?

by Mark Galeotti
Putin, unlimited? Challenges to Russia’s regime

Faced with a pandemic, growing inequality, and widespread dissatisfaction, the Kremlin has launched a series of measures aimed at consolidating Russia’s authoritarian political system. Will they work?

by Andrei Kolesnikov and Denis Volkov
The old ultra-violence in Moscow solves nothing and everything

Again an overwhelming police force in Moscow suppressed demonstrations for fair elections. According to our columnist Mark Galeotti, the security forces can easily deal with the small and peaceful civil disobedience. However, the situation also shows the elite's worry about the future. This regime has totally run out of ideas.

by Mark Galeotti
Protest vote disturbs Kremlin's control over regions

The results of recent regional elections were for United Russia the worst since elections for regional leaders were introduced in
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Kremlin's puzzle: how to frame Putin's re-election?

This autumn marks the start of an insecure election year in Russia. On 18 march 2018 Putin will most likely be re-elected for
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Street protest is the vital force for democratic changes

Alexey Navalny should challenge the Kremlin in a more serious way then organising street protests. It leads nowhere and may end
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The Russian Protest Movement: Not Dead, Not Alive, Just Different

by Yekaterina Schulmann

There are two widespread misconceptions about protest activity in Russia. The first is that, for
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