Navalnyi: totalitarian Russia's social experiment?

Ivan Valiushko

expert of the National Institute for Strategic Studies

After the Russian demonstrations on January 23, the expert community's romantic wing once again saw signs of the Putin regime's ending. In fact, they cannot be equated with legendary ruthless riots or any significant threats to the Kremlin's stability. However, the next rallies have been announced for January 31 and the situation may change. So far, the only conclusion is the realization that Aleksei Navalnyi is allowed much more in Russia than one would expect from the "power-opposition" battle. 

Khabarovsk Frontier Governor Sergei Furgal was removed from the political scene as soon as his popularity among citizens became clear. Such a competitor is useless to Putin, so he was got rid of at an early stage. Furgal's political career ended (most likely) despite unquenchable rallies in support. Instead, one can consider Navalnyi a "recidivist." He's more often behind bars than on the outside, without staying in jail for long. Even the virtuoso and pocketing Russian judiciary can do nothing with it, which only adds power units to the opposition politician. And the question should emerge why the Russian Themis, aggressive and steadfast in opposing dissent, twists everyone's hands but is powerless only against Navalnyi.