Photo: https://www.rbc.ru/
"Every time the authorities need to put pressure on Alexei Navalny, they come up with some ideas connected with his younger brother,” Albats said. “They regularly put him in jail. It's a kind of hostage-taking practice."
As even the opposition representatives admitted, the street protest that took place recently were not so large-scale as expected. They turned out to be even more moderate than the previous ones. However, many experts immediately noted an increase in the number of security forces on the streets and the visibly harsher character of their actions. Against this background, it was also noted that the moods at the rally itself became more radicalized.
Anyway, the media is still discussing the events that preceded it rather than the fact that people took to the streets. After all, the rally was caused by actually two events. First, by the return of the opposition leader Alexei Navalny to Russia. He was immediately detained and arrested the next day and placed in a detention center. Secondly, by the fact that his new film was uploaded on Youtube. It is an investigation into "Putin's Palace near Gelendzhik." Along with this, Navalny's supporters also spread numerous calls for unauthorized rallies in support of the "Kremlin prisoner."
Over the medium term, political analysts and commentators will be discussing these very events and the political processes they have triggered. Predictions will be made on the possible actions of the parties making a number of suggestions as to how the authorities and the protesters might establish a dialogue if the latter is still possible.
For example, as Yevgenia Albats, a well-known Russian journalist, writer, political scientist, and social activist said on the air of the Echo of Moscow radio station, the authorities have to understand that one day everything is over.
"The Russian authorities have already gone through the events of 1991. They should understand that sooner or later, everything will all come to an end for natural reasons. However, Putin's regime will be over much earlier", she said.
Albats also reminded about the situation with putting pressure on Navalny's entourage, especially given the numerous reports of searches in his headquarters, the arrest of his wife Yulia, and much more.
"Every time the authorities need to put pressure on Alexei Navalny, they come up with some ideas connected with his younger brother,” Albats said. “They regularly put him in jail. It's a kind of hostage-taking practice."