It is tough to fathom a time when Russia celebrated free speech, liberty, and the right to criticize in recent years. Since the accession of Vladamir Putin as the de-facto President of Russia, any critics or opponents were quickly muffled. One such outspoken critic is Alexei Navalny, a lawyer-turned-activist who uses his blog to critique Putin, amassing over millions of followers. He is what the current government sees as a massive threat to his power.
Over the past few days, large protests have erupted around central hubs of Russia, in dispute of Navalny’s abhorrent treatment and arrest on largely false accusations. The Russian Police have detailed over 3,000 people in connection to the protests, while insiders claim this value too much higher. Demonstrations across the country in an era of vigilant censorship is a rare sight in Russia, with reports suggesting these are the biggest protests in the past decade- Moscow being a hub for activists to voice their concern and their opinion as anti-riot police use brute force to keep the public in check.
Navalny has attempted to run for president in 2018, only for corruption charges to be placed right after his formal announcements. The systematic blockages against Navalny’s rise to power have garnered an angered youth- wanting to see change and development in a stagnant, post-Cold War Russia.
In 2019, Navalny consumed tea that was laced with the Soviet-era poison “Novichok”, causing Navalny to be in a Coma. His return to Russia post-treatment and arrest are the actions that lead to these mass protests.
The scene was heart warming for many in the West, who believe that with the right opposition, Putin’s reign can finally come to an end. Only time can tell us how things will unfold, and if we will ever see a Russia without Putin at the helm.
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