How were the #Navalny demonstrations across Russia on Saturday different from past waves of mass protest? @Baunov breaks it down and challenges some of the wishful thinking that is now in circulation.
https://twitter.com/baunov/status/1353671366675980288
For example: @Baunov says the protest was less about supporting Navalny personally and more about public anger "about the Kremlin's lawlessness and the usurpation of power of allowing President Vladimir Putin to effectively remain in the job for life"
The make-up of the demonstrations is also important: "the most militant protesters didn’t look like the typical supporters of pro-democracy protests...[they mostly] work in the service sector or office jobs and are [people] dissatisfied with their jobs, salaries, and prospects"
Baunov also explains the Kremlin's spin on the protests as part of a Western plot: "By preemptively exaggerating the confrontation to justify their harsh reaction. They’re on the front line, resisting a revolution sponsored by foreign enemies whose aim is to destroy Russia."
With Biden now leading a chorus of Western leaders condemning Putin and embracing Navalny, Baunov warns, "It’s hard to imagine any public wavering among the ranks of the Russian regime’s soldiers." END
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
