Good news for Vladimir Putin: Russia’s Supreme court banned a leading liberal party from standing in elections yesterday, accusing it of having too few members.
“The move against Russia’s opposition came as pro-democracy activists prepared for the latest in a series of anti-government rallies that have infuriated Russia’s hardline authorities.” The protestors are “called in by police and intimidated.” As Denis Bilunov, a pro-democracy activist, put it: “We are half a step away from a police state.”
He added: “Taking to the streets isn’t our plan, but the problem is that the opposition is being pushed out of the legislative process. This is the only way we can protest legitimately. We are being barred from federal channels and from parliament.”
Slowly but surely Putin and his buddies are errasing all opposition. It will not be long before, at long last, Russia has – officially – become a one-party ruled country once again. Critical journalists are being murdered, opposition parties are banned, networks and newspapers are ruled by the Kremlin, the list goes on and on.
Like it or not, Tsar Putin is making himself and Russia a powerplayer once again.
PAST CONTRIBUTOR.