One is atop the Kremlin, the other is languishing in one of Russia’s toughest prison colonies. Although Russian President Vladimir Putin is careful not to pronounce the name of his most famous opponent, Alexei Navalny, an intense battle is raging between the two men.
Poisoned in August 2020, treated in Germany and then back in Russia where he is now imprisoned, Alexeï Navalny leads, with the help of his supporters, a major communication offensive, the culmination of which was a long video investigation into a huge palace owned by Vladimir Putin on the shores of the Black Sea.
For its part, the Kremlin is stepping up initiatives to restrict the room for maneuver of opponents of the president, by strengthening the regulation of the Internet or by suspending the activities of “Navalny HQ”, the main relays in the field of Alexeï Navalny’s political struggle. .
But does Vladimir Putin really have something to fear? What is the real political weight of Alexey Navalny in Russia? Can the Kremlin change hands?
Sources:
Survey Institute Levada
The demonstrations of January 23, 2021 listed by Andras Toth-Czifras
YouTube channel ofAlexei Navalny
Online platform of “Smart vote”
Election results from September 2020 in Novosibirsk
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