Russia tightens the noose: Drama in the Kremlin ahead of the elections
Parliamentary elections in Russia are not expected to produce major surprises, but the atmosphere in Moscow remains tense. After a brief period of openness, authorities have launched a crackdown on dissent amidst the ongoing war.
Russia has launched a wave of political repression, unusual even by its standards. Ahead of the September elections, a series of opposition figures are being disqualified and arrested. Notably, recent months saw a period of unusual openness, but massive Ukrainian attacks and the resulting crisis have changed the landscape. Russia is now calling for the arrest of the Telegram founder, who responded with a defiant gesture.
Ahead of the parliamentary elections in September, authorities in Moscow have launched a new wave of measures against voices opposing the war in Ukraine. Candidates showing any sign of opposition to the military operation are immediately disqualified, and activists identified with the anti-war line are under increasing pressure. The Washington Post emphasizes that while the persecution of opponents is not new in Vladimir Putin's Russia, the timing of this current wave is particularly significant.
Last spring, it seemed a rare window for public criticism had opened, as authorities allowed a degree of expression regarding war-related dissatisfaction. However, against the backdrop of extensive drone attacks on Russian territory, economic damage, and an acute fuel crisis, hawkish elements in the Kremlin and the security establishment are pushing for a tougher line.
"They do not intend to give a platform to people with anti-war views in the elections," said Andrei Kolesnikov, an independent political analyst from Moscow. According to him, there is currently no significant voice left against the war.
One of the main targets of this pressure is the liberal Yabloko party, which is attempting to run under the slogan "For peace and freedom." In St. Petersburg, authorities refused to register the party for local elections, and at least 14 candidates were disqualified for allegedly publishing extremist symbols, including images of the late Alexei Navalny. Boris Nadezhdin, the most prominent politician identified with opposition to the war, was also disqualified, and on July 10, the Russian Ministry of Justice labeled him a "foreign agent."
The political atmosphere shifted following rare signs of internal criticism in the spring. Ilya Remslo, a former Kremlin lawyer, publicly called Putin a war criminal. After a brief arrest and psychiatric hospitalization, he was arrested again on charges of spreading false information about the Russian army. His lawyer reports he is currently being held in a psychiatric facility.
According to a poll by the Public Opinion Foundation, support for Putin dropped by 5% to 66% on July 17, the largest weekly decline since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Tatiana Stanovaya of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center notes a growing feeling that the situation is spiraling out of control. Despite this, the Kremlin remains determined to maintain tight control over the elections. Sources cited by Meduza estimate that the ruling United Russia party may receive about 45% of the vote.
Parallel to the political persecution, Russia has initiated proceedings against Telegram founder Pavel Durov, accusing him of aiding terrorism. The Federal Security Service (FSB) claims the app was used to recruit activists and coordinate sabotage. Following the issuance of an international arrest warrant, the Telegram account on X posted a picture of Durov giving the middle finger.
