On Sunday in Moscow and many other Russian cities have passed anti-Putin protest actions with requirements of resignation of the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Police estimated the rallies were attended by 7,000 to 8,000 people, foreign media have reported at least 500 detainees.
According to Western media reports, the protesters in Moscow shouted the radical anti-Putin slogans like “overthrow Putin”, “Russia does not want Putin”, and anti-corruption slogans. Prime Minister Medvedev is accused of possession of luxurious mansions, yachts, and vineyards, but his press Secretary denied the accusations, calling them “propaganda attacks”.
For such a megalopolis as Moscow demonstration in a few thousand people does not seem so numerous, but such massive protests were not in the capital in 2012. Next year in Russia’s presidential election, and these rallies testify to the fact that Russian domestic politics again enters an active phase.
Russia to adopt Western multi-party model, and at the same time in its policy traced its distinct style. The West, as a rule, does not recognize Russia’s democratic government and accuses her of being too authoritarian, which creates long-term political pressure on Russia. Moscow is extremely decide how to respond to the challenges of internal opposition and how to prevent the Union of the opposition with Western forces.
On the one hand, the geographical, national and cultural peculiarities of Russia needs a strong government. On the other hand, it established the system of multiparty elections, but to unite it’s not so simple. In most countries with a multiparty system the government eventually becomes shaky and the Western countries gradually begin to treat them.
I must say that Russia is quite effectively cope with this problem. The most important thing is Putin has very high approval rating, and that multi-party electoral system has not penetrated fully in the political life of the state and, within certain limits, they are limited. The West wants to contribute to the spread of this system in all strata of Russian society, and the opposition fully support this aspiration. And although theoretically it is completely legitimate, it creates a strong uncertainty in Russian politics.
After the Soviet collapse, which left the collective memory, Russia has lost its own development path and fell into disrepair. It is with this experience and memory is the reason that, despite the serious economic problems experienced by Russian society in the last few years, it continues to support Putin. Many Russians believe that a country like Russia, crossing the entire Eurasian continent and combines a variety of cultural traditions, very different from the Western countries and can not go with them on the same political and cultural way. In fact, after the Soviet collapse, Russia has tried to go this route, but it didn’t work out.
However, part of the Russian population certainly hopes to complete Westernization in politics. People insist that there aren’t too many legal obstacles and in fighting the authorities have a certain weight, including the support of the West. Organizers of the rally, Navalny was arrested for 15 days, however, he still had the opportunity to use Twitter and encourage their supporters.
If non-Western country wants to go different from the West way, find the way it will be very difficult. As yet, there are long-term non-Western models, in addition, many countries see the successful experience of Europe and America, so the new political studies unwittingly fall under natural and intentional oppression of the Western model. After Sunday’s action the Washington harshly condemned the actions of the Moscow police to detain protesters.
How Russia will go in its special way is an important benchmark for other non-Western countries. Western culture has a profound influence on Russia, moreover, these countries are close from the point of view of geography. Some Western political elements in accordance with the law to appear in Russian society. I wonder if in such conditions Russia continues to adhere to its different from the West political course.
In politics is really dangerous, and that is dangerous, but easily avoidable? What changes might lead to a merger with the world, led by the West, and what changes actually have no effect? If it is good to look for answers to these important questions on the example of Russia, it will be possible to find answers or, at least, to see the consequences of what is happening.
