Ignoring the internal problems of the country, close to the government, the media opened the way for the opposition.
At first glance, it’s just nonsense, plain hole. Only here on 14 April, the residents of Novosibirsk congratulated with the anniversary of that “landmark” on the street Kotovskogo. Were hung with colored balls, motorists honked, and several people even brought cake. The pit has its own Twitter page, where she talks about her life in the complete neglect of the authorities. In Russia, satire, caustic or sarcastic, remains the main weapon of protest.
When the Soviet Union CIA carefully collected Soviet jokes as valuable characteristics of the atmosphere in the country, modern kremlinology should pay attention to the Internet, where there is increasingly open criticism, which ignore the close to the government media.
From social media to street protests
The caricature is covered with make-up Vladimir Putin on the background of the rainbow flag went over the network, despite the ban. An awkward attempt by the Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev to apologize after allegations of corruption also gave birth to a shaft of bullying. Finally, the trick the Russian Ambassador to the UN Vladimir Safronkov (“Look into the eyes, do not insult Russia!”) caused a sea satirical video.
In 2014, the Russians, clenching his teeth, feeling the effects of the crisis in connection with falling oil prices and international sanctions. The collapse of the ruble and purchasing power against the background of constant allegations of the government that the “worst is over”, left a deep mark. The poor have become poorer. Young professionals do not believe in the future. Travel abroad, are accustomed to the middle class, had to be postponed. Rose three years ago with the annexation of Crimea, the wave of nationalism subsided, but dissatisfaction rises to the surface and is expressed through social networks. And not only through them.
26 Mar virtual expression suddenly turned into meetings with the participation of thousands of demonstrators at the call of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The majority of participants were young and immune to the rhetoric of people power and protest swept more than 80 cities across the country, some of which like has not been since 1990-ies.
“On March 26, showed that over a showcase of the authoritarian unity of the visible contours of a significant protest groups, preserving, or gaining the ability to mobilize, writes Kirill Rogov on the RBC website. — These actions, in a sense, broke propaganda “negative” against any protesters, “anti-Maidan” Putin’s rhetoric and propaganda machine, which has failed to educate the Russians sustained the rejection of street politics.”
Pro-government television stations reported on the demonstrations in a few days, and in the view of their critics, and still continue to ignore going the first week of the protest movement of truckers. Navalny decided to go further. After serving 15 days for “insubordination” during the arrest on 26 March, the author of revelatory live a life of luxury Medvedev appeared on his YouTube channel calling for demonstrations on June 12, Russia day.
The opposition skillfully uses social networks, where it picks up discontent, touching the most sensitive chord: the corruption of the elite, “the main source of poverty.” The opposition calls it a shame poor roads and low wages in the new video, which has gained over 2 million views.
The red line
A year before the presidential elections (they will take place on 18 March, the day the annexation of the Crimea) in front of the Kremlin is not an easy task. Closing his eyes to internal problems of the country displaced by the Ukrainian conflict, the war in Syria, the confrontation with the West, the us elections, Pro-Russian media has opened the way of the opposition. Tired of the constant tension in the international arena, more and more Russians are expressing on the street or in the caricatures in the social network dissatisfaction with his life. This is the boomerang effect of propaganda.
Putin (he is not yet officially announced about their participation in future elections) decided in such circumstances to transfer the traditional “Straight line” with citizens, which has been held since 2001. Initially it was to be held in April, but now will be held in October due to the presidential “graphics”. In just over a month after the video of Navalny, which he calls Alisher Usmanov (the third among the richest people in the country) involved in the concealment of wealth of the Prime Minister, the oligarch filed in opposition to the court, accusing him that he crossed the “red line”.
