Moscow Nervously Moves Against Its Opponents

Russia's election season is heating up, and the Kremlin is getting nervous ahead of next year's parliamentary elections. The country held regional elections for 21 governors, 11 regional parliaments and more than 1,300 junior officials Sept. 13. The Kremlin kept a close watch on the elections, which were widely seen both as a dry run for the upcoming nationwide parliamentary elections and as the first opportunity for Russia's liberal opposition groups to build momentum for the 2016 vote. Though no one expects the liberal opposition to gain many, if any, electoral wins next year, its ability to coordinate — and the Kremlin's response — will indicate how serious each side is about building support in the lead-up to the crucial parliamentary elections next September.