Russia: Protests and the Opposition's Strategy

A fresh protest is under way in Moscow on Russia Day, the 21st anniversary of Moscow's adoption of a declaration of sovereignty after the fall of the Soviet Union. Organizers told media outlets that the anti-Kremlin demonstration drew 50,000 protesters (far fewer than the million protesters advertised in some headlines). Moscow City Hall has sanctioned the Russia Day protest on the condition that it consists of a march along Boulevard Ring from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. and a rally in Prospekt Sakharov from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Kremlin has taken measures to hobble the protest movement, such as increasing the fines for protesters and broadening the definition of a protest. Meanwhile, the opposition movement has decided to remain an amorphous body rather than organize into a political force that the government could more easily counter. But this could change come elections season, because the opposition will try to loosen the Kremlin's control at the regional and municipal level.