Warning

On the first day of the new year, an old friend came to see me. He was alarmed, he wanted to share a thought that obviously did not let him go. He even explained that he approached me because I am related to the press.

• Do you see what's happening?

• Yes, why?

• Swamp area. Sakharov Avenue ... 50 thousand. 100 thousand ... Then wait for 200 thousand. Million…

• It doesn't upset me.

• And it worries me. Do you remember how Putin came to power?

• Explosions at Dubrovka. Chechen War.

• Now imagine a rally of 200,000. And in the midst of it, a man-bomb explodes ... And no million-strong rally. And the slogan "Putin, go away!" will no longer be heard...

• Dangerous version. It is impossible to prove it and, therefore, to make it public.

• God forbid that she had no evidence. By the time they show up, it will be too late. Worse, it is impossible to refute it, listen to your inner voice. And that's why you need to talk about it out loud - for insurance. To warn means to prevent!

I forgot to introduce my interlocutor. For obvious reasons, I will do this in a general way. A person from the civil service, occupies a rather high position. Upper middle class, shall we say. The very respectability never gave the impression of a hysteric or dreamer.

Such service people are, by definition, the backbone of the system. But it turns out what they expect from the regime that came on the eve of the year 2000 and seriously plans to take root in the second decade of the 21st century. This level of expectation is a social catastrophe in itself.