An honest conversation about the march and the rally

The march and rally in Moscow, as well as actions in more than fifty cities of Russia showed that citizens are ready to seriously and for a long time get involved in the struggle for their rights and freedoms.

Since September 15, it can be argued that a united opposition has finally emerged and taken hold in Russia. A large round table representing the interests of all political and social groups. At the same time, it is necessary to distinguish between the formal circle of organizers and the real number of political forces that took, are taking and will take part in this peaceful struggle. No matter what anyone says, this is Yabloko, this is the Communist Party of the Russian Federation, this is SR, this is Democratic Choice, this is Limonov’s “Other Russia”. Some of them were only part of the marches, some of them were only part of the cities, but the fact remains that a popular movement was being formed. And even if someone does not want to be formally united with others through organizational structures, the same thing is being done and the movement is moving towards the same thing.

Now about the question - how long will this all last and where is everything going? This is how I see the situation.

Let's remember the first rallies - there was a moment when they began to decline. I already wrote earlier, but I will repeat here that, in my opinion, that decline was due to the fact that the organizers of the rallies stopped listening to the opinions of the people. There was less transparency in the organization of rallies, the goals became unclear, there was a shyness either into demonstrative disobedience of the police or into rallies about nothing. And the organizers held rallies a couple of times directly against the will of people who voted for other options.

But on May 6 everything returned. The organizers dealt with the former was discordant. And people supported unity, coming out later and on June 12 in large numbers.

Why doesn't the protest subside?

First, in my opinion, the opposition has finally begun to move forward, goals that people support have emerged:
- the number of civil projects is growing
- parties are registered
- there is pressure on the authorities through elections
- programs and solutions appear
- campaign runs, actions, rallies
- through elections to the Constitutional Court of the opposition, a prototype of a future transparent and clear electoral system is actually being organized
In other words, the opposition began to put pressure on the authorities on all fronts, entering into competition with them almost everywhere, not allowing them to relax anywhere. At the same time, there are no illusions about the elections or anything. But still, the opposition uses elections for propaganda and any opportunities for pressure again and again.

The second is Putin himself, who is increasingly losing his adequate worldview. A monstrous series of repressive laws, complete disregard for the Constitution, arrests and insolent behavior of the courts - all this is obvious to citizens.

But there is something else in our protest. Of course, if 100,000 people decided to seriously push for change and, for example, did not leave the square until the authorities released political prisoners, yes, change would have come sooner. But maybe it’s right that there aren’t such 100,000 yet. Maybe it’s really better that the time has finally come in Russia when it’s not Moscow that sweeps away the authoritarian government, but the entire people of the country that sends it into resignation.

And then it makes sense to reach every city, every house, every person. So that there is not a single place in Russia where they do not demand freedom for their country.

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