Who is next?

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation extended the investigation of the case of "riots" in Bolotnaya Square until March 6. The leader of the Left Front, Sergei Udaltsov, was charged with “preparation for the organization of mass riots, and two of his associates, Konstantin Lebedev (about him in detail on page 13) and Leonid Razvozhaev were arrested under the same article and are in Lefortovo (about the special character of this prison - on page 15). Special services conducted an unprecedented operation in Ukraine, having stolen Razvozhaev there: human rights activists suggest that he would ultimately be charged with treason. In the same week, the State Duma in two readings adopted a bill on amendments to the articles “Gosizman”, “Spying”, “Disclosure of state secrets” and fines for NGOs (read on page 12). As it was in the days of the USSR, contacts with certain “international and foreign organizations” with a completely free interpretation of their activities can be declared a betrayal of their homeland with all the ensuing prison terms, and human rights activists are de facto declared “foreign agents” operating in other people's interests. The summer excitement of deputies becomes clear, who in an accelerated mode adopted repressive laws, which followed the demonstrative exile of the USAID office from the country, the stripping of the media, the publication of intelligence videos on the federal channel is the links of one, “fucking”, as it dubbed it on social networks, chains. The authorities, knowing that the rating of Vladimir Putin is rapidly falling (read on page 22), is preparing a base for a demonstration process, designed not only to intimidate the opposition, but also to make it clear to anyone and everyone: who is not with us is against us. The process launched in 2000 by the election of the KGB officer to the presidency of the country, the consistent destruction of any political alternative, almost total control over the media field, the decay of the judicial system, and finally, the final seizure of the main resources with the security forces clan (p. 36), logically reached its repressive stage. About this - in the main topic of this number The New Times