It is psychological difficult (and dangerous) for the Russian opposition to admit that powerful forces in the West, securocratic networks and defence industry lobbyists, see the prospect of a democratic Russia fully integrated with Euro-Atlantic institutions as anathema because the absence of conflict with Moscow deprives them of their income and status. Putin is their ideal partner/frenemy in this blood-stained joint venture, while pro-democracy Russians are seen as a nuisance at best, but really as a political risk. This explains the moves, such as visa restrictions, which seem inexplicable if your aim is to defeat Putin, but totally understandable if your priority is conflict per se whereby any grey zone, any potential area of cohesion promising peace and partnership, as a greater threat than your declared adversary. Same explains the attempts to deprive the Russian opposition of subjectivity through unrepresentative puppet projects like “PACE delegation”. And it does explain the horrible campaigns against Navalny these lobbyist groups waged on this platform since the times when he was still alive. Well, they are still waging them now.

It is psychological difficult (and dangerous) for the Russian opposition to admit that powerful forces in the West, securocratic networks and defence industry lobbyists, see the prospect of a democratic Russia fully integrated with Euro-Atlantic institutions as anathema because the absence of conflict with Moscow deprives them of their income and status. Putin is their ideal partner/frenemy in this blood-stained joint venture, while pro-democracy Russians are seen as a nuisance at best, but really as a political risk. This explains the moves, such as visa restrictions, which seem inexplicable if your aim is to defeat Putin, but totally understandable if your priority is conflict per se whereby any grey zone, any potential area of cohesion promising peace and partnership, as a greater threat than your declared adversary. Same explains the attempts to deprive the Russian opposition of subjectivity through unrepresentative puppet projects like “PACE delegation”. And it does explain the horrible campaigns against Navalny these lobbyist groups waged on this platform since the times when he was still alive. Well, they are still waging them now.

It is psychological difficult (and dangerous) for the Russian opposition to admit that powerful forces in the West, securocratic networks and defence industry lobbyists, see the prospect of a democratic Russia fully integrated with Euro-Atlantic institutions as anathema because the absence of conflict with Moscow deprives them of their income and status. Putin is their ideal partner/frenemy in this blood-stained joint venture, while pro-democracy Russians are seen as a nuisance at best, but really as a political risk. This explains the moves, such as visa restrictions, which seem inexplicable if your aim is to defeat Putin, but totally understandable if your priority is conflict per se whereby any grey zone, any potential area of cohesion promising peace and partnership, as a greater threat than your declared adversary. Same explains the attempts to deprive the Russian opposition of subjectivity through unrepresentative puppet projects like “PACE delegation”. And it does explain the horrible campaigns against Navalny these lobbyist groups waged on this platform since the times when he was still alive. Well, they are still waging them now.