Publication

This report considers the nature of Putin’s victory and the nature of the opposition movement. It does so by including the opposition demonstrations during the 2012 election which many have seen as reflecting the emergence of a frustrated urban middle class pushing for reform. It then sketches out some thoughts about what may happen next, reflecting on the evolving Russian political scene and possible changes, including the implications of the “rotation” of senior officials that both Putin and Medvedev have promised.