NEWSWATCH: “Putin’s Reality TV Opposition” – New York Times/Oleg Kashin/ Translated by Carol Apollonio

“[Sobchak’s father] was mayor of Leningrad … [and] made … Putin his deputy. … he defended Mr. Putin from corruption accusations. … [Sobchak] fled the country … [facing] his own corruption allegations. … [returning] after … Putin became prime minister ….

For the opposition, [Ksenia] Sobchak’s meeting with [Putin] … amounts to treachery: A true [Putin] opponent … would never negotiate with him about participating in the election.

But are there any real Putin opponents in Russia? … no opposition politician has proved capable of presenting a serious challenge …. Russian politics … [are] simulations and simulacra …. a complete sham.

… [Sobchak’s] is a vaudeville act … the daughter of a deceased teacher enters into an alliance with his pupil, in hopes of possibly outwitting him. … Sobchak is only 35 …. by … 50 [maybe] … something of real political substance.  [Meanwhile]

… Putin … has experience staging … vaudeville aimed at turning a frivolous showman into a major political player …”

Click here for: “Putin’s Reality TV Opposition” – New York Times/Oleg Kashin/ Translated by Carol Apollonio

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