NEWSWATCH: “The Future of Navalny’s Opposition Movement; Why It Will Continue to Challenge the Kremlin” – Foreign Affairs/Anton Barbashin

“In March 2017 … Navalny released a shocking video investigation … reveal[ing] that Medvedev has been able to amass a tremendous fortune while in power … several mansions in Russia, a villa and property in Italy, and other assets worth roughly $1.2 billion. … spark[ing] a great deal of interest among Russians … receiv[ing] almost 26 million views on YouTube …. Russia [then] witnessed large-scale anticorruption protests …. From the beginning … it was clear that the Kremlin would not tolerate a Navalny candidacy and would retaliate to block his activities …. the government recently announced that his name will not appear on the presidential ballot …. the regime has nevertheless largely failed to suppress both Navalny’s and his followers’ political activities. … Navalny will remain a central challenge …. able to create a highly motivated independent political machine operating across the country … capable of presenting a genuine alternative to Putin’s authoritarianism to the next generation …. *** Putin’s fourth term might turn out to be an even more repressive and restrictive political period …. The Russian Ministry of Justice is already considering liquidating Navalny’s campaign foundation …. The most consequential government decisions on how to handle Navalny, however, will likely not come until after the elections ….”

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