Anti-War Activists in North Caucasus Mostly People who have Never Protested Before

Paul Goble

            Staunton, June 30 – In many major Russian cities, anti-war protests are dominated by people who have long been activists; but in the regions of Southern Russia and the North Caucasus, most of those denouncing the war do not have a history of taking part in demonstrations, a new survey finds.

            That shows that Putin’s war in Ukraine, however much it is approved by significant majorities of Russians, is attracting new people to anti-Kremlin activities and making it likely that those protesting the war will join in protesting other things as well (kavkazr.com/a/zhiteley-yuga-prodolzhayut-shtrafovatj-za-antivoennye-publikatsii-v-sotssetyah/31926132.html).

            While this survey of cases, most involving posts on social media platforms, is far from comprehensive and thus may be unrepresentative, it does suggest that one of the most important consequences of Putin’s “special military operation” in Ukraine may be to broaden and not just intensify protests in the Russian Federation.

            And to the extent that proves to be the case, that trend will be yet another unintended and unwelcome consequences of the war for Putin and his regime, however much support they can intimidate most Russians in declaring.