Paul Goble
Staunton, June 8 – The Internet is transforming things, not least of which are public opinion polls and even elections, given that individuals can go online and express their opinions in ways that officials in many countries, including prominently the Russian Federation don’t want them to.
An intriguing example of this is taking place in Karelia now. There in the space of less than 24 hours, 4,000 people have chosen to “like” a post calling for the ouster of the Moscow-appointed head of the republic, Artur Parfenchikov, and his prime minister, Irina Kolykhmatova (nemoskva.net/2026/06/08/bolee-treh-tysyach-zhitelej-za-noch-podderzhali-trebovanie-ob-otstavke-rukovodstva-karelii/ and ru.thebarentsobserver.com/novosti/post-za-otstavku-glavy-karelii-za-sutki-nabral-cetyre-tysaci-lajkov/452158).
In addition to these “votes,” more than 700 people have left commentaries on the post, overwhelmingly sharing the original author’s position and adding new details of what people feel about the regime of the two officials, already known to be extremely unpopular by the population of that republic.
Obviously, the Kremlin isn’t going to accept the results of this “vote” and replace one or both of these officials; but such a vote matters in at least two important ways. On the one hand, Moscow officials will certainly take note of such expressions of anger at their agents in the federal subject and are likely to view such voting as a black mark on the latter.
And on the other – and this is both far more likely and far more important – people in Karelia who are angry about what their Moscow-imposed rulers are certain to be energized by this expression of solidarity in opposition to the exiting regime, something that may matter even more if such a tactic spreads to other regions and republics in the Russian Federation.
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