Self-Isolation and Social Distance Rules Mean Russian Politics Now Going Online, ‘Nezavisimaya Gazeta’ Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, April 12 – Prior to the pandemic, politics in Russia was a contest between opposition groups who wanted to claim as much public space as possible by organizing as large demonstrations as they could and the authorities who wanted to restrict the size and thus impact of such protests, the editor of Nezavisimaya gazeta say.

            Now when self-isolation rules are in place no one is talking about public protests, but even when those are lifted, experts say that social distance rules are likely to remain in place for some time, at least until there are effective cures and vaccines against the coronavirus, the editors continue (ng.ru/editorial/2020-04-13/2_7842_editorial.html).

            That means that both the government and the opposition will have to turn to the Internet to promote their respective agendas and positions possibly for the referendum on constitut5ional change and even in regional elections now scheduled for September.  That means that for the foreseeable future, politics “will cease to be a struggle for urban space.”

            Many assume, the paper says, that if the debate goes online, the opposition has the advantage given that its leaders have used the Internet for some time and many in the government are unfamiliar or still uncomfortable with that. But that is “a quite superficial judgment.” The powers include many who know how to use the web effectively.

            Russians will “watch and listen” to those who are better able to show that they understand the situation and can make sensible proposals on how to act.  “This political test,” Nezavisimaya gazeta suggests, is one the opposition will have to pass in a new way and that the authorities will have to be able to respond to as well.