Putin Fears Making Gorbachev’s Mistakes and So is Making Those of Nicholas II, Nikulin Says

Paul Goble

            Staunton, May 22 – For too long, many Russians have lived with the illusion that eventually liberal Russians will be able to come to power via elections; but that is not going to happen – and Putin’s repression of civil society not only ensures that but helps to dispel these illusions, Andrey Nikulin says.

            The Russian television commentator suggests, however, that in its fears of making what it sees as the mistakes of Mikhail Gorbachev 35 years ago, it is making the mistakes of the last tsar, Nicholas II, 110 years ago; and that promises to usher in revolutionary change that will hurt many but that the Kremlin is making inevitable (kasparov.ru/material.php?id=646A9581917AE).

            Not only has the Putin regime blocked socially and politically active citizens from taking part in public life, just as Nicholas II did, Nikulin continues; but it is “pushing these groups into revolution” not only by those steps but by pursuing a failed attempt at winning support by conducting “a small victorious” and in its own terms “non-war” war.

            Nikulin argues that Russia would be far better off with evolutionary rather than revolutionary change, “but Russia is being pushed in the other direction.” And with every step Putin takes just as was the case in the run-up to 1917, ever more Russians both in the elites and the population can see that and are drawing conclusions.