Russian Citizens Giving Putin The Significant Finger

Kind of shocking how unprepared Russia was for this. You'd figure they'd have police and law enforcement on high alert and they'd probably have some sort of counter-protestors ready to go to put on some fake show to pretend that Russians want this.

However, the key thing to note is that Moscow and St. Petersburg have always been the most resistant to the Putin regime. Those two cities are the base of support for the Russian opposition. It's the parts of Russia to the east that are the key. When you start seeing protests in mid-sized cities in central and eastern Russia, then this is something worth noting. Until then, this isn't quite as impactful as one would think.

 

Correct. If anything, it will consolidate loyalty and quell dissent within his oligarchy and where the real power lies such as in the military and surveillance institutions.

Further, the sanctions will take care of all this for him. His people will keep getting gas handouts (gas price is way up) while the rest of Russia lives in an impossible-to-win economy weakening them relative to Putin and his favorite people/cities. It's basically perfectly punishing enemies of whichever dictator you do this to because you weaken his enemies while giving him a great excuse, there's some great satan external character doing it.

 

Thanks for the second paragraph because I was gonna respond why would Putin be worried about demonstrators

 

He's obviously worried about demonstrators and has been for some time. That is why group demonstrations are forbidden in Russia. Only single person protests are allowed. It's a strange law but makes sense that with a solo protestor Russian government would have no problems tracking them down. But protest is obviously a concern for Putin or he wouldn't have outlawed it. Protests are also part of the reason they withdrew from Afghanistan.

 

Honestly it is still plenty popular with about 90% of the population. That's what control of the media gets you. GIGO. If you shape people's input, you can predict and control what opinions will output. Putin's approval rating is actually way up, with the temporary "war bump" that every leader gets. I mean, 1500 arrests is still orders of magnitude larger than the number of people in the Pennsylvania Freedom Convoy, but 2k arrests of a population listed as 144 million is negligible.

 

Where are you getting the 90% figure from?

I think this is super unpopular with the Russian people but MOST are afraid to protest, but what usually happens is the longer protests go on the more emboldened those in hiding become.

DD

 

He is still popular but it is around 60% now -- it is of course difficult to know for sure what the Russians actually feel because of the fear of arrest that may come with expressing your true opinion.

 

Its definitely not 90%. A fratricidal war with Ukraine is very different than invading Syria or even taking Crimea. The issue will be how long this war goes on. Remember, Russia has mandatory conscription and isn't an all volunteer army. There are children that are essentially being forced into a war they didn't ask for and families across Russia will feel the direct impact over time. Also if the war turns into a guerilla campaign, there's real risk that morale just collapses. This is the downside of a conscript army.

With that said, we have to wait and see whether protests grow and sustain themselves outside of Moscow and St Petersburg. But this isn't the PR win that Putin probably banked on.

I think he underestimated the will of Russians to protest. Normally, Russia has counter-protestors and demonstrations lined up to support the government. None of that is in place right now. It's telling that no one is out on the street supporting the government right now.

 

90% is hyperbole, but his approval rating is higher than Drumpf or Grandpa Joe ever saw.

 

No it isn't......there is no actual approval rating for Putin - as it is all propaganda.

You actually think the majority of Russians like him?

DD

 

I definitely think his popularity in Russia at a minimum is over 50% -- but that is far from his peak and he knows it.

 

Putin left Afghanistan?

 

I don't I think the people tolerate him but they aren't stupid and with the internet these days they are well informed.

DD

 

He was in the KGP and acting in the Soviet Union Intel agency. So yes, he did.

He also is the authoritarian murderous dictator in charge of Russia, So obviously he has an idea as to the causes that hurt them in Afghanistan. These people are your employers. Go and ask them if you have any more questions about it.

 

First of all I don't know why your initial response was so indignant like I'm supposed to know wtf goes on in Russia.

Let' me make this clear. I have hated Putin since a Russian sub sunk in the North Sea and he wouldn't accept our help and let his sailors die. I don't give a damn about Ukraine. I do hope there isn’t much violence.

That idiot thinks he's making Russia more relevant, whatever

Just admit when you're wrong. Russia didn't leave Afghanistan, the USSR did

 

Was Russia part of the Soviet Union?

 

Every Russian has a cousin or brother in law in Ukraine. The longer this drags out the worse it is for Putin with his own people.

 

Ya think that having access to the internet would make people more well informed but then you look at our country and realize...

 

That is a good point, because we have people that don't WANT to know the truth, that only care for their own self interests, don't really care for others, that causes a problem, they lie to themselves to avoid sharing.

DD