Join Russia Matters, Harvard University's Davis Center and the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies for an online talk on recent events surrounding Alexei Navalny and the future of Russian politics.

After a botched attempt to poison Alexei Navalny in August 2020, the Kremlin has decided to sentence him to over two years in prison upon the oppositionist’s return to Russia in January. Navalny responded with a bombshell video about the corruption around “Putin’s Palace.” Unsanctioned, mass protests that filled the two capitals and tens of provincial cities resulted. The protesters were met with indiscriminate arrests and police violence. The political ante in this back-and-forth has certainly risen, but to what end?

Russia has experienced the ebbs and flows of protest on the federal and local level for years. And while each eruption quickly elicits a sense that Russia is at a turning point, more cautious and sober assessments follow in the weeks and months after. So, is what we’re now seeing something new or more of the same? What do the protests suggest about Russian society, politics and the state of Putin’s power? These discussions are especially important, as Russia will hold parliamentary elections in September.

This live roundtable discussion with Greg Yudin (Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences), Svetlana Yerpyleva (Public Sociology Laboratory), Ilya Budraitskis (Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences and Political Diary Podcast) and moderated by Sean Guillory (REEES and the SRB Podcast) will explore these issues and more.

Registration is required; information can be found at this link.

Speakers:

Greg Yudin, Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences,

Svetlana Yerpyleva, Public Sociology Laboratory

Ilya Budraitskis, Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences; Political Diary Podcast

Sean Guillory (moderator), Center for Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies; Sean's Russia Blog Podcast