White Ribbon Walk Through Moscow

(Photo: Washington Post)

Russians protesting Tsar Putin's takeover and fraud in the Russian elections stage a peaceful walk through Moscow Sunday. The white-ribbon bedecked crowd, estimated at over 10,000, included many noted Russian literary figures.

Super Sunday - - In Russia

Russians will be going to the polls within hours to vote for a new president, which it seems will be Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. If Putin polls 50% of the vote, he will avoid a runoff election.

In practice, Putin's system of "managed democracy" manifests itself as voter suppression, media intimidation and jingoistic appeals to Russian nationalism (hmmm, remind you of any American political party?). It would be a shame if one of Bashar al-Assad's few allies were given another (non-consecutive) term as president, but given Putin's control of the levers of government, that's where Russia seems to be headed. We can only hope a Putin victory will lead to a re-energizing of the Russian opposition - a faint hope, but the only one Russian democracy has right now.

Russia's Rick Santorum

This guy is almost as delusional as Frothy Mix, but far more dangerous:

"Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned that his opponents could provoke unrest after Sunday's presidential election, even going so far as killing a prominent opposition figure to stoke outrage against his government.

"Putin is all but certain to regain the presidency, but his allegations Wednesday reflect heightened tensions four days before the vote and nervousness about the protests expected to follow.

"'They are looking among well-known people for a sacrificial victim," Putin said during a televised meeting with campaign activists. "They could, I'm sorry, knock someone off and then blame the authorities.'"

Or, of course, his "delusion" could simply be a projection of what he already has planned.

Protest in Russia

Tens of thousands of Russians gathered in central Moscow today to protest the recent parliamentary elections and to demand the ouster of Russian Prime Minister Putin. Referring to "crooks and thieves" in the government and ruling United Russia party (hmmm.. they must be the Russian equivalent of the Rethuglicans), speaker after speaker called for "Russia Without Putin" and for new elections to be held. The protesters represented a broad cross-section of Russian politics, from liberals and environmentalists to nationalists to anarchists. Arab Spring, Occupy Wall Street, now Russia Without Putin: something is definitely in the air.

(Photo: Sergie Karpukhin, REUTERS)

Occupy Russia - Cartoon of the Day

(Jeff Danziger)