Draconian is the new normal A political scientist explains how Russia’s flagrant injustice protects the political status quo that might well outlive Putin — Meduza
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At the conclusion of Alexey Navalny’s trial (arranged to take place right at the penal colony where Russia’s most popular opposition figure is currently imprisoned), the politician was sentenced to what many call a “Stalinesque” and draconian prison term: 19 years. Yet no one seems to be surprised by the harshness of the sentence, since it fits neatly into a pattern of similarly inhumane sentences for other opposition figures, like Ilya Yashin or Vladimir Kara-Murza. Meduza’s special correspondent Margaria Liutova spoke with a Russian political scientist specializing in the study of post-Soviet authoritarianism, who agreed to share his thoughts about political persecution in today’s Russia on condition of anonymity. In our condensed translation, his remarks have been edited lightly for clarity.

A Russian political scientist shares his thoughts about political persecution in today’s Russia on condition of anonymity. “I don’t see much potential for abrupt change in the current situation, since what all the major players really want is, generally, to preserve the status quo.”