Abstract
In its approach to the demonstrations in Bolotnaja Square in December 2011 following Putin’s second presidential bid, Russian policy had to deal with unexpected protests triggered by Russian blogs, a new communication medium that appeared around 2008, and by a new “peculiar” political blogger, Aleksej Navalny. Russia underwent a revolution of new-generation communication and information exchange.
L’affermazione di Alexei Navalny alle elezioni del 12 settembre per il sindaco di Mosca ha segnato nonostante la sua sconfitta un significativo mutamento del clima politico prevalente fino a poco tempo fa in Russia. Considerati i risultati con il 27 % dei voti favorevoli rispetto al 3% previsto all’inizio della campagna elettorale si può concordare con l’affermazione di quanti, analisti occidentali e russi, hanno parlato di una sconfitta che di fatto equivale a una vittoria.
The Russian opposition is increasingly in the spotlight after the December mass protests. The scale of the demonstrations was such that they received high resonance in the media. Even State-controlled news outlets, which usually omit coverage of political dissent, thoroughly reported on the opposition’s rallies and slogans. This movement has significant implications for the next presidential elections, strengthening the idea in society of unfair elections as well as casting doubts on the Duma’s legitimacy.