In Russia, a Landslide for Tyranny By Alex Alexiev

It was perhaps inevitable that Russia’s tortuous post-Communist experiment in democracy would grind to a halt, but it is more than a bit ironic that it would do so not in a spasm of violence but through a rigged ballot box. Regardless, Putin’s elections have put paid to democracy, and authoritarian rule – or worse – is what the country is facing. And judging by the extremes to which Putin went in suppressing the opposition and manipulating public opinion and the electoral process prior to the polls, it is almost certainly going to be worse. It is worth reminding ourselves of the Kremlin’s extreme rhetoric and pre-election shenanigans here, because they are a stark reminder of both Russia’s unhappy past and uncertain future. Also, because they didn’t seem to make much sense in an election whose outcome was never in doubt.

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