The author analyses the defeat of two Russian democratic parties in the 2003 parliamentary elections. If the Russian people turn away from political freedom, then democracy in Russia is in danger. If it is about the defeat of individual politicians, then one can take a deep breath and start getting ready for the new election cycle. Finding the answer to this question, the author states that the movement to freedom in Russia is going to be continued very soon after a short soft-authoritarian breathing space. This statement is well-reasoned and based on social research and a deep understanding of the Russian electors’ psychology.
About the Author
Vladimir Ryzhkov has been a deputy in the Russian State Duma since the first post-Soviet elections in 1993. In 1997, at age 31, he was appointed the Duma’s first deputy chairman, a position that he held until 1999. He is a member of the Duma Federal Affairs and Regional Policy Committee and a cofounder of the independent deputies’ faction. He has a Ph.D. in history and has written extensively on issues of law, political science, and international affairs. This article was translated from the Russian by Anastasiya Kuzmina.
The debate over Russia’s likely course of development under Putin has paid surprisingly little attention to his openly stated goal of reintegrating Russia with other former Soviet republics.
