In order to go to the polls, it is absolutely not necessary to be a supporter of Vladimir Putin. There are also other candidates, beginning with Zhirinovsky and the capitalist nominated by the Communist Party. Almost certainly among the contenders will be and Ksenia Sobchak, who is against all the bad for all the good, and Grigory Yavlinsky, too, probably shaking old times, will come to the start of the presidential race. In short, dissenting citizens wishing to actively participate in the election of Vladimir Putin, are creating almost ideal conditions. Hothouse, we can say - writes Ilya Milstein in the column on "Snob. en ".
In order not to go to the polls, it is absolutely not necessary to be a supporter of Alexei Navalny. It is enough to realize the fact that the current guarantor will be chosen also in the event that the majority of his fans do not come to the ballot boxes on the day of the spring will. Enough of the minority, which willfully or from under the stick vote for the one without which there is no Russia. Budgetaries, soldiers and residents of those republics ruled by Putin's infantrymen will provide Vladimir Vladimirovich with turnout and triumph.
Nevertheless, people, as they say, will still have to choose consciously - between these two main strategies of behavior. Come and vote for the collective Ksenia Sobchak, knowing in advance the winner's name and understanding that they are participating in the legitimization of his victory. Or is it not just to evade participation in Putin's election, but more or less actively, as Navalny calls, within the framework of protest actions or even in private conversations, in his blogs and kitchens, agitate for boycott.
Their arguments for and against in the beginning discussion are on both sides.
Conditional optimists are advised to come to the urns so that in times of authoritarian not to get out of the democratic procedures and show the authorities that "we are many". Do not win, but keep warm and rally around those whose political beliefs are close to us. In the end, they remind us, and Gorbachev was a project of the Kremlin, and the restructuring at first looked like a chekist wiring, and as a result, the Communists were driven away, Felix was screwed, the free multinational Soviet people were given freedom. To vote for Yavlinsky or there Grudinin follows in order to help the old or new leaders feel at least a bit of power. And six years later, if not earlier, having become tempered, we will begin to seriously resist the usurpers and choose those who will have a real chance of winning. Or support them if the power changes in August, when the communists with the Chekists fled at the sight of an unarmed crowd.
Opposition to optimists is possible on all points. This power, as far as we know it, will not run away and is unlikely to stop even in the face of massacres. Vote for anyone in the previous elections have already tried and know what ends such games. And as for democratic procedures, which are recommended to be attached every time the authorities arrange elections, there is not the slightest guarantee that in six or sixteen years in Russia something will change for the better. And Putin will hardly want to leave in 2024, so we will train in anticipation of the upcoming democracy yet, we can also relax.
The arguments in favor of an active boycott are that a violent campaign against the next election of the inevitable Vladimir Vladimirovich should severely spoil his holiday. And the harder he reacts to "extremism", his siloviki beat the protesters, and his judges punish Russians for participating in unsanctioned demonstrations and pickets, for husky and reposts, the shame the authorities will look. Meanwhile, according to the leaks, the Kremlin is dreaming of Putin's quiet little victorious war with other presidential candidates, which should be crowned with an honest Victoria in the most honest elections. Navalny with its angry citizens and staffs across Russia here is very inopportune, which means that the technology of aggressive boycott can be very effective. Including as a means of bringing compatriots to the basics of democracy, to one of its forms - civil disobedience.
However, the arguments against an active boycott are also serious. "They spoiled my inauguration - I'll ruin their lives" - such words are attributed to Putin, allegedly told them in May 2012. He said this or did not say, but the cases of "marsh" prisoners clearly indicate that the president is very anxious about attempts at his legitimacy. Because of this, Navalny, his fanatical adherents, and other citizens who are ready to support them, we need to reflect on the correct method of protest. The fact that dozens or hundreds of crippled fates, and even dead people, should not be paid, perhaps, only for the fact that Vladimir Vladimirovich for some reason (the Constitution, please do not mention) refused to admit to the election of Alexei Anatolyevich. Both him and those who are indignant with him yesterday's decision of the Central Election Commission should act more cautiously and take care of themselves. Yet Putin is not eternal, no matter how wild this thought today seemed.
Well, the real choice of March 18, 2018 will be, in my opinion, done differently. Supporters and opponents of the boycott have to decide whether they will be able to physically reach the plots. No, we are not talking about the number drunk the day before, on Saturday, although this may have some paradoxically sobering effect on representatives of the electorate. I am referring to the division of citizens into those who are able to endure this procedure, and those who are spoiled by the soul. With all due respect to the sacraments of the democratic procedure.
This will have little effect on the results of voting, but the number of citizens who are literally agitated by early elections, it would be interesting to calculate. Such was quite a lot in the years that preceded the changes at the end of the last millennium, and with them I would hope for a brighter future, happiness and prosperity of the Motherland.
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