The weakening of Russia always leads to the growth of liberal sentiments in the capitals and to anti-Moscow ones in the remote regions... ... The weakening of Russia always leads to the growth of liberal sentiments in the capitals and to anti-Moscow ones in the remote..…

In March 2012, at the same time that Vladimir Putin was elected to his third term as president, a very small group of activists won seats on Moscow’s 125 municipal councils. Most came from the protest movement and were able to turn widespread anti-regime sentiment into votes. ..…