67in the context of next year’s election, was attacked several times. The head of his
Moscow headquarters was also vandalised. Navalny’s supporters were attacked
in different regions without any legal consequences for the assailants. The car of
Yulia Latynina, an opposition journalist, was set ablaze in September and she and
her family fled Russia out of fear for their safety.
Putin has been quite successful in withdrawing Russia from the context of in-
ternational law and institutions and he has found a lot of support amongst radical
activists who are feeling even more empowered. In September the Russian film
director Alexey Uchitel faced real hysteria and hatred over his film Matilda, a bi-
opic about Nicolas II love affair. Attackers threw Molotov cocktails at the director’s
building in St Petersburg while arsonists burned cars
in front of the office of Uchitel’s lawyer, Konstantin
Dobrynin. A note found at the scene read: “Burn for
Matilda”. Major Russian cinemas cancelled screenings
of the film after threats from Orthodox activists. A
radical group called Christian State, Holy Russia claimed
that “cinemas will burn to the ground” if they show
the film. One cinema in Ekaterinburg was allegedly set
on fire because of plans to screen the film.
This unprecedented situation was provoked by the Kremlin’s radicalising and
manipulation of traditional values and religious beliefs since 2012. The campaign
against the film was initiated by a Putin supporter, Duma member and former
Crimean prosecutor Natalia Poklonskaya. At first, it looked like the whim of one
person, but now it has been accompanied by extremist threats and two terrorist
attacks. Poklonskaya has demonstrated that neither the culture minister, Vladimir
Medinsky, nor the cultural committee of the Duma may influence her. She has al-
ready been asked by journalists whether she has ambitions to run for the presidency.
It has become too much even for Putin and the situation appears to be slipping
out of his control. Yet, in the context of the upcoming elections it is doubtful that
Putin will manage to deal with this increasing radical conservatism. That is why
it will be crucial for Navalny to be registered as a candidate for the presidency,
providing a sound alternative to this murky reality.
Artem Filatov is a Russian journalist and former presenter with Echo of Moscow radio in
St Petersburg. He now lives in Moscow and contributes to Russian and international press.In the context of the
upcoming elections it
is doubtful that Putin
will manage to deal
with an increase in
radical conservatism.Putin and his monsters, Artem Filatov Opinion & Analysis