Wednesday, January 29, 2020

Do Russians Care What President Putin Does Next?

Several cities have seen protests and this banner warns of a "constitutional coup" but not all Russians are so concerned

Sarah Rainsford, BBC: Putin's Russia: Do Russians care what president does next?

Two weeks after Vladimir Putin announced a radical overhaul of the constitution, loyal officials in Moscow have been moving at lighting speed to implement his changes.

Deputies in parliament have already passed the amendments in a first reading even as protesters insist the move is a smokescreen to allow Mr Putin to retain influence, or even power, beyond 2024, when he is due to step down as president.

But as analysts argue over his real intentions, just a short drive from the capital many people are either unaware of what's happening or indifferent.

At the entrance to Pereslavl-Zalessky, there's a giant Soviet hammer and sickle by the side of the road that it seems no-one ever bothered to remove.

Read more ....

WNU Editor: The priority for most Russians is to make money and to have a better life. It does not mean that they are unaware on what is happening, it only means that for now their focus is elsewhere.

No comments: