Vladimir Putin’s regime’s war on Russia’s opposition — and on dissent in general — is intensifying. Prosecutors have branded Aleksei Navalny’s national organizations as “extremist,” placing them on par with terrorist groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda. Just being a member can result in 10 years in prison. Navalny’s own lawyer, as well as many of his associates, are being arrested and harassed. And those participating in demonstrations are being arrested after the fact, based on photos from social media posts and video surveillance.
On The Power Vertical Podcast this week, host Brian Whitmore talks to Konstantin Eggert, a columnist on Russian affairs for Deutsche Welle, about what is behind the escalating repression and where it may lead.