Alexander Gnezdilov comments for the influential Japanese newspaper Putin’s record drop in popularity

Press Release, 18.05.2020

Alexander Gnezdilov, member of the Yabloko Party’s Federal Political Committee, gave a commentary for the influential Japanese newspaper Sankei Shimbun for an article where the newspaper’s special correspondent investigated the causes of a serious drop in President Vladimir Putin’s rating and a noticeable increase in opposition moods among young Russians.

Speaking about the increase in protest activity among young people, Alexander Gnezdilov noted that key state and public political institutions turned into imitation, ceasing to fulfill their functions. The largest Russian mass media turned into propaganda and advertising outlets for the present regime, while the parliament and the court only stamp the decisions that had been taken before.

Gnezdilov also noted that dissatisfaction with the system of falsehood created in the country pushes Russian young people to participate in rallies.

According to Levada Centre polls cited by Sankei Shimbun in the article, constitutional amendments giving President Putin the right to remain in power after 2024 are supported by only 35% of young Russians. Almost twice as many representatives of the new generation (61%) oppose Putin’s virtually life-long tenure in power.

The Yabloko party is opposed to the unlawful adoption of amendments to the country’s Basic Law and, together with the Public Constitutional Council, has developed an alternative document – the Constitution of Free People.