From a new law aimed at stifling demonstrations to a series of civil and criminal cases against opposition figures and whistle-blowers to the sacking of two influential media executives, the message is clear: the Kremlin has decided it is time to crack down on dissent.
But while President Vladimir Putin wants to turn the clock back, a significant part of society -- and much of the elite -- is not in the mood.
In the latest edition of the Power Vertical Podcast, I discussed the crackdown, civil society's response, and where all this might be going.
Also on the podcast, Kirill and I spoke with Sean Guillory, a historian and post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Russian and Eastern European Studies at the University of Pittsburgh about what historical analogies from Russia's past teach us about today's situation.
