Political Dissidents on Russia's Future

“He is a hero; he’s a symbol of Russian resistance … heroes don’t die, heroes motivate us,” said Free Russia Foundation President Natalia Arno of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, whose death was reported just prior to the start of the U.S. Institute of Peace’s event on what Russia will look like after Vladimir Putin is no longer in power. Several topics were addressed, including the Ukraine-Russia war, comparisons of Russia’s behavior today to the Russian Revolution of 1917, the need to free political prisoners, and the impact of globalization on dictatorships. Also touched upon were the various scenarios that may occur in a post-Putin Russia, including the possible rise of a democratic government or chaos and civil war. close