The Kremlin's Calculated Risk: Suppressing Dissent in the Face of War The recent decision to bar Yabloko, Russia's last remaining openly antiwar party, from participating in the Duma elections may seem like a routine move in the Kremlin's ongoing efforts to suppress dissent.
However, it reveals a calculated risk assessment that speaks volumes about the regime's concerns. The ruling United Russia party faces growing public dissatisfaction, driven by the harsh realities of war with Ukraine.
Fuel shortages, rising inflation, and widespread poverty have created a perfect storm of discontent, with many Russians questioning the government's ability to manage the crisis.