The European Council on Foreign Relations

Blogger, politician, populist? - Alexey Navalny’s rise

Date: 23rd January 2012  |  Author: Ben Judah,

Categories: Wider Europe,

Alexey Navalny may well be the first Russian internet politician. The charismatic 35 year old emerged not just as an online activist, but leading agitator of the nascent protest movement. His slogan - “Down with the Party of Crooks and Thieves” - has become the chant of the movement and his idea to “vote for anyone else but the Party of Crooks and Thieves” is seen as a factor costing United Russia its majority at the December parliamentary elections. He has the fame of a rock-star amongst protesters and many already think he is the president of tomorrow.

Alexey Navalny’s rise began on his idiosyncratic blog– where he also runs youtube video competitions for the funniest anti-Putin song (prizes include whiskey bottles). He blogs incriminating documents which show embezzlement inside the system and rants humorously with a nationalist tinge. Whilst the Kremlin issues dry and

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