Putin Rises

March 20, 2022. Last week, we met with Russian activist and public historian Sophia Shirogorova to tell us how Russia came to its final form - an authoritarian state hellbent on wrecking former Soviet republics. We discuss the rise of Putin from Yeltsin's blessing to the brutal crackdowns of the 2011-2013 protests, to the annexation of Crimea, to the present war in Ukraine. Behind everything, Putin is afraid of losing power. A riot police force of over 500,000, consolidated state media to control the public narrative, laws against protesting, eliminating public elections in favor of appointed mayors and representatives, and even the annexation of Crimea were all efforts to tighten control and boost his popularity. The moves against Ukraine play to a much deeper Russian sentiment about their Western neighbor. We discuss Pussy Riot, Maidan, and political opposition in Russia.