Why Putin is Afraid of the People

In an opinion editorial in The Moscow Times Ekho Moskvy radio political talk show host Vladimir Ryzhkov explains why president Vladimir Putin is afraid of the people. The regime is threatened by peaceful rallies with clearly defined political demands, where organisers maintain order and hand over provocateurs to the police. The country's leaders have no arguments to oppose the opposition's demands and complaints, and are helpless in the face of large, peaceful rallies. The opposition should learn lessons from the May protest to make the June one larger and even more effective.