Last spring, while teaching in Bryansk, Russia, on a Fulbright grant, พรพรสำฦต political science professor noticed a change in the mood of the people since the last time he visited.
โPeople from all walks of Russian life โฆ were now saying that [Prime Minister Vladimir] Putin is as much of a thief as anybody else amongst the elites,โ he said. โAnd the [recent Parliamentary] elections โฆ were really an important indicator of that. Even with the thumb of the Kremlin on the scales, the party of power couldnโt come up with even half of the votes.โ
Yet, Epstein believes there is likely to be little change until Putin is โout of the picture entirely.
โThe idea of losing control in Moscow, which actually seems preposterous to me, would certainly not mean losing control of the country,โ he said. โOpposition is concentrated in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but between them, they make up barely 10-15% of the countryโs population.โ
Also, โwhat little media coverage there might be from the few opposition media outlets, never comes to a place like Bryansk, or the other small cities where most Russians live.โ
Do you have questions for Professor Epstein? Ask them below.