I'm On The Very Blackest Part Of

We Now Live In A Country With A Thousand Political Prisoners, A Country Where Each Week There Are New Trials, Where People Are Put In Jail Because They Liked Something On The Internet.

For 17 Years, Elections In Russia Have Followed The Same Pattern: Nobody Criticizes Putin, Nobody Runs A Real Election Campaign, The Whole Process Takes Place Quietly Over A Period Of Two Months. The Kremlin Blocks Every Alternative To Putin. He Doesn't Want A Candidate Who Will Travel Through The Country And Speak Loudly About Russia's Problems.

Consistency For Me Is Everything.

Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev Can No Longer Attend Concerts By His Favorite Group Deep Purple Without Having To Fear That The Musicians Will Wear T-shirts With Pussy Riot Written On Them.

Putin Needs To Terrorize His Own Elite. He Is More Afraid Of Those In His Own Surroundings Than Any Protests; There Are People There Who Are At Least As Critical As I Am Because They See Up Close That The System Doesn't Work. He Wants To Silence Them.