I'm not russian but curious how this can get published in Moscow Times. I thought Putin owns the whole media and any newspaper printing things like this will have immediate consequences. No?
I'm also not sure what really Navalny is thinking. Yes, some people came out in protest but crowds were small and there is nothing they can do. In modern times, armies are very effective at squatching protests. When you have nukes, no country will do anything against you except to cry little about human rights and move on. I don't see how Navalny can win here at all. His best bet was to get asylum and run whatever remote campaign he can run but it would be just sideshow anyway.
It's an English language publication largerly for immigrants. Not enough Russians speak English that it matters. Bit like how Russia will spread idiotic conspiracies in English, it doesn't get fed back into Russian much.
I'm also not sure what really Navalny is thinking. Yes, some people came out in protest but crowds were small and there is nothing they can do. In modern times, armies are very effective at squatching protests. When you have nukes, no country will do anything against you except to cry little about human rights and move on. I don't see how Navalny can win here at all. His best bet was to get asylum and run whatever remote campaign he can run but it would be just sideshow anyway.