Putin Sounds the Alarm Over Budding 'Color Revolutions' in Russia

[uhnope]

Source: Moscow Times

President Vladimir Putin urged Interior Ministry officials on Wednesday to focus on smothering budding color revolutions, thus bolstering the current political climate by reinforcing a widespread fear of domestic enemies, analysts told The Moscow Times.

"We see attempts to use so-called 'color revolution technology,' ranging from organizing unlawful public protests to open propaganda of hatred and enmity on social networks," Putin said during Wednesday's expanded session of the Interior Ministry Board, according to the Kremlin's website. "The aim is obvious — to provoke civil conflict and strike a blow at our country's constitutional foundations, and ultimately even at our sovereignty," he said, adding that "preventive work" should be done to counter the eventuality.

A color revolution in Russia seems highly unlikely given Putin's vertiginous 86 percent approval rating and the population's general reluctance to protest. Yet the notion has permeated Putin's lexicon, emerging periodically in his speeches. At a Security Council meeting in November, Putin said that color revolutions in post-Soviet states should serve as a "lesson and warning," emphasizing that "everything necessary" should be done to prevent their occurrence in Russia.

Both pro-Kremlin and independent analysts told The Moscow Times that the Kremlin does not genuinely believe in the possibility of a color revolution.

Read more: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/putin-sounds-the-alarm-over-budding-color-revolutions-in-russia/517019.html

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Translation: Let's stamp out whatever remains of the opposition.

[geek tragedy]

1. Fascist thug gotta get his fascist thug on nt

[JonLP24]

2. There have been anti-Orange & anti-maiden protests in Russia

so I see how a color revolution would be unlikely.

He does have high popularity which is why the liberal guy worked out controversial power swapping arrangements with Putin.

[11cents]

3. "The liberal guy?"

If you mean Medvedev, he was just Putin's hand-puppet, holding onto the presidency on his behalf until Putin could run again. He didn't "work out" anything with Putin; he was put in place by Putin and left when Putin no longer needed him to be there.

[JonLP24]

7. He is the current Prime Minister

but you're roughly correct. The reason why they did it like this is so he wouldn't have to directly run against Putin where he'd likely lose.

On edit -- he could be Putin's "puppet" but he is noticeably more liberal than Putin based on his actions.

[freshwest]

4. Sounds right. n/t

[Paulie]

5. I agree with Putin!

They should stick to names of months for the revolution which will oust his ass.

[davidpdx]

6. Putin to the Russian people: Fuck democracy

[NuclearDem]

8. Waiting for the false equivalence brigade to show up.