Kicking the Kremlin : Russias's new dissidents and the battle to topple Putin

One day in December -- Putin's pact -- Putin and his 'sovereign democracy' -- The 'orange threat' and the early dissenters -- Medvedev and the scent of change -- Navalny and the 'crooks and thieves' -- Castling at the Kremlin -- Polls and protests -- Udaltsov and the New Left -- Pussy Riot vs the Kremlin -- Putin;s return -- Tightening the screws -- Pussy Riot : the verdict -- Dark days -- Next target : the New Left -- The people's wrath -- End of the line for Navalny? -- Dreams of something more.;Discusses the wave of anti-Putin sentiment that has surged in Russia since his reelection in 2011, including interviews with members of the infamous Pussy Riot, top opposition leaders, and Kremlin insiders. -- Provided by publisher.

Vladimir Putin’s return to the Russian presidency amid mass protests in 2012 ushered in a ruthless crackdown on dissent. 'They ruined my big day, now I’m going to ruin their lives,’ Putin was alleged to have threatened after demonstrators clashed with police on the eve of his inauguration for a controversial third term. Now Boris Nemtsov is dead, other key opposition leaders are either in prison or under house arrest and the Kremlin is using the war in Ukraine to further its domestic aims, encouraging the rise of violent pro-Putin groups and labeling protesters 'national traitors’.Journalist and long-time Moscow resident Marc Bennetts examines how Russia’s political opposition went from the heights of 2011’s brave new protest movement to the disparate, broken-down force that it is today. Featuring rare interviews with everyone from Nemtsov and other protest leaders to Kremlin insiders, Bennetts provides an unprecedented insight into the realities of Russia’s political arena. The result is a brilliant portrayal of the battle for Russia’s soul, one which continues to this day.

As 2011 came to a close, in what was a watershed moment, 100,000 took to Moscow's freezing streets to protest the election victory of United Russia - Vladimir Putin's party - amid widespread allegations of corruption and vote-rigging. A few months later, Pussy Riot hit headlines around the world when they were arrested following their anti-Putin demonstration in a Russian Orthodox cathedral. The vicious battle for Russia's soul continues to this day. In the first book to take the reader straight to the beating heart of the opposition movement, journalist and long-time Moscow resident Marc Bennetts introduces a new generation of Russian dissidents, united by their hatred of Putin and his bid to silence all political adversaries. We meet a bustling cast of urban youth working to expose the injustices of the regime and a disjointed bunch of dissenters - from 'It Girl' hipsters to 21st-century socialists. Featuring rare interviews with everyone from Pussy Riot and top protest leaders to Kremlin insiders, Bennetts' compelling narrative is a high-octane account of the politics and subterfuge of modern-day Russia As 2011 came to a close, in what was a watershed moment, 100,000 took to Moscow's freezing streets to protest the election victory of United Russia Vladimir Putin's party amid widespread allegations of corruption and vote-rigging. A few months later, Pussy Riot hit headlines around the world when they were arrested following their anti-Putin demonstration in a Russian Orthodox cathedral. The vicious battle for Russia's soul continues to this day. In the first book to take the reader straight to the beating heart of the opposition movement, journalist and long-time Moscow resident Marc Bennetts introduces a new generation of Russian dissidents, united by their hatred of Putin and his bid to silence all political adversaries. We meet a bustling cast of urban youth working to expose the injustices of the regime and a disjointed bunch of dissenters from 'It Girl' hipsters to 21st-century socialists. Featuring rare interviews with everyone from Pussy Riot and top protest leaders to Kremlin insiders, Bennetts' compelling narrative is an astonishing journey through Russia's new protest movements. Vladimir Putin's return to the Russian presidency amid mass protests in 2012 ushered in a ruthless crackdown on dissent. 'They ruined my big day, now I'm going to ruin their lives, ' Putin was alleged to have threatened after demonstrators clashed with police on the eve of his inauguration for a controversial third term. Now Boris Nemtsov is dead, other key opposition leaders are either in prison or under house arrest and the Kremlin is using the war in Ukraine to further its domestic aims, encouraging the rise of violent pro-Putin groups and labeling protesters 'national traitors'. Journalist and long-time Moscow resident Marc Bennetts examines how Russia's political opposition went from the heights of 2011's brave new protest movement to the disparate, broken-down force that it is today. Featuring rare interviews with everyone from Nemtsov and other protest leaders to Kremlin insiders, Bennetts provides an unprecedented insight into the realities of Russia's political arena. The result is a brilliant portrayal of the battle for Russia's soul, one which continues to this day In the freezing winter of 2011, in what was a watershed moment, 100,000 took to Moscow's streets to protest Putin's landslide election victory amid widespread allegations of corruption and vote-rigging. A few months later, Pussy Riot hit headlines around the world when they were arrested following their anti-Putin demonstration in a Russian Orthodox cathedral. Now, Marc Bennetts takes us straight to the beating heart of the opposition movement, introducing a generation of Russian dissidents, all united by their hatred of Putin and his bid to silence all political adversaries. We meet a bustling cast of urban youth, blogging and tweeting to expose the injustices of the regime, and a rag-tag bunch of dissenters – from Bolshoi ballerinas to skinhead nationalists. Featuring interviews with everyone from Gary Kasparov to top Kremlin loyalists, this is the definitive guide to the vicious battle for Russia's soul. Russia's protest movement,Pussy Riot,Vladimir Putin,Corruption,Vote-rigging,Russian dissidents,Kremlin insiders,21st-century socialism,modern day Russia In 2012, on the eve of Vladimir Putin's inauguration for a controversial third term as president, mass protests ended in violent clashes between demonstrators and the police. 'They ruined my big day, now I'm going to ruin their lives,' Putin was alleged to have said. Now Boris Nemtsov is dead, other key opposition leaders are either in prison or under house arrest and the Kremlin is using the situation in Ukraine to further its domestic aims, encouraging the rise of violent pro-Putin groups and labelling protesters 'national traitors'. Journalist and long-time Moscow resident Marc Bennetts examines how Putin and his shadowy advisers crushed Russia's brave new protest movement. Featuring rare interviews with everyone from Nemtsov and other protest leaders to Kremlin insiders, Bennetts provides an unprecedented insight into the realities of politics on the ground. The result is a brilliant portrayal of the battle for Russia's soul – one which continues to this day. One day in December -- Putin's pact -- Putin and his 'sovereign democracy' -- The 'orange threat' and the early dissenters -- Medvedev and the scent of change -- Navalny and the 'crooks and thieves' -- Castling at the Kremlin -- Polls and protests -- Udaltsov and the New Left -- Pussy Riot vs the Kremlin -- Putin s return -- Tightening the screws -- Pussy Riot : the verdict -- Dark days -- Next target : the New Left -- The people's wrath -- End of the line for Navalny? -- Dreams of something more.