It’s only on the propaganda box (a derogatory term for TV) that there are supposedly “national interests,” the defense of Russians, and nationalists who have allegedly now been given carte blanche.
In real life, nationalists are being cracked down on even harder than liberals. All nationalist parties are banned, and activists have been thrown into prison. And it’s done even more lawlessly than with ordinary activists—those at least can stir up some media attention, but these guys get hauled off and beaten in their cells until their ribs crack.
Take Demushkin, for example: this morning he filed an application for the Russian March. Within an hour, he was summoned for questioning by the Investigative Committee, and from there taken to court, where they want to change his pretrial restrictions to detention.
You can’t be a nationalist and not love Putin. You can’t be a conservative and not love Putin. First go on a talk show and say that the Russians’ most vital interests are the wars in Syria and Ukraine. Say that education and healthcare must be sacrificed, that people should sell the shirt off their back, just to help Assad. After that, you’re free to go rally ... in support of V.V. Putin and his wise policies.
Russian Marches on any other theme are banned in Russia.