We made it to Pskov. It’s a small city—which is why politicians often ignore it—but it’s really great. And it matters politically: the region was run by Turchak, the son of one of Putin’s friends. That means a blank check from the Kremlin and access to federal resources. Now Turchak heads the General Council of United Russia, the ruling party. A sign of the highest trust, and one of the party’s key leaders.
In other words, in the Pskov region we can see the kind of world United Russia can build when it consolidates all power.
It is a world steeped in poverty. The people here are very good, but all around there is real devastation. Roads are wrecked. Air service has been canceled—even though this is a regional capital. Salaries are 15,000–17,000 rubles a month.
That’s why, even though they pushed us out to the very far edge of the city, the rally still turned out very well.
This is a border region—you can get in a car and quickly find yourself in Estonia, where, under exactly the same geographic and climate conditions, people live three to four times more prosperously.
So here, one simple truth is felt especially sharply: the source of poverty in Russia is the government.
Special thanks to the energetic group from St. Petersburg who didn’t mind making the trip to the rally (3.5 hours each way).
Thank you very much to everyone who came. I hope you didn’t get too cold.
Tomorrow we’re in Samara, where the rally is taking place by court order after the court overturned the mayor’s office’s unlawful refusal and stated that our rights must be restored immediately.