Just like in books about parallel worlds. In one world—the cozy world of Putin and the federal TV channels—not a single person has come out onto the streets of Khabarovsk for the 15th day in a row. ⠀ Nothing at all is happening there. The president’s approval rating is solid. Everyone praises United Russia (the ruling political party). Zero news from there. ⠀ Actually, I’m lying—not zero. For those who have still heard some echoes online, what’s happening is explained by “journalist” Vladimir Solovyov. He’s figured it all out and found a “Ukrainian trace” in Khabarovsk. In short, foreigners are stirring things up. And all the locals are sitting at home, bowing to portraits of Putin and counting their money—because wages in the Russian Far East are supposedly rising faster than anywhere else. ⠀ In the second world, everything is different. Slightly. Just a little. ⠀ For fifteen days in a row, protests have been taking place across Khabarovsk Krai, and today—by general consensus—was the biggest one yet. ⠀ The credit here clearly goes to Degtyaryov, Putin’s appointee. Zhirinovsky’s “bathhouse boy” (a mocking reference implying he is a lackey) was too afraid to come out and face the protesters, and today, on the eve of a major rally, he left the city altogether. ⠀ His three main accomplishments so far: - he too declared that foreigners are organizing the rallies; - he bought an ice cream on the street and ate it live on air; - once, he did pull-ups on a horizontal bar to the applause of the court entourage. ⠀ For some reason, the people of Khabarovsk took an instant dislike to Degtyaryov. Strange, right? ⠀ To this day, there is still not the slightest evidence of the guilt of Governor Furgal, who was taken to Moscow. His trial remains closed and classified. ⠀ Today’s rally was not only the largest in terms of turnout, but clearly the most political as well. “Putin resign” and “Putin is a thief” were among the main slogans. ⠀ Everyone understands: it is Putin who is “crushing” Khabarovsk Krai for voting against United Russia. It is Putin who decided to humiliate everyone once again by appointing this “bathhouse boy.” It is Putin who gave the order to completely block all information about the protests in the Far East in the federal media. ⠀ And Putin understands it all too. Now he has only one hope. - When will they get tired of this? - When will they wear out? - When will they go home? He whispers in his bunker. ⠀ To Khabarovsk Krai, where people do not tire and do not give up—our ❤️ and support. #Khabarovsk #FreeFurgal #KhabarovskKrai