So yes, it was a wonderful rally, and it gave us some satisfaction, just like a hearty meal. But what we're suffering from now is massive, exhaustive acid reflux. Because as beautiful as all those inspired faces were, it's really hard to understand if we're in for a struggle or just playing a computer game. We really, really don't want to see the void behind all this but it flickers just so.
One of the most sober opinions that we heard at the protest was that of Xenia Sobchak, it-girl and journalist. Her father, Anatoly Sobchak, used to be the mayor of St Petersburg and an insider of Yeltsin's circles, which makes Xenia very close knit to Putin. She, however, has taken a stand and delivered a passionate speech about setting up a party of those concerned with the civil society of Russia but not aiming for power per se.
Now, this all happened to intense booing from the audience. Nobody likes a rich girl, and everything Xenia Sobchak has been doing recently was causing a massive backlash and a rain of accusations about her hidden agenda. Guess nobody can get over the fact that Xenia Sobchak has about 400 shoes in her wardrobe. In the recent Russian film "Elena" there is a quote: "If you own more things than me, do you think you're better than me?" Mind you: not money, things. Because having nice things makes one a terrible person. And that's pretty much the attitude towards Sobchak. She's not allowed to be better or even make sense, while she keeps her Louboutins. This, by the way, is also the reason why nobody outside of the big cities is ever going to vote for Mikhail Prokhorov at the upcoming elections. Oligarchs are a no-no, period.
But the funny thing is, Xenia Sobchak actually seems to be the least hypocritical of all the current pillars of opposition, who all seem to be living in dog eat dog mode. They can't agree upon anything: neither the rallies, nor the things they want from the government, not even the methods of dealing with the existing regime. Yesterday's protest was not good enough for some liberals, who staged their own one elsewhere; the speakers at Sakharov avenue pinched each other quite a bit; and there is no consensus on anything at all. Seems like everyone is following their own personal agenda to claim the power, even before there is any real power to claim.
Xenia Sobchak, however, is not in a position to gain that much, seeing as she is not aiming for a political career — at least, for now. Meanwhile, what she has to lose is more of a concern. So far, the 30 year old has managed to make quite a sweet career as a TV-presenter in reality-shows and entertainment programs as well as that of an interviewer for Russian GQ, where she is, hands down, quite amazing. No doubt, she would probably not have gotten all that had she not been born with a silver spoon in her mouth. But she's not your regular Kardashian. She's smart, reckless and she speaks her mind. Which, given the regime, could cost her quite a bit.
Everyone refuses to believe this, of course, and it makes sense. Being on the Forbes-list and all, Xenia Sobchak seems more like a Patty Hearst, who mistakes a hangover for Stockholm syndrome and sports rebellion like a new bag for a few days. But the thing here is: she is in fact very level headed and does not exaggerate her own importance, like other opposition leaders do. The party that Xenia Sobchak proposed is something "for the smart ones, against the puppets", an outlet of influence on the existing power from the country's intelligentsia. Now everyone keeps saying that Xenia Sobchak just poured a pile of crap out on stage and that her methods are baloney. We think that the lady's got sense, and that her proposal, even though it does not yet have a party behind it, is more than anyone else among the speakers had to offer yesterday. And here's why.
It's absolutely crazy to deny that the parliamentary elections were a big fat lie. However, this does not mean that United Russia does not have the majority of votes in Russia. They do, it's just that this majority is not as big as they make it out to be. Putin is quite genuinely loved by the masses. Now, we don't want to be condescending, but most of Russian people, when it comes to sympathising with the leader, are like 40+ divorcees on a rebound. Very needy, with a low self-esteem and a bad aptitude for judgment. They're hot for men who show off their power — he's a pumped-up alpha-male who wrestles bears. They're hot for men who are borderline aggressive —he's always ready to threaten unconventionally. They are ready to laugh at almost anything — and Putin is the king of lewd jokes. It's a romance that's not exactly ready to be over.
All of us in the more demanding audience are not satisfied, however, and we want Putin to go away. But here's the trick: we don't have anyone to offer instead. There are, of course, guys like Navalny, Nemtsov, etc. But yesterday's protest proved once again: none of them has a program. And while we have a precise list of things that we want as protesters right now, like fair re-elections and freedom to the political prisoners, there is no exact agenda of what happens after there's no Putin, no Medvedev, no crooks and thieves. There has not been a word on politics, a word on budget allocation, taxes, real means of action, it's all hype, and fun, and chanting. Which we don't mind at all, when it comes as backup for drastic political change. But when it's all about making up a funny comeback to the president — well that's just sad.
And does it even work? It's a popular opinion that after the protests in Moscow and elsewhere, Putin and Medvedev are starting to dread. It's very unlikely. Yes, of course they're bothered by the upheavals, but they are not afraid. And they're also presumably not made of wood. They see the unrest and they understand that they need to make a few amends, to throw the dogs a bone. Even though they could have easily ignored the whole thing: but that's a different kind of nuisance that could lead to more problems. So now Medvedev is pushing forward some changes in the government structure, like introducing majority elections for the parliament. This seems to be a move to calm down the opposition: once they know they've been heard, they'll lighten the grip, and that's that.
And damn it, this might just work. Because as optimistic and enthusiastic as we are, we can't just make pretend that there is much substance to the claims that every one is making. Some want to fight the regime quietly but they are not talking of alternatives. "Russia without Putin" has been one of the most popular slogans at every single protest this December. But can we imagine that? No. We're not big fans of anarchy, so there has to be a leader somewhere in this picture. A leader that we don't see. Those who blame the peaceful protests and want a revolution, to take over Kremlin, have even less regard to what happens after Putin is gone. They want him gone quick and for good. After them, the flood. That is made of human blood and gore, because, let's face it, that's what 1917 was.
In this context, Xenia Sobchak's position seems to be very adequate because she is all for a sensible dialogue with the existing power. The wishes of the whole protest rally would make much more sense if mediated to the government by a group of well-respected and intelligent people. There could still be protests, there could still be unrest and chanting. But there would be an official, legitimate body of political influence, and that's already something. Why does Putin need to create opposition himself by assigning Prokhorov here and there? Because the rest of the opposition, even if they are more liberal and less imaginary than Prokhorov, don't want to talk to him. Which we kind of understand: he's a bloodsucking creeper. But that's politics, not a horror movie. We need to negotiate, not just stab someone through the heart and flee. This way zombies just multiply.
Now we're going to keep waiting for Xenia Sobchak to do something, although it's quite unlikely that she'll be able to organize the party alone. We really hope that somebody else will reach out to help her. We also can't abstain from drawing a parallel between Xenia Sobchak and ourselves. We are all for negotiation and evolution but those in the eye of the revolutionary storm conceive us as too young and idealistic and mellow to be taken into serious consideration. Same with Xenia Sobchak. Can someone maybe introduce us to her at a party or something?
