(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Putin cannot risk it (and neither can Trump) [1] ['Chitown Kev', 'Thom Hartmann', 'Belinda Ridgewood', 'Bill In Portland Maine'] Date: 2026-08-18 The other day I made a comment in one of the RSBU diaries https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/15/800083588/community/russian-stuff-blowing-up-saturday/ about the fact that there seemed to be some Russians actually protesting Putin’s Special Military Operation. Putin arranged for one of the very few legitimate opposition parties to be taken off the ballot in the upcoming rigged elections because they, while only a tiny fraction of the electorate, are openly opposed to the war with Ukraine. He couldn’t risk them getting a substantial number of votes, as it would mar the facade of total support for the war that is laying waste not only to Ukraine, but to Russian demographics and to their economy. That would be too, too disgraceful. Party members have been standing in public places holding apples … putting apples on the doorsteps of politicians… and otherwise directing attention to their party, whose name means “Apple”. Today I see that they have jailed the leader of the party, for treason, because he dared to publicly state his opposition to the war. ( Russia jails political leader for opposing Ukraine war ) They gave him 12 years in a penal colony, almost the maximum possible sentence. Perhaps they will poison him the way they poisoned Navalny, who died in one of their jails after returning to Russia from treatment for radiation poisoning, due to an assassination attempt. Perhaps they will just hope he is forgotten and try to suppress any news about him and his party. For sure they will not allow the people to let the world know what they would really want from their government. It is really sad when a leader cannot allow dissent. It shows their insecurity. And it inevitably leads to them being surrounded by toadies who won’t tell them anything that they don’t think those in power want to hear. That it has happened over and over in human history says something about the people who want, seek, and achieve power: in many cases they are not strong, though they want to be seen as strong. They are weak. They end up isolated and manipulated by the ones who see though them and know how to pull the strings. We can see this in Trump as well as in Putin. He is easily offended, and as easily flattered. He is weak and at some level knows it, which is why he distracts both himself and the world with angry, vile discourse and acts. He cannot ask for advice lest he not seem all knowing, he cannot ever admit a mistake. He will even lie to himself and the world that he is much respected, beloved, and the greatest leader ever, while his polls tank and his former supporters turn on him. And once you see through him, he is easily led. The Iranians hired profilers to tell them how to handle Trump, and they might as well have him by a nose ring. There is no way he can get out of the trap he laid for himself and come out looking good. So I think we need to take some heed to what is happening in the Russian elections, lest ours suffer consequences we do not want due to our President’s insecurity and loss of popularity. I would not be surprised if there are plans in the works already to jail protestors, even if all they are doing is standing in public holding a piece of fruit. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2026/8/18/800086024/community/putin-cannot-risk-it/ Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/