I think everyone heard about wave of protest started in RF after parlament election (Dec. 2011). The major reason is grand amount of irregularities, mostly in favor of United Russia political party.

A one-party system is not a real problem itself - the real problems are the level of corruption (which is highest of G20 countries and one of the highest in the entire world), unfulfilled promises, irresponsibility of bureaucrats, including top-level executives (such as president and prime minister). It's impossible now to do business in Russia without paying bribes or being under "protection" of bureaucrat friend. At least 50% of govermental expenses are "rollbacks" (it's while paycheck is higher than actual cost of expense, differential going to middlemen pocket (hope that is correct grammar construction)) and usual wastings.

In 2010-2011 years a few absurd decrees and acts were carried (like free-cost sportfishing restrictions or changing MSK time to UTC+4). Now, just before the president elections, those acts are revocated "by Putin himself" (V. Putin is a candidate to presidency from UR and current PM). They call it "Improvement of living standarts".

Nowadays, the most progressive part of Russian society got tired from all this lies, stealages and despair. People are coming to the streets to declare their rights. A symbol of protest is a white ribbon (which was chosen as symbol of serenity and commonality of demands). Demands of protests are: freedom for political prisoners (like Khodorkovsky), resignation of Central Election Commission chairperson, registration of opposite political parties and re-election of parlament. None of them were satisfied. But they were heard.

Now United Russia have started acting aggressively. No, nothing like suppression of rallies. UR and Putin campaign headquarters bribing college students and intimidating state employees (like school teachers), leading them out for counterprotest rallies. They are commiting provocations on protest actions. It can be said that goverment started a "cold civil war".

Now let's try to get things clear. Is that for real now? Is it possible for Russian people to finish "rebuild" (started in 1987) and create a democratical state? Or after president elections protests will calm down in despair?

Talking of me. I can't call myself a patriot, I'm a cosmopolite. But I care about Russians - because I currently live in Russia, because Russians are exactly the same as an every nation in the world.

Thank you for your understanding.

Edited February 19, 201214 yr by B-7

Joke apart, Russia is kinda messed up when it comes to corruption. One of my friends once told me, that the best place to live when you're rich is Russia, as you can buy EVERYTHING and buy yourself out of every trouble, if you only have enough money. I'm really happy to see, that the russian youth is trying to change this and I wish you guys the best of the luck, as it will take quite a bit to get rid off Putin and his puppets.

Buying yourself out of trouble is possible anywhere. Mel Gibson (US Hollywood Actor) wiped his record clean. That's illegal. He did it by paying his way through the court system.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17252190

I love BBC.

Anyway, Putin "wins" with 62%. I dunno what will happen, there's authorized rally planned on 15:00 UTC, and a lot of unauthorised.

Hope there wouldn't be any blood or something.

Arise the Proletariat mass this is your time fight the Bourgeoisie scum. Live on the Red Communist Revolution!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_bEBzZgZ5Tmc/SRjaHzkHWxI/AAAAAAAAPik/rPy2aEHDago/s400/M%26M

Oh boy... No, nothing like communism.

A one-party system is not a real problem itself - the real problems are the level of corruption (which is highest of G20 countries and one of the highest in the entire world), unfulfilled promises, irresponsibility of bureaucrats, including top-level executives (such as president and prime minister). It's impossible now to do business in Russia without paying bribes or being under "protection" of bureaucrat friend. At least 50% of govermental expenses are "rollbacks" (it's while paycheck is higher than actual cost of expense, differential going to middlemen pocket (hope that is correct grammar construction)) and usual wastings.

I have to correct you on that, a one-party system it's a problem; here in Spain the the right-wing party got won with absolute majority and now they are screwing everything cause there is not enough opposition to to stop their f*cking reforms. Consequently, all the idiots who voted them and the people who didn't can be more easily dismissed and are losing many rights, many of the rigths we had gotten in the democracy they seem to be trying to destroy. Also they control the justice so the many corrupt politicians of their party are getting unpunished, and the judges who tried to stop them have been expelled (an important judge who investigated crimes against humanity and condemned dictators), so one-party system and corruption come together.

I feel identified with your problem, I hope the best for you, don't surrender!