January 26, 2021
Morten Morland (Times) offers this commentary tying in the coronavirus vaccine with the heroic but somewhat inexplicable return of Victor
(ed. No, Alexei) Navalny to Russia, which — in case you hadn’t heard — has touched off massive, nationwide demonstrations in support of him and against Putin’s oligarchy.
“Inexplicable” in the first place because Putin already tried to kill him once with poison, hence the “second dose” crack, and because the Russians’ level of patriotic fervor seems so out of touch with the lukewarm demands for reform that seem to prevail over here.
Russia’s a different place, despite being home to the Caucuses and a whole lot of caucasians. I spent about a week in the company of Soviet timber executives, back in the last days of the USSR and back in the days when reporters were permitted to immerse themselves in their subject matter.