The Russian presidential vote is over and, predictably, Vladimir Putin is about to begin yet another six years in power. But for his opponents abroad it is anything but business as usual.
The absence of credible opponents on the ballot, and the imprisonment of Russia’s most consequential opposition figures, had already underlined Putin’s refusal to tolerate any hint of dissent at home.
But the death of Alexei Navalny in prison just weeks ahead of the election was interpreted by Russians in the diaspora as a definitive sign that it is for them, now, to lead the movement against Putin from the outside.
“People
