Putin Must Abandon the Sinking Ship of Authoritarianism

By: Alexandra Paul

PHOTO BY SERGEY PONOMAREV ON NYTIMES

Without a doubt, the past few years have presented a unique political chaos that continues to have rippling effects around the world. Experts and democracy watchdogs alike agreed that 2016 and 2017 demonstrated an alarming global rise of authoritarianism, with the election of former United States President Donald Trump underpinning the conversation. This undemocratic ideology found a stronghold in Russia under Vladimir Putin, and his 21-yearlong regime has become notorious for its ongoing human rights violations and political manipulations. However, Putin has not gone unopposed. Recently, Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny was unjustly arrested upon his return to Moscow after being poisoned, which he maintains was done at the behest of the Russian President. This sparked massive protests across Russia, with over 100,000 people participating in 109 cities. Those who flooded the streets and pelted police with snowballs are not alone in their rejection of authoritarian regimes. Across the world, similar protests exploded in response to encroachments on democracy, notably in Hong Kong and recently in Belarus. Collectively, these point to a responsive global anti-authoritarian movement and caution leaders like Putin to reassess their global presence, reputation and legacy.

Vladimir Putin became Prime Minister and later President of Russia in 1999, holding both roles until 2000 when he began his eight year presidency. To skirt Russian constitutional limitations, Putin reverted to being Prime Minister in 2008 but successfully ran to become President in 2012 and again in 2018. However, this impressive streak of political domination came alongside widespread allegations of electoral fraud. In 2020, Putin proposed sweeping changes to the Russian constitution that would grant him the ability to run for two additional 6-year terms, which passed amid accusations of vote manipulation, sparking mass protests. Shortly thereafter, opposition leader Alexei Navalny was poisoned in Siberia by a military-grade nerve agent. After recovering in Germany, Navalny returned to Moscow in January and was arrested immediately upon arrival despite no evidence of criminal activity. Russians responded by staging the largest demonstrations since 2018 in support of Navalny across the expansive country. The arrest was also internationally decried, adding to a chorus of condemnations that have characterized Putin’s reputation for years. There is increasing speculation that these protests indicate a distinct shift in Russian politics, as they coincide with growing discontent surrounding the devastating economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. This leaves Putin, poised to cling to his rule now traversing three decades, in a politically precarious position.

Russians are not alone in their rebellion against authoritarian governments. A keystone story in the discussion around these demonstrations is the pro-democracy marches that took place in Hong Kong. An estimated one million demonstrators flooded the streets on June 9, 2019 to protest the Hong Kong extradition bill and express their general concern about the erosion of their autonomy from mainland China. The resulting state and police response only agitated the protests, leading to a subsequent turnout of 2 million demonstrators for the following march. The Hong Kong protests, characterized by their astounding organized and methodical nature, were supported by sister demonstrations in 40 cities around the world, aided by the activists’ social media presence. China, well-known for its grip over protests and narratives within its borders, faces ongoing scrutiny for its handling of the marches and their fallout, attempting to enact increasingly undemocratic measures to ensure control. More recently, there has been an outpouring of dissent in Belarus in response to the re-election of Aliaksandr Lukashenka, Belarusian President since 1994, in August of 2020. Protestors were met with a decidedly anti-democratic crackdown, but international pressure continues to support demonstrators. Opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, currently leading uprisings against Lukashenka from Lithuania, has become widely recognized as Belarus’ president-elect and continues to call upon global leaders to intervene and back protestors.

Ultimately, the path before these leaders is clear. The time for authoritarianism is running out and international pressure for change is mounting. The pandemic has left people more cynical and critical of their governments, and global awareness of anti-authoritarianism makes their suppression increasingly difficult. The leaders of these regimes will be forced to reckon with their participation in the undemocratic trends of the last decade and global democratic leaders are unlikely to forget their offences anytime soon as the outpouring of support for the Hong Kong and Belarusian protests demonstrates a keen and worldwide interest in steering away from totalitarian regimes. As a prominent leader who faces constant scrutiny from surrounding states, Putin has the opportunity to step down and offer Russia a new way forward: a path towards genuine democracy and re-acceptance by the international community. However, should he choose to maintain his authoritarian grip on the country, his legacy will forever be intertwined with the gross injustices of his tenure. It is time for him, and leaders like him, to accept that the authoritarian ship is in disarray and it is time to jump, lest they sink with it.