| With six weeks to go until Russia's elections, Jonathan Rugman goes behind the scenes with three opposition groups in St Petersburg to explore whether Russia is preparing for its own Arab Spring. The group Voina is the most notorious and secretive of St Petersburg's revolutionaries. Its members are currently in hiding, and there is an international warrant out for their arrest. On new year's eve they set fire to a police transporter, claiming this was their gift for all political prisoners. They have also turned over police cars in protest, and say their aim is to create works of art which humiliate the authorities and inspire dissent. The three ringleaders live by stealing food and clothing, and they are constantly on the lookout for the police. Two of them were imprisoned for three months last year, until the British graffiti artist Banksy posted £80000 bail. They are bringing up a two-year-old child here, and even he has to sleep in a cardboard box to keep warm. Putin will stay cosy in his position of absolute power, they say, unless they escalate their protests. "I don't believe in peaceful protest, because I don't believe peaceful protest is possible in Russia," said Oleg Vorotnikov. "If you just use legal methods, like the organisers of the big demonstrations propose, then you won't be able to stand up to the state." Full report: www.youtube.com |
