“A Puting in St. Petersburg”
18 February 2012
A blogger interviewed participants in a pro-Vladimir Putin rally, also known in contemporary Russian parlance as a “Puting” — a combination of Putin's name and the Russian word “miting,” meaning demonstration. There has been a wave of Putings in response to recent opposition protests. Media reports have said some participants at the pro-Putin rallies have been forced to attend by their employers, or paid to do so by organized groups. At this particular Puting, many of those interviewed do not seem to understand the slogans on the signs they hold; one man refuses to unfurl his banner, saying he didn't agree with the message printed on it. Another demonstrator says he is a retired service member and was “sent” to the event.
"Putin's Arrest"
14 February 2012
This is a fake news report about Prime Minister Vladimir Putin being on trial for embezzlement — one of the crimes that former Yukos owner Mikhail Khodorkovsky was convicted of — and other crimes, using footage from the second Khodorkovsky trial. A version of the video went viral, collecting more than 3 million views on YouTube. Many opposition figures have accused Putin and those in his inner circle of having embezzled large sums of money from the government.
"Russia Without Putin? Welcome to Hell!"
6 February 2012
“The opposition chants the slogan 'Russia without Putin!' Let's imagine: Vladimir Putin is gone,” this video begins. In what it pictures as a nightmare scenario, there is mass unemployment and hyperinflation, followed eventually by civil war and the collapse of Russia. (It also sees opposition leader Boris Nemtsov becoming head of Gazprom and anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny winning the Nobel Peace Prize.) The graphic video visualizes the warnings of some Putin supporters that without the nation's long-time leader, the country risks succumbing to separatist forces and, ultimately, chaos.
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