Alexei Navalny

Sep 30 2022 The Washington Post

Alexei Navalny: This is what a post-Putin Russia should look like

A few quotes from Navalny’s op-ed.

“What does a desirable and realistic end to the criminal war unleashed by Vladimir Putin against Ukraine look like?”

“Ukraine must remain an independent democratic state capable of defending itself. This is correct, but it is a tactic.”

“The strategy should be to ensure that Russia and its government naturally, without coercion, do not want to start wars and do not find them attractive.”

“In the 31 years since the collapse of the U.S.S.R., we have witnessed a clear pattern: The countries that chose the parliamentary republic model (the Baltic states) are thriving and have successfully joined Europe. Those that chose the presidential-parliamentary model (Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia) have faced persistent instability and made little progress. Those that chose strong presidential power (Russia, Belarus and the Central Asian republics) have succumbed to rigid authoritarianism, most of them permanently engaged in military conflicts with their neighbors, daydreaming about their own little empires.”

“The future model for Russia is not “strong power” and a “firm hand,” but harmony, agreement and consideration of the interests of the whole society. Russia needs a parliamentary republic. That is the only way to stop the endless cycle of imperial authoritarianism.”

“… I believe this cure offers us crucial advantages: a radical reduction of power in the hands of one person, the formation of a government by a parliamentary majority, an independent judiciary system, a significant increase in the powers of local authorities. Such institutions have never existed in Russia, and we are in desperate need of them.”

*****

I’ll end this with a quote from Winston Churchill:

“Democracy is the worst form of government – except for all the others that have been tried.”