Nationalist opponents face Putin’s ire

Vladimir Putin, Russia’s prime minister, launched a pre- presidential election attack on nationalist opponents on the 23 January 2012, accusing them of seeking 'to destroy their homeland' by promoting xenophobia and separatism.

The attack, in an article in the daily Nezavisimaya Gazeta, appeared to be directed mainly at Alexei Navalny, who is emerging as the most popular in a stable of opposition leaders, partly due to his hardline nationalist views.

ESO: Background information: Russia’s protest movement gets organised http://www.europeansources.info/record/russias-protest-movement-gets-organised/

ESO: Background information: Russia targets anti-graft blogger http://www.europeansources.info/record/russia-targets-anti-graft-blogger/

BBC News, 23.1.12: Russia elections: Liberal Yavlinsky facing vote bar http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16689086

Deutsche Welle, 23.1.12: New Russian Left emerges to oppose Putin http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15683474,00.html

RIA Novosti, 23.1.12: Election Watchdog to Disqualify Yavlinsky http://en.rian.ru/russia/20120124/170923352.html

RIA Novosti: Tag: Russia Elections Presidential 2012 http://en.rian.ru/trend/russia_elections_president_2012/

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