Some people are worried. The British Prime Minister refused to comment on the Putin's nomination. Some were quicker than that the Financial Times, for instance. Their opinion is rather provocative. Let's hear it:
"Russian president Vladimir Putin says he will run for re-election next year a move that will likely see him become the longest-serving Russian ruler since Joseph Stalin. The election will take place on March 18th next year the third anniversary of Russia’s annexation of Crimea. Mr. Putin has no real challengers and is expected to cruise to victory though turnout is expected to be lukewarm".
- That's the first drop of an oncoming tsunami of such statements.
Vyacheslav Nikonov: You mean comparisons with Stalin?
- That's right.
Vyacheslav Nikonov: They don't know our history Even before Stalin, we had had leaders that ruled for many years. They also mixed up the years.
- But still, they've woken up and discovered it. The West's attacks are coming. It's clear there are some pros and cons. They are likely to impose stricter sanctions right after the New Year, during the official campaign.
Mikhail Remizov, political analyst: Well, speaking about serious risks for his campaign I personally think the nation will unite, the external pressure will raise confidence in the government. It's all clear. Will the sanctions make us richer or poorer? One of the risks is connected with their decision to restrict the American companies engaged in the Russian debt instruments which might cause panic at the market because there are currently a lot of foreign players there. That's why our first issue is the risk of a financial downfall. And it must be viewed within political context because if it happens right before the elections it would mean our economic and financial system has failed. The campaign then should offer some systematic measures draw some systematic conclusions in terms of staff and policy, the program in general change the formation en route. I wouldn't disregard this risk. In fact, we have an open, long-term, and serious conflict with the West. On the other hand, we have an elite, and the community doubts if it rushes to surrender the moment Putin is gone. In this case, Putin guarantees the nation's not going to surrender.
- What about the alternative agenda like "I will come and make peace with everyone?" Yavlinsky!
Mikhail Remizov, political analyst: Well, Yavlinsky…
- He wants to return Crimea, that won't do. Maybe something less drastic?
Mikhail Remizov, political analyst: It's simple and I'm sure the majority of smart and educated citizens, even Europhiles, understand it. We can make peace with the West only if we withstand the pressure now. If we show that we can resist it, that we're not collapsing either psychologically or economically that we won't stray from our path and then in ten years we'll have nice even relations.
- But what does the West want? This is all against Putin. Remember he's said recently: "be it the Olympics or the elections.." Well, we actually did get banned. If it's all against Putin, who should win to make NATO and the EU happy? It's impossible, there's no real candidate no real opposition no person to replace Putin even the Financial Times agree. What do they need?
Konstantin Remchukov, editor in chief of Nezavisimaya Gazeta: I don't really get the question.
- What do they need?
Konstantin Remchukov, editor in chief of Nezavisimaya Gazeta: Who they?
- The West. How can we make peace with the collective West in its current state? We're waging a "long-term war."
Konstantin Remchukov, editor in chief of Nezavisimaya Gazeta: We can't really talk about all the positions right now. The only concrete program I see is the peace settlement in eastern Ukraine. It's the first step that we should make. We should hold intensive negotiations. Americans engaged in the issue. Previously, Europe was busy with something else, so they weren't present. Now they want to reanimate the Normandy format. Merkel won the elections in September but still can't form the government. Macron is too inexperienced to participate. The US tried doing something but hasn't yet succeeded. But I know for sure if we manage to settle the Ukrainian conflict drawing on the Minsk Agreement there would be no new sanctions. Indeed, there are reports that rank people based on their proximity to Putin. But what Mikhail and Vyacheslav are saying the so-called people of the Cold War they're always saying that…
- Why "people of the Cold War?" The people of the Cold War object.
Konstantin Remchukov, editor in chief of Nezavisimaya Gazeta: ...that someone would tie up our investments and securities in the US. It seems scary but I think that's the worst-case scenario.
Alexey Chesnakov, political analyst: That's so optimistic of you. I believe if we manage to negotiate on the matter of the South-East of Ukraine and Donbas neither Crimea-crisis nor some other issues in our relations nor the new law adopted by Congress on the prosecution of the certain people according to the lists that will appear in the late January, nor the accusations of our interference in the American elections would disappear. I think we're being baited. "Eat this carrot on a stick. And we'll find you a new one". I think lots of our global interests have come into collision.
- Quite an interesting point of view. It's clear that they have collided but the situation is rather odd. The financial sanctions have deprived us of external markets and then Gazprom receives a billion. The consulate has been closed but December 11 they begin to issue Visas again. How can it all influence the election agenda? It's clear that the West can influence a part of our population by making certain decisions.
Vyacheslav Nikonov, Member of the State Duma: I think Washington is the home of the veterans, new recruits and victims of the Cold War and not our studio. I honestly can't name a single step made by us that could be interpreted as the return to the Cold War. However, they made a series of steps that went much further than that, even more provoking than the ones during the Cold War, including personal sanctions, their troops and ABM deployed in the Baltic states and Eastern Europe and economic sanctions. You know if we take the blame we'll actually lose because we must adequately evaluate the situation. We actually are under serious pressure. And they'll employ all means necessary. The least they want is to topple the Russian government. And their short-term goal is to harm Putin's election campaign. When adopting the law this summer…
- Why topple the government?
Vyacheslav Nikonov, Member of the State Duma: To return back to something like the 90s to turn Russia into a puppet like Ukraine.
Konstantin Remchukov: Can you name the person who suggested toppling the government?
Vyacheslav Nikonov: They consider Russia to be their number-one enemy. And weakening it in any way possible was suggested multiple times. I know a great amount of cases including the articles in the press that advocated weakening Putin. The schedule of the summer sanctions corresponds to our election schedule. That means they are going to be imposed in early 2018. Those lists of our alleged corrupt politicians should appear in February. The restriction of purchasing federal bonds of the federal loan will affect the bonds issued after January 1, 2018. By the way, that won't be enough to crash our federal loan bond market. It's a set system of measures that should complicate our situation. What negative impact can it have on Putin's election campaign? Actually, all experience of our country shows that when we face external pressure we unite. Our American counterparts call it "The rally round the flag syndrome". When the country is under pressure our people rally round the symbols of our nation.
- Why do they still impose sanctions then?
Vyacheslav Nikonov: They don't understand that. They've always been putting pressure on our country it's what they traditionally do — press as hard as they can but our country will respond to that by uniting even tighter. Famous Japanese political analyst Shigeki Hakamada Irina Hakamada's brother once compared various civilizations and said that the West is the civilization of stone — well-organized and polished while the East is the civilization of clay — that's plastic and can be molded. And Russia is the civilization of sand. The society is disperse but under the serious external pressure the temperature rises and the sand transforms into a monolith that no-one will ever break.
- We get a sand castle.
