Our contributor Roland Bidzhamov filed this report from Russia about the political situation and about the Russian covid-19 vaccine, SPUTNIK V.
Key Notes
- Who is Alexei Navalny
- Reasons for his jailing
- Russian developed COVID-19 vaccine
Mr Bidzhamov gives us an analysis about Russian government critic, Alexei Navalny, who is now is considered as an opposition among some Russians because of his fight to expose corruption in Russian officials.
He went on saying that Russians are fed up with their living standards, poverty and lack of services, therefore they saw in Mr. Navalny and his NGO organisation, a gate to express their frustration, hence the demonstrations in Moscow, St Petersburg and other cities.
Statistics show only a percentage in a certain age group approve of him. Many disapprove, and there is a percentage of the people surveyed that are interested in him and some haven't even heard about him. Says Mr Bidzhamov
Mr Bidzhamov indicated that Russia now is like a melting pot. This pot now is overflowing, and these demonstrations are a reaction of the people.
As for his imprisonment, Mr Bidzhamov said that Mr Navalny already had a suspended sentence for charges of corruption and tax avoidance years ago, but when he returned home, the sentence was executed and he was fined about US$500,000 and sentenced to jail for 2 years and 8 months. "Navalny knew what will happen to him if he returned to Russia". says Mr Bidzhamov.
As for the Russian developed coronavirus vaccine, SPUTNIK V, Mr Bidzhanov pointed out that many people call it SPUTNIK five, referring to letter V. The fact is V stands for victory.
It was developed by The Gamaleya National Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology with HQ in Moscow. They announced the development in August 2020, and it was seen as a victory against the virus and hence the letter V for victory.
