| Analyzing a dictatorship means addressing some thorny questions. How, for example, do we assess the actual degree of popular support for a regime that wields near-total control over the information that people can consume? Vladimir Kara-Murza, a prominent Russian dissident and Post contributing columnist, offers a refreshing perspective in his latest article — which he sent to us from the Moscow prison where he is currently serving a 15-day sentence for allegedly "disobeying law enforcement officials." As Vladimir explains, many of the Russian officials he's dealt with over the past few days don't really believe the official pretext; they know, he says, that he's actually under arrest for political reasons. And it turns out that he's not alone. Hundreds of other political prisoners, he says, are currently imprisoned in prisons around Russia — mostly because, like Vladimir, they spoke out publicly against the disastrous war in Ukraine. (Vladimir was arrested just a few hours after he gave a highly critical interview to CNN.) Those Russians knew that they could expect harsh punishment for expressing dissent — but they did it anyway. Recent public opinion polls taken in Russia suggest that President Vladimir Putin's approval rating has risen sharply since the start of the war. Yet Vladimir Kara-Murza argues that the reality is far more complicated than the numbers suggest. We're making this article free for Opinions A.M. readers. To access everything we publish, please consider becoming a subscriber.  (Alexander Nemenov/AFP via Getty Images) A letter from jail in Moscow By Vladimir Kara-Murza ● Read more » | | | Feinstein is the oldest sitting senator, but she is far from the only official whose mental acuity has been called into question. By Ruth Marcus ● Read more » | | | | The inspiration of hope can lead to consequential change — but not without consequential action. By Colbert I. King ● Read more » | | | | A demagogue is implicitly promising to wield the French state's gigantic redistributive power to somehow redistribute esteem, thereby assuaging grumpy voters' resentments. By George F. Will ● Read more » | | | Plenty of children's books contain "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" if you think about it! By Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson ● Read more » | | | | At one point, this was a battle against the virus. Now what is keeping us captive in our homes is less clear. By Xing Zhao ● Read more » | | | |
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