2000s
The 2000’s started with the Chechen wars and terrorist attacks all over the country.
At the same time, they say that there was no such time in Russian history with such an economical growth, especially for the middle class. Yet, the economy does not solve all problems.
The 90’s euro/american optimism has been gradually substituted with the new ideas – patriotism, allegiance to the glorious past, and the feeling of exceptionalism – we have our own, unique way.
Dream of stability

Putin is elected
Having been assigned as Yeltsin's successor only a couple of months ago, Putin wins his first election.

Kursk submarine disaster
“It sank”. Told by Putin, this short comment on the death of 118 sailors became quite memorable and demonstrative even back then.

Walking Together
New Putin's pioneer organisation. Yet, not widespread.

Stalin's anthem is back
Old tune, new lyrics.

The Seizure of NTV
The new managment converted an independent channel into pro-government one.

United Russia is formed
Stability, after the years of chaos, becomes its main idea and goal.

NATO-Russia council established
"Joint decisions and actions", military cooperation.

Lourdes SIGNIT is closed
The largest Russian military base in Cuba is closed.

The Yukos affair
Khodorkovsky and Lebedev would end up in jail, the company would be nationalised.

Putin is re-elected
“The slide of the country into authoritarianism”, as commented by Grigory Yavlinsky.

The Pritzker in St Petersburg
Prize is held in St Petersburg. Zaha Hadid is the laureat.

Beslan school siege
333 people, 186 of them children died. The storming by Russian forces has been highly criticised afterwards.

Nuclear supply deal with Iran
Befrending disputable regimes would soon become a habit.

Putin promises not to change the Constitution
He seeks no way to go for the third presidential term. Indeed.

Russia Today (RT) begins its broadcast
Question more, they say. Usually, they question only those who are against Putin.

Moscow Pride
Banned by the authorities to protect those who are offended by it.

Assassination of Anna Politkovskaya
Well-recognised journalist, famous for her criticism of Russian actions in Chechnya, was shot dead.

Litvinenko is poisoned
An ex FSB-officer, famous for criticising FSB and Putin, was killed.

Munich speech of Putin
Putin turns hostile towards the US foriegn policy
Man of the Year

Munich speech of Putin
Putin turns hostile towards the US foriegn policy

Dissenters' March
"Russia without Putin!", "Shame!", "Give the elections back!" was shouted in the streets. 113 people were detained.

Rags to riches
Forbes magazine reports that Russia now has 60 billionaires. Only 15 years ago there was none.

Visa facilitation agreement with the EU
It was belived to be the first step towards Schengen.

Putin - the person of the year
“He's not a good guy, but he's done extraordinary things”.
The Medvedev Thaw

Medvedev is elected
They'd call these times the Medvedev's thaw. The only one gap in Putin's presidency.

Bilan wins Eurovision
First time in history, Russia wins Eurovision with a song Believe.

Prison for a message
A woman was charged with High Treason for sending an SMS to Georgia describing the movements of the Russian troops.

Russo-Gerogian war
Being afraid of Georgia making new friends on the West, Russia supports rebelious Osetia with troops and tanks

Baburova and Markelov are murdered
The human rights activists, famous for their anti-Nazi investigations, are killed.

The Reset
Obama-Medvedev's attempt to improve relastionships between the countries.

Strategy-31
Series of protests to protect the 31st article of the Constitution, guranteeing Freedom of Assmebly.
2010s
The previous years of relative prosperity along with theoretical freedom kickstarted the growth of civil society.
The long-lasting 2008’s economical crisis brought a political one – a new-born middle-class started to disagree with the political decisions, taken with no consent.
The growing protest power provoked a reaction – every step a society took would end up in new restrictions. At the same time, the aggressive international course taken in 2008, justified the Crimean annexation, nurturing people’s imperial ambitions, has aggravated the already taken course to isolation. As life shows, the most horrible things happen when nobody can see it.
Castling

New START treaty
A new nuclear arms reduction treaty between the United States and the Russian Federation is reached.

Partnership for Modernisation
The great expectations to build a bridge between Russia and the EU.

Religious education
With secular ethics option de jure, with orthodox priests spreading the word of God in public schools de facto.

Police reform
New name, more money, less responsibility.

Legislative elections
Carousel voting, fraud, massive protest afterwards, and yet, the pro-Putin party stays in power.

The Snow Revolution
Having started right after the legislative elections, it would gather thousands of people staying against the regime.

Mother of God, Putin Put!
A punk-band Pussy Riot performed in the main cathedral. They'll end up in jail.

Presidential elections
“I promised you we would win. We have won. Glory to Russia!"

Bolotnaya Square case
The biggest protest in modern Russian history would end up in the large scale repression against Freedom of Assembly.

Foreign agent law
NGOs, media organisations, and common people who recevie any funding from abroad are scrutinised.

The Scoundrels' Law
In response to the Magnitsky Act, Russia decided to ban the US citizens from adopting Russian children.

Blasphemy law
After the Pussy Riot case, Russia decides to start protecting religious sensibilities by putting people into jail.

Gay propaganda law
No more "distorted ideas about the equal social value of traditional and non-traditional sexual relationships".

Dozhd TV channel eviction
One of the last independent channels is forced to leave their office.

Winter olympics
A celebration of life, not without its controversies.
Crimean Consensus

Lenta.ru changes the management
The biggest liberal Internet media fires the chief editor. They soon would open Meduza.

Crimea is taken
The return of Crimea, they call it.

Malaysia Airlines Flight 17
The Eastern Ukraine separatists, funded by Russia, shoot down a civil aeroplane.

Further restrictions
Unauthorised demonstrations are punishable by a fine or detention of up to 15 days. 5 years, if it is the 3rd breach.

Boris Nemtsov is murdered
A famous Russian politic, an ex-prime minister, is killed right next to Kremlin. Insignificant, calls him Putin.

The Syrian campaign
Russia decides to support Bashar Asad by military intervention.

Supermajority in the parliament
United Russia wins a supermajority. Parliament is not a place for discussions, once said the speaker of the State Duma.

Nuclear pact suspension
Both uranium agreement and nuclear pact with the USA are suspended by Russia.

Anti-corruption protests
Mainly concerned with suppressing corruption, the protests gathered thousands of Russians.

The Forth Term
Here we are again.
Fifa World Cup

The FIFA World Cup
Russians make friends with foreigners. Probably, for the last time.

Pension protests
The core electorate, the pensioners, protest against the retirement age hike. Communists start gaining support.

Disrespect to authorities law
"Disrespect for society, government, state symbols, the constitution and government institutions" by media are fined.

Stolen elections
The highly corrupted Moscow city Duma elections provoke furious protests.
2020s
It all started with global isolation. Usually, having a dialogue helps to make a considered decision. However, the regime has been gradually destroying all sorts of opposite views on Russia – be it an internal political opposition, free media, or various international connections.
Externally, from subtle hybrid Georgian/Donetsk intervention, the Putin regime started a real war, ending any dialogue with Ukraine along with the West.
Internally, they closed almost all the independent media and non-commercial organisations that did not play the main tune.
The 20's have just started.
Before the invasion

Covid
Covid appears in Russia.

Referendum
Putin is safe - he can be re-elected again. The local government has no power, marriage – only between men and women

Navalny is poisoned
Prominent opposition politician is poisoned, but survived by pure chance. Later, he ends up in jail

Navalny is arrested
Previously poisoned, Navalny got back to Russia in January. Arrested upon arrival, put into jail.

Elections
Fraud, again.

No warrant needed
The Russian police from now on can search homes and cars with no warrant

Memorial closure
An NGO, dedicated to preserving memories of Stalin victims, is closed under the Foreign Agent Law
The invasion
Our stand on the Russian war with Ukraine
Russia started the war against Ukraine. This war is happening from 2014. It has only intensified on February 24th 2022. Milions of Ukrainians are suffering. The perpetrators of this must be brought to justice for their crimes.
Russian regime tries to silence its liberal voices. Russian people against the war exist - and the Russian regime tries its best to silence them. We want to prevent that and make their voices heard.
Connection is crucial. The Russian liberal initiatives are hard to read for European public at times. The legal, social and historical context of Russia is not always clear. We want to share information, build bridges and connect the liberal Russia with The West.
We believe in dialogue, not isolation. The oppositional powers in Russia will not be able to change anything without the support of the democratic world. We also believe that the dialogue should go both ways.
The choice is yours. We understand the anger for the Russian crimes. It is up to you whether you want to listen to the Russian people standing against this.