‘The People Are Afraid of You’: In Rare Appeals, Celebrities Ask Putin to Address Russians’ Suffering

Key Points:

• Russian influencers and public figures, including blogger Viktoria Bonya, have made rare public appeals to President Vladimir Putin, urging him to address widespread social and economic issues and criticizing moves perceived as attempts to revert Russia to Soviet-era policies.
• Bonya highlighted problems such as flooding, environmental pollution, livestock culling, internet shutdowns, rising prices, and tax burdens, emphasizing that many Russians are afraid to speak out and that businesses are struggling or closing.
• Other figures, including blogger Aiza and pro-Kremlin actor Ivan Okhlobystin, have also voiced concerns about corruption, internet restrictions, and government transparency, with some fearing repercussions for their criticisms.
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the issues raised but stated authorities are already working on them, while political analysts interpret the appeals as indicative of growing public dissatisfaction and a shift in societal attitudes.
• Putin’s approval rating has declined since the Ukraine invasion, partly due to internet restrictions and economic pressures, prompting warnings from officials about potential political and economic risks linked to these measures.