Schachblog

If I covered every piece of stupid Putinjugend provocation against Garry, and some would be funny were I on the other side, I'd hardly have any space for chess material. This sort of thing happens all the time. In most places, such guerrilla tactics and street theater are entirely reserved for the marginalized opposition against those in power. In Russia today, like so many things, that has been turned on its head by the incredibly aggressive campaign by the state to attack any and all forms of opposition in as many ways as possible.

They see youth groups and street action having success in Ukraine and Georgia (some of it assisted by the West) so they form their own well-sponsored loyalist youth groups and street actions. You'd think being paid Kremlin cash to perform such stunts would take the fun out of acting like a rebel, but apparently not enough.

For those interested, when it happens, Garry says "We have to be thankful for the opposition's demonstration of the type of discourse we can anticipate. Also, apparently most of their arguments are located beneath the belt." Someone in the audience says, "Finally the political power shows its face!" and Garry says "Well, if that's its face..." to laughter from the audience.