Putin Is Losing the War At the Homefront, Tramples Citizens’ Rights | Major’s Take

The Russia-Ukraine war is heating up in a number of Ukrainian cities. But back home, Putin is having another running battle.
 Right in his backyard, anti-war protesters are not letting their voices go unheard. 
Though Freedom of Assembly in Russia is granted by Art 31 of its 1993 adopted Constitution, thousands of protesters have been arrested and detained. Anti-war protests are increasing in several cities in the country against Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. 
Government clampdowns are spreading across the nation. Now, journalists have become endangered species and many are arrested or expelled from the country.  So far, more than 13,000 Russians are in detention in 147 cities for publicly opposing Putin’s action. This is according to OVD-Info, a monitoring group. In the continuing violent brush with actors at the home frontline, citizens with cell phones attract searches from the police.
 In Moscow pedestrians and passersby are subjected to phone searches for videos of protest. This has led to more detentions. The use of the word ‘War’ in referring to Putin’s action against Ukraine brings down the weight of the military force. Censorship is back in the country. The aim is to silence the voice of opposition.
A Russian female human rights program executive based in the country says people now avoid the use of the ‘w’ word. She suspects that soon, the people could have martial law slammed on them to stop the wind of growing opposition. Rather than succumb to these rights violations, some citizens have fled the country. 
Leading Russian opposition figure, Alexei Navalny has called for more protests against Putin’s aggression in Ukraine. He charges that for every one arrest, two new protesters should arise. The Kremlin has its own narrative describing the situation in Ukraine. It pushes the public to refer to it as ‘special military operation,’ not war. Any contrary report to the official government statement is not taken lightly.
Social media like Facebook, Twitter, Tik-Tok have shut down their operations and disconnected users in Putin’s Russia. Tension is rising.
While discontent grows, the administration sees the cutting of these services as a welcome development. The Russian president whose soldiers forced an independent News Channel in Kiev to close down days back will be glad to see them go. He wants western news blackouts so that little or nothing is known about what goes on inside.
It is now a criminal offense to report ‘war’ by any media. Protests within the country against the invasion are regarded as criminal activity. For this, Putin’s government slaps down penalties of up to 15 years imprisonment. 
This posturing is perceived as a way to silence foreign media organizations. A number of them including Bloomberg and BBC shut down their services and left. 
It is no longer the ‘right to freedom of assembly’ at every level as you knew it. An Amnesty International report shows that over the past few years some laws and decrees have whittled the power of that right. 
Russian consumers suffered a setback as 847 McDonald’s restaurants in the country got shut. Its 62,000 workers are now under pressure of imminent job loss if the war persists. Starbucks, another world-class chain, which operates 130 stores in Russia under franchise, followed suit. Its doors are closed.
Citizens affected by these actions also taken by Coca-Cola and Pepsi-Cola add to the discontent and growth of anti-war foot soldiers.
On the economic front, the Central Bank of Russia declares no sale of foreign currency as the Ruble nosedives in the wake of several financial sanctions. There is a ban on the sale of foreign exchange. 
The Russian president fights his war on many fronts inside Ukraine with regular soldiers. But back home, a dissident revolting citizenry is proving a messy image to handle.
A few of the Oligarchs have also expressed disapproval of Putin’s war. A list of such Russian oligarchs include -Oleg Deripaska with close ties to Putin – Oleg Tinkov, founder of Tinkoff Bank, – Mikhail Fridman of Alpha bank and – Evgenny Lebedev, high-profile Russian and newspaper owner of London’s Evening Standard. 
Roman Abramovich, Chelsea Football Club owner, who put it up for sale has not come openly. But he calls for peace on both sides. The impact does not come small.
However, Putin does not pretend to be a Democrat or believe in the rule of law and freedom of lawful assembly.  The war inside is being executed with the meanness only Putin possesses. How long can he go?