This article was originally published by Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and is reprinted with permission.
Several leading Russian political opposition figures have discussed possible scenarios for Russia’s future at the Munich Security Conference. Former chess world champion Garry Kasparov said its was necessary to demonstrate to the Russian public that Russian President Vladimir Putin was losing the war in Ukraine, most likely by retaking control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea from Moscow. Crimea is the “cornerstone of Putin’s mythology,” he said. Former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky urged the West not to fear Russian threats to escalate the war or to accept a cease-fire on Russia’s terms.
