For Anna, Vladimir, Piotr or Daria they are not considering leaving Russia. “We will stay in St. Petersburg, in our city, in our country! It’s not our place to leave. is in [Vladimir] Putin will leave power…” Between two confidences, on the terrace of a café in the heart of the former imperial city, Anna decisively affirms her opposition to the head of the Kremlin. However, she wants to remain anonymous, like most politically active St. Petersburg residents. “in the previous life”, that before the conflict in Ukraine and the wave of repression that silenced any critical voice. All these opponents, who continue to work in the shadows, ask, as a precaution, that their name be changed.
“We can no longer demonstrate or meet at the opposition headquarters. On social networks I censor myself so as not to be persecuted for a simple post,” explains Anna, 42 years old, mother and sales executive. In St. Petersburg he participates in the defense of civil and electoral rights in a classified organization “foreign agent” for Russian justice. He worries about his 21-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter.
At the university, the oldest must “zigzag to avoid military mobilization”, he says, and his hands shake as he imagines him having to come forward. His youngest daughter, at school, is forced to attend the flag raising and the “important object lessons”, patriotic rituals that have become obligatory. “Fortunately, education doesn’t just happen in school. At home I return with her to the really important topics! “, his mother assures. “We can no longer rebel, but we can still resist. And wait,” summarizes Anna who often blames herself “do no more”.
Prosecuted for “extremism”
Unlike around fifty of her relatives who fled the country, she chose to stay. For now. “But that doesn’t mean I’m happy living in Putin’s Russia. I lead a parallel life, barely normal…” The memory of the recent searches carried out in her house, due to her other activity in one of the opposition movements persecuted for “extremism”, continues to haunt her. “The police came twice at dawn to search my apartment. My children still remember it. Sometimes, at five in the morning, I wake up overwhelmed by the fear of another heavy visitor. » A third search and the red line will be crossed: “We’ll go!” “, she decides. He also started learning German.
You have 54.99% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.
