Khodorkovsky & Lebedev Communications Center

Carnegie Moscow Center scholar in residence Nikolai Petrov comments that the regional elections in Russia on March 14 could be a "milestone in terms of shaping the future political landscape," in The Moscow Times.

Petrov notes that the opposition Yabloko party failed to register in the two regional legislatures it is still represented in - effectively removing the party from Russia's political scene. He believes the Kremlin is "increasingly turning elections into no-confidence votes, particularly amid an economic crisis and high dissatisfaction with the authorities." With this in mind, it is telling that there are protest rallies already planned for March 20 - a week after the elections.