Jan 23, 2021-2021
Russia
Anti-Putin Snowman Protest
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ACTIVISTS/ACT.GROUPS/DESCRIPTION OF THE GROUP
Russian Activist Yelena Kalinina
TARGET
Valdimir Putin, Government
WIDELY HELD BELIEF
Dictatorial govt. must step down.
CASE NARRATIVE
Issue and Opponent: Russia had jailed opposition leader Aleksei Navalny. He was sentenced to 20 days in jail on January 18. Protests occurred, however, the mother of four Yelena Kalinina staged her unique demonstration in response, as she was unable to attend.
Dilemma Action: Kalinina made four snowmen, giving each a piece of cardboard with slogans reading “Down with the Tsar!” and “This Is Our Country!” Another sign referenced a billion-dollar luxury place that is claimed to belong to Putin and was acquired through illicit funds. She posted a picture of them on social media, which received a lot of attention.
Outcomes: Police came to Kalinina’s home the next day, removed the cardboard signs, and took her in for questioning. Kalinina continues to protest against Putin and the current Russian government.
PRIMARY STRUGGLE/GOAL
NONVIOLENT TACTICS USED
DA TACTICS USED
Banners/posters/displayed communications
CASE NARRATIVE WRITER
SUCCESS METRICS
9 / 12
(EREP) Dilemma action got replicated by other movements
(MC) Media Coverage
(MSYMP) Media coverage was sympathetic to the activists
(OR) Opponent response
(PS) Dilemma action built sympathy with the public
(REFR) Dilemma action reframed the narrative of the opponent
(RF) Dilemma action reduced fear and/or apathy among the activists
(SA) Dilemma action appealed to a broad segment of the public
Laugtivism
PART OF A LARGER CAMPAIGN
3 / 3
Activist group continued working together after the action
Encouraged more participants to join the movement
Internally replicated by the same movement
RESOURCES
Project documentation
Dilemma Actions Coding Guidebook
Case study documentation
Dilemma_Actions_Analysis_Dataset
SOURCES
The Moscow Times. 2021. “An activist in Russia’s Arkhangelsk has been detained for organizing a “mass picket of snowmen” against President Vladimir Putin,” Twitter. Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://twitter.com/MoscowTimes/status/1354564846860296192).
Stewart, Will. 2021. “Is Putin a snowflake? Woman is interrogated by police after building SNOWMEN holding anti-Vladimir slogans in latest example of how the Russian leader fears any dissent,” Daily Mail. Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9196373/Russian-police-arrest-activist-building-rally-anti-Putin-snowmen.html).
Luxmoore, Matthew. 2021. “In Russia, Even Snowmen Can’t Escape The Navalny Crackdown,” RFERF. Retrieved July 23, 2023. (https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-activist-snowmen-protest/31074679.html).
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