Issue and Opponent: In 2018, thousands of Russians in St. Petersburg took to the streets to voice their discontent with the Russian government and intergovernmental corruption. These protests took place just a few days before Putin’s inauguration for a fourth presidential term. There had also been general upset regarding the control the State held over the lives of citizens as well. It was a widely held belief that citizens should be allowed to protest and hold Russian officials accountable for their alleged corrupt activities.
Dilemma Action: Artyom Goncharenko displayed a giant, inflatable duck from his apartment to allude to the corruption of Russian officials during anti-corruption opposition rallies. The duck was used to represent the corruption of Russian officials, as had been done in 2017in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Outcomes: Artyom Goncharenko was arrested by the police for his ironic and non-violent action. His arrest, however, sparked a social media campaign that called for his release while dealing with other actions that have caused others to lose their freedom throughout Russia. Goncharenko’s arrest only yet further highlighted issues that sparked the action in the first place.