US President Joe Biden’s announcement to step out of the presidential election elicited a burst of mockery in Russian state media. But analysts say that these messages reveal a lot more about Russian politics than the US democratic system.
Vitali Shkliarov was mesmerized by Barack Obama’s Berlin speech in 2008, though he didn’t speak English at the time. Shkliarov went on to work for Obama and then Bernie Sanders. Now he’s an adviser in the Russian elections.
Invitations went out over social media this week, informing journalists about inauguration festivities organized by the “White Star” art collective, which includes several prominent figures in Russia’s pro-Kremlin youth movement.