Decembrists Haunt the Kremlin

Absent the Show, Vladimir Putin’s Charade Runs into Trouble

For the last four years, Russia was ruled according to a careful choreography: President Dmitry Medvedev was the face of a variously tough-talking and reformist agenda that included the erection of Skolkovo, a richly financed version of Silicon Valley, and cordiality with the United States. Meanwhile, actual power was wielded by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, whose will was enacted while he traveled the country exhibiting his physique and off-beat sporting abilities.

The Russian public more or less acceded to this division of political power until September, when Putin disclosed his intention …