Dissidents needed. Again.

When you check out the Russian Internet, one of the more striking features is the complete silence of the opposition. Not a word from Kasparov, Ryjkov, Kasianov, Yavlinsky, Nemtzov.

I think this signifies the end of opposition in Russia. Putin clearly demonstrated that politicians cannot be in opposition. "Politician", almost by definition, is someone who is advancing an agenda with the goal of getting to power. The "getting to power" part is no longer open in Russia, not in anything short of armed rebellion or political assassination (not happening, and outside of "politics" anyway).

Since politicians will not argue with the Russian powers that be, Russia needs to bring back the people she did not need these last 15 years. A dissident is someone who would bear enormous personal sacrifices for his truth and his country, with no prospect of any power as a reward. Soviet Union had a good crop in its time. Of course, some of the ideas that inspired them are discredited (democracy and capitalism are swearwords in Russia now), and other ideas are now in power (Great Russia, God's People). Still, a dissident is now the only kind of person that would speak up against Russian government inside Russia.