Pie in the face of political opposition is no joke in Putin's Russia

In Russia,a cream pie smudged in the face is no joke. Bizarre as it sounds,opposition activists get "pied"as part of sinister threats to stop their anti-government campaigning, or else.

Mikhail Kasyanov, a former Russian prime minister and leading opposition figurewas at a restaurant one night this monthwhen two men burst in:one shoved apie in his face shouting, "Traitor"and "Agent of America"while the other filmed it.

The situation is worsening every day. Putinis squeezing the whole politicalenvironment in Russia.- MikhailKasyanov, opposition leader

"The situation is worsening every day," Kasyanov said. "Putin is squeezing the whole politicalenvironment in Russia. We have permanent blackmailing of the opposition.

"We face problems every day. Secret service coming asking, 'Why you are part ofthis opposition?You should be worried about your job or your son's place inuniversity,' trying to imply the opposition is something dangerous."

This week, Alexei Navalny, another high-profile opposition leader,became the latest victim ofthe piethreat. He was piedat the headquarters of his anti-corruptionfoundation. Navalny tried to ridicule the prank, posting a picture on Instagram of himself smiling, with bits of cream clinging to his face, surrounded by supporters.

But the climate for those who question the current government is anything butplayful.

March will mark 1-year anniversary of Nemtsov killing

This weekend, thousands of people are expected to march in memory of Boris Nemtsov, aPutin critic who was gunned down one year ago. Nemtsov was a frequent critic ofcorruption in the Putin government and the 2014Sochi Olympics.

Last Feb. 27, he was walking late at night with his girlfriend across a bridgeclose to the Kremlinwhen an assailant in a car shot him four times in the back.

Five men, all Chechens, are in jail charged with the crime. A sixth, suspected oforganizing the assassination, is being sought by authorities. Investigators say they've wrapped uptheir probe. Atrial will come later.

But many suspect the orderto kill Nemtsov came from much higher up.

"All roads lead to Chechnya," saidKasyanov.

This week, a Russian activist released a stinging report on Chechnya's leader,Ramzan Kadyrov, who describes himself as a "Putin soldier" and runs his ownlarge militia.

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Ilya Yashan of the liberal opposition party PARNAS has no doubt about his role in Nemtsov's death.

"Kadyrovis behind the killing of my friend, Nemtsov," he says bluntly.

Kadyrov has 'traitors' in his sights

Kadyrov has recently ratcheted up the tone of his attacks on the opposition.

He posted on Instagram a pictureof Kasyanov and another activist in thecrosshairs of a rifle. His deputy followed up with a photo of a large snarlinghound apparently "itching" to get at the opposition.

Kadyrov in the past has warned Russians of a "fifth column"of traitors threateningto destabilize the country, and thenames of those who fall into that campare on a list.

Kasyanov's name tops the list.

"That's how they call me," he says wryly, "Enemy No. 1. That's why theyfollow me everywhere trying to create further pressure on me and my family,but Ihave no thoughts to change my activity, to leave Russia. We continue our fight."

Targeting Russia's opposition

9 years ago

Duration 1:10

Russian opposition leader Mikhail Kasyanov has been the target of intimidation tactics by supporters of President Vladimir Putin. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov posted a video of him in a rifle's crosshairs, and in another incident, he was filmed getting a pie in the face from an unidentified man in a Moscow restaurant.

Parliamentary elections are scheduled for this fall. Kasyanov and his team arebeginning to campaign now, knowing they don't have the advantage of muchtelevision coverage, increasingly controlled by the state.

In the year since Nemtsov's death, Russia's economy has been infree fall. Revenues from oil,which made up more than 50 per centof Russia's budget, have plummeted. Inflation hasrisen, international sanctions have pushed up the costs of some goods, andwages in some cases are delayed or not paid.

Normally, that would promote pressures on a sitting government.

Kasyanov thinks this is the year to bolster the opposition's poor showing in thepolls.

"It's a crucial year. Mr. Putin should make a decision:either he starts relaxationof the environment and allows elections to take place in a free manner or hecontinues to squeeze, to create a stronger fear among people," Kasyanov said.

March rerouted away from kill site

Ahead of Saturday's memorial for Nemtsov, his supporters hada bold but fruitless plan to try to get the bridge on which he was killedrenamed Nemtsov Bridge. Not surprisingly, the initiativefailed.

Saturday's march, which scheduled to beginat 2 p.m. Moscow time,was to go pastthe spot where Nemtsov died, stopping at asmall but persistent shrine, regularly fortified by flowers.But the routewas disallowed by Moscow officials, who reroutedthe marchaway from the bridge.

New regulations, organizers were told, forbid publicactivities on bridges.