Russian activist Alexei Navalny might be spending a few weeks in prison for holding an unauthorized protest, but he can at least take comfort in the lacking social media acumen of his political opponents.
I note this in light of the video posted to YouTube on Tuesday by Gen. Viktor Zolotov, head of the Russian national guard. In his video, Zolotov accuses Navalny of slandering senior figures in the national guard and requests a duel. Addressing Navalny specifically, Zolotov says “I promise to make a juicy beefsteak out of you in just a few minutes.”
Zolotov should have tried a different forum than his attempt to emulate Navalny. After all, while Navalny’s videos also have him sitting at a desk like Zolotov, Navalny has a charisma, sense of humor, and video production expertise that Zolotov does not. In contrast, Zolotov’s clenched fists, weird threats, and inability to deflect the issue of the national guard’s corruption come across as petulant and pathetic.
But don’t take my word for it, consider the verdict of the Russian public. If you click on Zolotov’s video below, you’ll see that the good general currently has a 6-to-1 negative rating. In contrast, the Navalny video that earned Zolotov’s ire has a net positive rating. Now when one considers that any Russian with an Internet connection can view either man’s YouTube videos as they desire, it’s clear Navalny is the social media winner. Zolotov doesn’t realize it, but he’s already fought a modern-style duel and lost.
That’s good news. Navalny is a courageous journalist in a Russia where, thanks to Putin, searching for truth is dangerous.
