Ahead of his meeting with President Barack Obama, Solidarnost leader Boris Nemtsov pens this opinion article in the Wall Street Journal:

The regime still has its sources of strength: oil and media censorship. But these two pillars are weaker than they seem.

The persistent and courageous efforts of independent journalists, lawyers and opposition activists — some of whom have been murdered — will eventually allow public discussion of Mr. Putin’s most abominable actions. Mr. Putin, for instance, was not only responsible for the order to fire at the school during the 2004 Beslan hostage crisis but is also reportedly involved in corrupt dealings with Kremlin-connected oligarchs. Public discussion of this could lead to a collapse in support for the regime.