Vladimir Milov, another young opposition politician, told me that, while Navalny would make a fine Presidential candidate, the ingrained mistrust that Russians have of politics would make the transition difficult.

NEWYORKER: Net Impact

Dmitri Bykov, a popular author, had dedicated a recent op-ed to the flight of money and people and the travelling ban imposed briefly on two opposition politicians, Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Milov.

FORBES: On Russia, Maybe Not So Bad Afterall?

Last month the Russian justice ministry announced that it was refusing to register the People's Freedom Party, a coalition created by four former members of previous Russian governments: Mikhail Kasyanov, Boris Nemtsov, Vladimir Ryzhkov and Vladimir Milov.

BBC: MEPs' fears for Russian elections