Plan to relocate 1.6m Muscovites turns middle-class into protesters

Moscow

WHEN he ran for president in 2012, Vladimir Putin wrote that Russia's "middle class has to grow". Kari Guggenberger is exactly the kind of person he had in mind. An IT manager, she fits Mr Putin's definition, "a skilled worker" whose income allows her "a certain freedom" to choose "how to spend" her money and "where to work". And, also, where to live.

Ms Guggenberger accepted the bargain that Mr Putin has tacitly offered Russia's middle class: She's worked hard, bought herself a home, saved and spent money, and stayed out of politics, while the Kremlin consolidated its control over all levels of government. Ms Guggenberger would have been content for it to remain that way, too - until the government came at her where she lives.