Lonely but not lost

ALEXEI NAVALNY, Russia’s most conspicuous opposition politician, would not look out of place on the presidential campaign trail in America, with his strident speeches and polished manner. But in a country where politics is mostly bland bureaucracy, Mr Navalny, a 39-year-old with broad shoulders and bright blue eyes, cuts a striking figure—when he is allowed to speak. At a rare public appearance in the Kostroma region, 300 kilometres (188 miles) north of Moscow, he banters with old ladies, takes selfies with teenagers and spars with hecklers. In his stump speech he attacks local officials (“the mafia”) and Vladimir Putin’s ruling party (“crooks and thieves”). He implores voters in local elections on September 13th “not to be silent” and to cast their ballots for a largely unknown party, RPR-Parnas.