French newspaper <b style="">Le Figaro expressed surprise at the events in Russia in the light of Putin's domestic support."The friends of Kasparov will not gain any popularity because their demonstrations are suppressed. The tough actions of the police will not trigger a wave of protest against those in power. Nevertheless, the Kremlin is showing an astonishing weakness by reacting so rigorously to the smallest sign of protest," muses the paper.

Austrian newspaper <b style="">Die Pressealso wondered why the Kremlin had acted so brutally: "You really ask yourself whether the people in power in Moscow are completely crazy. Apparently, President Putin continues to have the backing of 70 percent and more of the population. What are he and his technocrats afraid of?"