Putin’s World Cup Plans Can’t Escape His Opponents
The mayor of Yekaterinburg, where four games will be held, quits in a very public protest against the government’s elimination of elections.
Former Yekaterinburg Mayor Yevgeny Royzman (center) meets with constituents in his office.
Photographer: Brendan Hoffman/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Though it’s 1,100 miles east of Moscow, Yekaterinburg has played an outsized role in Russian history. Next month, as it hosts four World Cup games, the nation’s fourth-largest city will gain some fresher renown as the global media and thousands of soccer fans descend on its rebuilt stadium.
What they may discover is that this city of 1.4 million is also a microcosm of Russia’s growing political strife.