- By Mike Eckel
For Russia's beleaguered political opposition, there wasn't much in Putin's comments to take heart from.
Over the past couple years, the Kremlin has orchestrated a widening crackdown on independent opposition groups, as well as civil society organizations, independent media, and other groups.
First and foremost among them is Aleksei Navalny, the anti-corruption crusader who has become the most potent political challenger to Putin. Last year, Navalny survived a poisoning attempt while in Siberia, a poisoning blamed on Russian intelligence.
When Navalny returned to Russia in January, after recuperating in Germany, he was promptly jailed, and then ordered to serve more than two years in prison in harsh conditions east of Moscow.
Putin did not even take a question about opposition politics in Russia. In past appearances, when asked about Navalny, Putin has even refused to utter his name -- a sign of his contempt for Navalny.
Meanwhile, a growing number of opposition activists have fled Russia, seeking haven in neighboring countries, including Leonid Volkov, who worked closely with Navalny.
In a tweet, Volkov notes that Putin was asked whether his greatest achievements were in the past or in the future.
"They are still to come," Putin said.
"Brace yourself," Volkov wrote.