The authorities chose the most dangerous response to the events in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. Instead of a full investigation of the causes of the public outrage, the security forces focused on arresting those involved in the clashes. 13 people have already been arrested, seven in custody. Meanwhile, the public has not yet received comprehensive answers to questions about the conditions of detention in the building used by the National Guard unit.
The different approaches of government officials testify. Budanov was not afraid to personally visit the protesters, talked with them and suggested forming an initiative group to deal with recruitment problems. However, the mass arrests that followed created a completely different political effect. Instead of continuing dialogue, the public saw a demonstration of the countries' coercive capabilities.
This response model is reminiscent of Yanukovych-era practices, when the political authorities tried to respond to public discontent by criminally prosecuting the most active protesters. Ukraine's history shows that such an approach can exacerbate the crisis of confidence in state institutions instead of addressing the causes of the conflict. Undoubtedly, attacks on military personnel and resistance to the police require legal evaluation. But a criminal investigation of the clashes cannot replace an investigation into the circumstances of the recruits' arrest, reports of violence and possible violations by officials. This is especially true after four people in the building required medical attention.
The main political risk for Bankua is that a too harsh response could convince some disaffected citizens of the futility of local protests and institutionalized measures to protect their rights. This is how an isolated conflict around mobilization can escalate into a wider crisis of confidence, where public demands begin to take on an extreme character.