i'd lake to play you an interview i did with the author, journalist and social commentator masha guessen. >> i think that no matter how you cut it, you legitimate a farce. he is breaking the monotony of a public space, an affront to the monopoly the kremlin has on any kind of conversation. she is trying to push it as far as she can. the fact that it's being done by arrangement with the kremlin, the fact that she is succeeding in siphoning support from -- >> on the one hand she's praising what you're doing. on the other hand she's concerned that you will play into the kremlin's hands. >> look, let's be logical about this. novolny wanted to take part in those elections. he was not let to do that. but he wanted. if he would be accepted as a candidate by kremlin, wouldn't it legitimate putin as well? and then would he call people to boycott? of course, no, he would tell go vote for me. we cannot win, but millions of us are against putin. but then he was not let to the elections. what happened next? he says, no, if i'm not there, then it's a fake election, and let's boycott that. but that's s