A blockchain-based referendum, Russia2024, has been launched by Mark Feygin, a Russian opposition activist and former lawyer of the feminist punk group Pussy Riot, to challenge the legitimacy of the 2024 presidential elections in Russia. The app, built on the surveillance-free voting solution Freedom Tool, uses blockchain and zero-knowledge cryptography to ensure that voters' identities remain anonymous and their votes are tamper-proof.
The app allows voters to scan their biometric passports with their phones to prove citizenship and eligibility, and then receive an anonymous voting pass for polls and protest elections. The votes are then published directly onto the blockchain, where they are secure and transparent.
The launch of Russia2024 comes amid growing dissent in Russia, where oppositional activism and political dissent are often met with persecution, imprisonment, and even death. The app aims to provide a safe and secure avenue for protest and polling, allowing Russians to express their opinions without fear of surveillance or retribution.
Feygin, who represented Pussy Riot in court, has seen firsthand the consequences of speaking out against the Russian government. The group's members were sentenced to two years in prison for "hooliganism" after performing an anti-Putin "punk prayer" in Moscow's Christ the Saviour Cathedral in 2012.
The Russia2024 app has already faced obstacles, with the Kremlin attempting to obstruct its release by filing complaints and temporarily removing it from the Apple store. Additionally, Moscow has been accused of paying for negative reviews to sink the app's rating, a strategy exposed by a whistleblower.
Despite these challenges, the app remains a crucial initiative for Russians who want to express their opinions without fear of persecution. As Feygin notes, "Dissent in Russia is growing more risky, and public opinion is harder to track. It is critical that we provide reliable, surveillance-proof avenues for protest and polling."
The use of blockchain and zero-knowledge cryptography technology ensures that voters' identities remain anonymous and their votes are secure, making it an effective tool for challenging the legitimacy of elections in Russia and beyond. As Lasha Antadze, co-founder of RariLabs, notes, "This is an early example of how blockchain and zero-knowledge cryptography can meet the urgent need around the world for privacy technology."
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