A Russian activist who was released from prison this week says that he wants to transform the Communist Party into a genuine opposition force able to challenge President Putin.

Sergei Udaltsov, 40, says that there is massive demand for an upgrade of the party, adding: “I will work towards this with all my strength.” He praised what he said were breakthroughs by left-wing politicians in the United States and Britain, namely Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn, and said he would work with ideological allies in the West.

Communist ideas and the social safety net provided under the old system are still popular in Russia. Polls consistently indicate that a majority would like to see the resurrection of the Soviet Union. While the Communist Party is