Sergei Markov, the director of the Institute for Political Studies, said the main obstacle to such a revolution was the strong political leader in the country. "Moreover, there is a strong political team with vast political experience and strong political will."
The opposition does not have its own leader or the status of a true opposition, he added.
Markov said Russia had a higher level of sovereignty than other countries where color revolutions took place.
A color revolution could be possible since Russia has weak political institutions that are distrusted and social and economic problems including, in particular, a high poverty level, Markov said.
"Another factor [supporting a color revolution] is the openness of the country," he said, noting that Western organizations played a considerable role in other color revolutions.
Irina Khakamada, the leader of the Nash Vybor (Our Choice) political party, said, "There is a fear of a color revolution, but it will not happen in the near future."
Vladimir Ryzhkov, one of the leaders of the Republican party, said the color revolution was possible. "If the results of the [presidential] elections are falsified, people will hit the streets," he said.
About 80 political scientists, economists, politicians, and journalists from Russia, the United States, Britain, Germany, and other countries took part in the second international discussion club, Valdai, organized by RIA Novosti and the Foreign and Defense Policy Council.
