The article underscores the significance of comprehending how leaders in post-USSR nations, including Vladimir Putin, Alexander Lukashenko, and Nursultan Nazarbayev, solidified their regimes through the suppression and dismantling of civil societies within their respective countries. Additionally, the article delves into the repression mechanisms employed by Russia in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Ukraine, focusing on the suppression of the pro-Ukrainian population and the opposition to Ukrainian civil resistance.

Given the effectiveness of civil resistance in overthrowing authoritarian regimes in Serbia (2000), Georgia (2003), Ukraine (2004), and Kyrgyzstan (2005), the repressive tactics of these regimes have evolved to prevent and suppress any potential for similar events, such as the colour revolutions, from occurring. The chosen theoretical framework for this study encompasses the smart repression mechanism proposed by Lee A. Smithey and Lester R. Kurtz that range from overtly violent tactics to more nuanced approaches, gradually reducing the outrage associated with repression or utilising familiar norms to discourage resistance.

The research findings show that each country carefully devised repressive strategies, deliberately choosing softer methods for certain targets while resorting to outright violence when the situation deteriorated. Meanwhile, Russian occupying forces in Ukraine mainly relied on violence and intimidation for repression. Consequently, recommendations for the organisation of Total defence are provided.