Original link: https://youtu.be/JpB2gxxer8k?feature=share
Russian opposition activists, who were released on Thursday as part of a historic prisoner exchange, are calling on the world to distinguish between the Russian people and its president.
“Don’t believe the lies spread by Kremlin propaganda,” says freed Russian dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza.
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Don’t confuse any country’s government or group in power with its people. Just think about wherever you live and how divided citizens are about different things that are done. There’s pretty much always going to be a pretty significant chunk of the population that does not agree with what is happening.
I’ve interacted with a few cool folks out of Russia
Most just want out of the country, assuming they haven’t already left.
It’s unrealistic and quite cruel to see people talk about how much it sucks to live under a shitty regime and tell them they have to fix it. Like no. They don’t. I hope they can get out of its reach. Move elsewhere where they can live better.
There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s only the population of Russia that can change Russia. Sure, they can try to escape and leave, but that just leaves those who remain as the only ones able to do anything.
Not enough to “do something” about it though.
Classic armchair language.
You’re not wrong.
Especially not if you ask them if the occupied regions should be returned to Ukraine.
Do what, exactly? It’s the same story all over the world, including China and USA.
It takes a lot to make people actively rebel. And then what do you do afterwards? Very few normal people wants to rule a country and they sure as shit don’t want risk dying or worse in the attempt.
I’m just saying that you’re unlikely to see the Russians do it before you do it yourselves.
Are you suggesting the west should invade Russia to remove Putin?
Overthrowing your own government.
We just did, though a democratic vote.
In situations where that’s not an option it has to be done in other ways.
Engaging in the democratic process and overhrowing a government aren’t quite the same thing. But I’m guessing you’re perfectly aware of this.
And when it comes to toppling a man like Putin, method matters.
Just straight up killing a person like him will likely have consequenses. And not the “sunshine and rainbows” kind.
I mean, Little Tommy Crooks did something. He just wasn’t very competent at it.
USA has quite the history of shooting their presidents. But for some reason it doesn’t seem to change anything.
So it kinda makes sense that others would be hesitant to attempt the same when the results are so poor.
@Faydaikin @cynthorpe The failed attempts obviously had poor outcomes. The successful ones, well what exactly are you measuring?
Great. Now do something about it. I get that it’s stacked against them, but the only people who can fix Russia are Russians.
Be more like Tommy Crooks!
Alternatively: the only people who can invade Russia are the Chinese… and there won’t be a Russia to fix anymore. Hopefully the EU can sign a peace treaty on the EU-China border.
The first China-Spain train already arrived in 2014:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yiwu–Madrid_railway_line
My boy Faramir taught me to not hate the soldier on the ground
What about Nazi soldiers?
This is why Russophobia is dumb. They can hardly organise in diaspora because people become sceptical and paranoid, in effect helping Putin to cut off the oxygen of any dissent movement.
You should help Russians in your town or city. You should help them organise, get funding and to basically form a clear Russian identity outside the Russian nationalist propaganda engine.
This is not only important, but crucial to save Ukraine, because pressure must be applied - on both sides of the border.
I’ve never met a Russian who was not vehemently against Putin. I know only three Russians. They don’t know each other and they are very different people, but they share an anti putin ideaology.
Well said, not every Russian is a Vatnik.
Being anti-Russians only adds to the Kremlin propaganda.