Just this week the Kremlin claimed it was at war with the United States and Putin’s No.1 enemy was found dead in prison. Russians are terrified about what’s next.

President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman informed Russians this week that the “special military operation” that Putin launched in Ukraine in February 2022 was set to go on much longer because it is now “a war against the collective West.”

That’s right: a war.

It was remarkable to hear that word from Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Journalists were explicitly banned from using it as the invasion began and thousands of Russians have been detained, fined and imprisoned for telling the truth about a war which has now been raging for almost two years.

“Moscow deputy Aleksey Gorinov was sentenced to seven years in prison for saying ‘war,’” Sergey Davidis, head of the Political Prisoners Support group, told The Daily Beast. He said over 20,000 Russians have now been detained and punished for protesting against the war. “That includes 131 Russians who have been sentenced to long prison terms in punishment for peaceful or for more radical anti-war actions,” he said. “I don’t think punishments against the war will now be milder after the Kremlin openly says ‘war.’ Putin will be next to declare it.”

  • prole@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    151·
    9 months ago

    How can you not see that’s what he wants? He’s been working to destabilize the West for decades now. Everything you just said weakens Europe, even when they inevitably (mostly) side against him. The result is chaos in Europe, and as you said, the rise of nationalism and fascism among individual nations.

    A bunch of nationalist countries fighting for their own interests rather than their collective interests, doesn’t make for a great European Union.

    • taanegl@lemmy.worldEnglish
      210·
      9 months ago

      Doesn’t matter what he wants, because he’s an idiot who’s painted himself into a corner.

      The destabilisation of the west is underhand, and not by the likes of Putin or China, but of the west them selves.

      Fascism and populism is given rise when politicians of a country have fucked up severely over time, that it doesn’t matter what anyone wants after that. When the masses get drastic, the masses get to smashing. Not only are we looking late-stage capitalism in the eyes, but politicians are deeply involved in forming a favourable scapegoat.

      “Oh no, it’s the Chinese. Oh no, it’s the Jews. Oh no, it’s the kebabs. Oh no, it’s the darkies.” Take your pick, pick your poison.

      Rest assured, as westerners, we are fully capable and pretty much the only ones who can fuck up anything in the western world, and our foot is slammed down on the gas.

      Beep beep, mf.