Russian Critics Of Moscow Are Not Wanted In Russia Today

Some 80 percent of Russians back President Vladimir Putin's controversial actions in Crimea and Ukraine. They also have a penchant for believing the media, which has often published Kremlin propaganda in recent months as fact. "Many believe the reports coming out of Ukraine -- and that is dangerous," warns journalist Nikolai Epple of the newspaper Vedomosti. "It gives you the feeling that something terrible is happening in modern-day Russia."

The Propaganda War: Opposition Sings Kremlin Tune on Ukraine -- Christian Neef and Matthias Schepp in Moscow, Spielge Online

The propaganda war in the Ukraine crisis has spawned a renewal Russian nationalism, with members of the opposition and the intellectual class suddenly praising President Putin. Many in Russia are accepting the Kremlin's official line uncritically.

Perhaps Alexander Byvshev was a little naïve. Maybe he thought his small village was somehow a safe haven from the world of global politics. But how wrong he was.

Byvshev, a German teacher in the district of Orlov, recently opened up his local newspaper, Sarya, or "the dawn," only to find his name featured in a prominent slot. "In these troubled times, when enemies outside the country are showing their teeth and preparing to take the leap of death, you can find people who would like to undermine Russia from within," the newspaper wrote. "People like A. Byvshev."

Read more ....

My Comment: I can identify with this on every level. Regular readers of this blog know that my nationality is Russian .... and while I no longer live in Russia (I live in Canada) .... I have never ceased to be a critic of the Russian political system. To put it bluntly .... I never conformed to the system. When I was growing up in Russia I made it known that I hated Lenin but I admired American politicians like Ronald Reagan. I had nothing but distaste for Marx, but I did have an appreciation of Adam Smith. I despised the Communist manifesto .... but I was in awe of the U.S. constitution. For a 17 year old Russian living in Moscow in the year 1976 .... these were very radical ideas. And while I was not sent to the Gulag .... and I was not punished for having such radical thoughts .... it did cement my image of being a "radical" to all of my friends and family .... an image that is a very lonely position to have .... especially in the old Soviet Union.

I know that times are tough for critics of Putin in today's Russia .... Russia is now in one of those periods where nationalism rules, and it's critics are ostracized. But times will change .... the nationalism will temper with time .... and before we know it, Putin will be gone. Russia is (culturally speaking) .... a nation that is almost 1,000 years old .... but politically it is only 25 years old .... and from this perspective, it still has a long way to go. But this is where the opposition plays an important role .... by disagreeing and arguing we challenge our thinking, and by challenging our thinking .... we then start to learn and grow up. The critics and dissidents in Russia may now be quiet .... but they will come back.