this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2024
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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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[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Not enough to “do something” about it though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

Especially not if you ask them if the occupied regions should be returned to Ukraine.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Classic armchair language.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago

You’re not wrong.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 3 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

...before you do it yourselves.

Are you suggesting the west should invade Russia to remove Putin?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Overthrowing your own government.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (1 children)

We just did, though a democratic vote.

In situations where that's not an option it has to be done in other ways.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

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.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I mean, Little Tommy Crooks did something. He just wasn’t very competent at it.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago (1 children)

My boy Faramir taught me to not hate the soldier on the ground

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

What about Nazi soldiers?

[–] [email protected] 13 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Great. Now do something about it. I get that it’s stacked against them, but the only people who can fix Russia are Russians.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 months ago

Be more like Tommy Crooks!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

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%E2%80%93Madrid_railway_line

[–] [email protected] 12 points 3 months ago

Being anti-Russians only adds to the Kremlin propaganda.

[–] [email protected] 42 points 3 months ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 months ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 3 months ago

Well said, not every Russian is a Vatnik.