Russian here. Foreign HNers, please, realize that our country is essentially occupied too, and being a protester is equal to being an enemy to the government. We tried to protest, 10 years we were protesting - and it has only helped the government and sent many people in prison. UN had good reasons to establish the basic rights for life and freedom - so please, respect our rights.
I deeply regret that you have been caught up in this stupid war, but I simply don't know what else to do. The person who represents your country has decided to launch a brazen and unprovoked attack on an independent, sovereign democracy. The rest of the world cannot roll over and let him do it, lest he try to conquer even more land in the future. We have to make him feel as much pain as we safely can.
The Russian people are the source of Putin's power. They comprise his army, control his oil wells, and choose to follow his laws. I realize that on an individual level, you may not have the practical ability to defy Putin, but you are still collectively enabling his actions. And while that's absolutely not your fault, I don't see a way to punish Putin without also punishing the population that enables him.
I do wish that my country was more open to refugees; I am sorry and embarrassed that so many Americans hold racist views towards immigrants. But I'm not sorry for anything else.
You must live in functioning democracy? Sadly, that’s not like that everywhere. Not living in Russia but I know very well how it feels when your country is ruled by a dictator with no free media. And these authoritharian governments don’t relly just on media, they also put pressure though employment, business, police, arrests, beatings, and every other instrument available. It can feel like occupation.
Thanks! There is a reason why fleeing the country was common even before this war. My friends describe the feeling as a “stone slab hanging above your head 24/7”.
Are there any examples in the modern world's history when dictatorship has been changed without an access to the mass media? Belarus tried but you can dive deeper to the results of the protests - especially pay attention to the pictures taken in prisons.
I know, we all want to stop the war in Ukraine but it's not possible for now without starting a civil war in Russia itself.
You should know that people who run the country were practically appointed there with no independent vote, use fearmongering and violence to stay in power for 20+ years, and rewrote our constitution three times by rigged popular voting.
And russians have been massively protesting since 2011. I, personally, protested a year ago and got caught (I was too young for earlier ones). Now I either stay and protest and end up in prison, or flee. And FYI prisons in Russia are terrifying.
