And where are you going, Russia?
Photo by Dmitry Dukhanin / Kommersant
Indeed, what is on Russian minds today? Especially those that are truly Russia, and not the “golden troika” of Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg? I would say that processes that are not entirely clear are taking place, and many are trying to understand and realize them.
Just the other day, the head of our VTsIOM, the central body for researching public opinion of Russians, spoke with an interesting phrase. It is difficult to say how effective the work of this institute is in general, but if Fedorov realized that everything was somehow wrong, then the matter is even more interesting than it seems.
What did Fedorov say, but most importantly, what did he not say?
Photo Vladimir Trefilov / RIA News
He said the following: 20 million Russians “withdrew into themselves” against the backdrop of what was happening in the country. That is, roughly speaking, they abstract themselves from the general flow of life and try to convince themselves that nothing like that is happening.
These 20 million mainly live in the cities mentioned above: Moscow, St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. That is, according to the head of VTsIOM (and his opinion is supported by constant surveys of the population), people “withdraw into themselves.”
This can be translated as “becomes not caring about what is happening.”
For once, I agree with the government representative, because I myself conduct such surveys from time to time. Here, in the personal “VO”, in the city, I have now also connected one social network. Yes, of course, it cannot be compared with the work of VTsIOM, there are a maximum of a hundred people here, but this is also a cross-section of society. And yes, indeed, I observe this, a certain touch of indifference. And mainly, it is expressed in the question “Well, how is it...?”
The question here is not even who to believe in the reports and who not. Absolutely not, the Telegram is full of information of a very different nature, with videos, with comments and so on.
Do not want. It’s easier to ask, get (if you’re lucky) a short squeeze and that’s it.
And this is observed not only in the capital, we have plenty of it too. Even among us, those who are close to the events. Not as a reproach to those who live in Yekaterinburg, Tyumen and Tomsk. It's quiet there. Ours is not very good. And what’s going on in the Belgorod and Bryansk regions - almost nothing is shown about it on TV, but this has not made the number of people flying in less. Local news is no different from reports in terms of what has arrived and where this time.
And everyone, in general, doesn’t care. We got used to it in a year and a half, there’s nothing you can do about it. But what to do if the end of the SVO is not visible, even if you look through a stereo tube? So they don’t look. They will start if the next stage of mobilization is announced.
Here Fedorov made another interesting point. And it’s also difficult to partially disagree with him. We do not have a united Russia. I'm not talking about the party, if anything, I'm talking about the country. According to Fedorov, we have “Warring Russia”, “Leaving Russia”, “Capital Russia” and “Deep Russia”. Model from the executive director of Minchenko Consulting Evgenia Stulova. Minchenko Consulting is generally a very advanced company in terms of studying and predicting interactions between different audiences.
True, about "Russia that has left" - well, this is too much. This is not Russia, these are elements that have come from Russia separately. Some of them will not even return, some will then slowly crawl away. Yes, one and a half million escaped people is a lot, but not Russia. These are people who live exclusively for themselves and, by and large, they will live like this all their lives. It doesn’t matter where, in Turkey or Georgia. They will smoke other people's skies with a Russian passport until they can. To grovel for visa extensions, to look for work, but this is their choice. They are not for Russia, they are for themselves. Almost like our athletes at the Olympic Games of previous years. Under a white flag, without an anthem and paraphernalia. People from nowhere.
"Russia at war" - everything is clear here too. This is part "Deep Russia". All these stories that Moscow and St. Petersburg were mobilized along with other cities are a fairy tale purer than those about non-stealing construction officials. Well, “Deep Russia” is, in fact, the real Russia.
Oh yes, "Capital Russia" forgot to mention. According to Fedorov, these are “beneficiaries of their former well-fed life.” Although for some (like Senator Narusova, who generally travels abroad to unfriendly countries without any problems and sees nothing wrong with it), she is not so “old.” Everything is just fine with them, business is going well, the sea in Spain and France is still warm, and the wines are sweet.
Well, our so-called “middle class” of the capital’s bourgeoisie – yes, it exists. And for him, only one issue is important, which, I am sure, has already been resolved by many. This is a question on the agenda from the military registration and enlistment office. A question that concerns them personally, again in terms of their own safety. And while he doesn’t stand up straight, these people also don’t really care about what’s happening in the “newly acquired territories.” If they care about these processes, it is only in terms of making money from it. And if the work is not connected, then there is nothing to think about.
This, by the way, is very well manifested in the same social networks. There are people who don’t care what’s happening in Ukraine, and there are those who are on fire. It is clear that the latter have a greater connection with events for a variety of reasons.
But mostly there is indifference in the minds. Even here, not so far from the line, whatever you call it, it will still be the front line on which our people die every day.
Why? It's simple: a lot of work has been done
Let's look at the calendar:
year 2014. Crimea, Novorossiya, general upsurge, unity even with officials, we are silent about ratings. Together with the rally tricolors they rushed to heaven.
In 2018, a recession began, caused by the so-called “pension reform”. Everything fell very well for everyone, except for the most inveterate optimists and those who were not concerned.
2019 The global crisis has reached Russia, and it has begun here too. The birth rate collapsed, but we saw the dollar at 85 rubles.
2020 They gave us a pandemic. Russia learned the price of its healthcare and found out the level of sanity and competence of managers in the regions. And this continued until July 1, 2022, when the pandemic was canceled. But then another test began.
2022 SVO. And that’s it, these three letters are more than enough, nothing needs to be explained.
And in 2023, having myself experienced Pavlov’s reform, “Pavlov’s Day”, when the population of our country was first robbed brazenly and without hiding, 1998, when the sky fell to earth financially, and well, and everything else on the list, I notice that Yes, we are starting to get stale. Absolutely calm, just under the yoke of a series of these experiments, I don’t know why they were carried out.
This calmness is akin to dullness, the kind when you haven’t really slept for a couple of nights and the world around you begins to “ring.” He who knows, understands. Apparently, the nerves are already starting to get used to everything, but we can’t say that this is good.
And people begin to vote... in a peculiar way. Some kick, running away as far as possible, and some are not even going to return. And some, excuse me, the reproductive organs. As proof, I’ll just give you a plate from Rosstat, everything is perfectly shown on it and even a forecast is given.
It is clear that if Rosstat calculated this, then it reported where necessary. And there, obviously, they began to think, because suddenly (and with us everything is as usual with a broken dam) almost calls began from all levels of government: give birth!
It looked especially fun when presented by State Duma deputies, who are in our most fertile age: from 60 to 80. But, I must say, everything was designed quite beautifully, I even want to believe that this is a necessary thing.
Yes, somehow, uniting, rallying (around the president, naturally), giving birth, winning - this is how Russia’s strength will be restored, and all that in accordance with the program.
Do you believe it? So I'm not very good.
Our laws
We recently discussed the sensational case of a certain Nikita Zhuravel. The stupidest story performed by a young fool, but suddenly turned around and exposed, oddly enough, the Russians in the most unsightly form.
I won’t discuss or evaluate the actions of the Kadyrovs at all; they were both within their rights. Here the question is rather for the investigation, and therefore for Bastrykin regarding the correct understanding of Articles 32 and 35 of the Code of Criminal Procedure of the Russian Federation. That is, in fact, Kadyrov Sr. could have been denied the transfer of Zhuravel absolutely legally. And then the Kadyrovs would simply have to ride to Volgograd to start a fight there. But Ramzan Akhmatovich was not refused, and therefore now everything is happening in the Chechen Republic.
Well, it is clear that now it is unlikely that anyone else in Russia will risk burning the Koran, even for money. And this is good, because burning the Koran, Bible, Torah, and so on is provocative nonsense. For which, by the way, punishment is provided in accordance with the article of the Law, and not according to the concepts of Adam Kadyrov.
Something else surprised me. I was surprised by the reaction on the Internet to this case. I was simply amazed how many people with seemingly Russian names and surnames wrote things that made my hair stand on end:
- Everything is correct, Adam Kadyrov is right! There was no need to burn the Koran, this is a holy book for Muslims!
- That’s how it should be, but no one else will dare! This is not Europe!
“I don’t approve of Adam’s action, but I understand.
- Normal crime prevention in our time!
On our pages I wanted to get into a fight in one of the articles devoted to the Zhuravel case, but somehow I restrained myself. I just wanted to recommend that you familiarize yourself with the crime rate in countries with the death penalty and draconian laws. China, Iran, Saudi Arabia, South Korea - the legislation there is much harsher than ours, but there are also more criminals. Off the charts, I would say.
What's wrong here? Yes, that this is our Russian juvenile fool who did something stupid. And he is obliged to answer for her according to OUR laws, and not according to the wishes of an individual minor major, who has no jurisdiction for this very reason, who decided to wave his arms and legs. Dad allowed...
A small example of how the state simply “surrendered” its citizen contrary to its own laws. And the citizens of the state justified and approved this. And this is where I see the problem. Moreover, nationwide.
We have become capable of betraying anyone and anything. And calmly justify this.
Is Zhuravel something new? Oh no. This is old. For all thirty years of the history of this Russia, we have been doing nothing but simply justifying things elegantly. Everything that happened in the country and with the country. Pension reform, changes to the Constitution, attitude towards Russians around the world, taxes, immunity of our officials and so on. Everyone knows everything without me.
I won’t give many examples, but I really want one. There is such a political movement, “Patriots of Russia”. It is headed by a rather strange man, Gennady Semigin. We'll see why it's strange a little later.
"Patriots of Russia"
And we have the Patriots of Russia party. It was, more precisely. Semigin created it in 2005 and called it “an independent party of responsible opposition.” And in 2021, the Patriots of Russia party merged into a new party with the parties A Just Russia and For Truth. In principle, everything is clear.
And in July 2021, Semigin established the all-Russian public movement “PATRIOTS OF RUSSIA”, became its leader, chairman of the Central Council. Well, and a State Duma deputy at the same time.
Why do I write in such detail, almost making an advertisement? But because since these are “PATRIOTS OF RUSSIA” (everything is as in the source, all letters are capitalized), then it’s worth looking at what kind of patriotism is being preached.
On September 29, Semigin (in the text, as you can see, signed by “patriots of Russia” there is “I”) on behalf of his movement issued a statement that simply cannot be ignored line by line. In my opinion, it simply perfectly demonstrates everything that was written above. The link to the text was at the end of the article, I am attaching a screenshot, since the text, naturally, was deleted on October 2.
Spelling has been preserved intentionally.
Recently a video was released where the son of the head of the Chechen Republic, Adam Kadyrov, applies special measures of influence to a detainee on charges of burning the Koran. This caused a wave of discontent among the patriotic community, and some provocateurs even started talking about a third Chechen war.
I believe that Nikita Zhuravlev is a traitor. A traitor who sold his homeland for 3 kopecks, collaborated with the Ukrainian special services and tried to shake up the situation in the Islamic regions of our country. And traitors are dealt with according to the laws of war, so, as Adam Delimkhanov said: “Kadyrov’s son acted humanely, leaving the arsonist of the Koran alive.”
I believe that Nikita Zhuravlev is a traitor. A traitor who sold his homeland for 3 kopecks, collaborated with the Ukrainian special services and tried to shake up the situation in the Islamic regions of our country. And traitors are dealt with according to the laws of war, so, as Adam Delimkhanov said: “Kadyrov’s son acted humanely, leaving the arsonist of the Koran alive.”
It’s interesting, but where do we get “martial laws” in our country? Did we miss something? As far as I know, there is no “war time” in the country, martial law has not been introduced, where does this come from? Based on what?
In addition, whether Zhuravel is a traitor or not, this is not decided by Semigin, or whoever wrote this text. It is not so important, in principle, who wrote, it is written on behalf of the movement, where Semigin is the first person, he must answer. But this will be decided by the court.
It is also worth noting that he didn’t really beat him, he gave him a couple of slaps in the face, which is more than humane. And this will be a lesson for other traitors, and before burning relay cabinets on the railway, or importing Drones to the territory of Russia, will think ten times whether he wants to end up in a pre-trial detention center in Grozny.
That is, all arsonists of relay cabinets will be taken to Grozny? “Patriots of Russia” have reached an agreement? And there Adam Kadyrov, not sparing his health, will work for the benefit of re-education? Well, I sympathize with him in advance, because the situation with the cabinets is really tense. They are burning. So the idea is sound, by the way.
And the fact that Adam Kadyrov did the right thing is shown by today’s meeting of the President with the head of the Chechen Republic, as a result of which a new mosque will appear in Moscow.
I won’t even discuss this, it’s nonsense.
Today, more than ever, we need to unite and not make liberal snot about the fact that traitors must be dealt with “according to the law”, that the transfer of a criminal by order of Ramzan Akhmatovich to Chechnya is contrary to the laws of the Russian Federation, and even more so to support statements on account of hypothetical situations, “What would happen if a Muslim burned the Bible.” All these arguments create a split in our ranks, and make us forget that our real enemy is in Ukraine, in Washington and London. In wartime there is only one law, the law of war.
Well, yes, very familiar, right? “Don’t rock the boat”, don’t look at the violation of laws, the Kadyrovs are not our enemies, let them do what they want. In general, pseudo-patriotic speculation, right according to the text of the statement. The main thing is to unite and not think about anything at all. And everything is again justified by “war time”.
But the masterpiece is at the very end. I’ll highlight it in bold so that it reaches everyone.
If every Russian soldier defended his ideals as uncompromisingly as the son of Ramzan Akhmatovich, then perhaps the Akhmat battalion would not have to kick the soldiers of the Russian Armed Forces onto the battlefield.
That is, Mr. Semigin, a deputy of the State Duma of three convocations, holding the position of (ATTENTION!!!) Chairman of the Committee of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation on Nationalities, co-chairman of the party “A Just Russia - Patriots - For Truth”, in direct text on the website of his public -political movement suggests that the fighters of the Chechen unit “Akhmat” perform the role of barrier detachments in the Northern Military District.
That is, the heroic fighters of the Chechen people are kicking the cowards from the Russian army into fighting. In general, after these words, anyone who feels Russian has the right to write a statement to the Prosecutor General's Office of Russia under an article about discrediting the Russian army. And the soldiers of the Akhmat regiment. Some were clearly discredited, about others they wrote obvious lies, that is, fake.
These are the kind of patriots we have today. These are the types of deputies we have. This is how everything is somehow in our country.
And most importantly, it was on Semigin’s website 4 day. And no one moved anywhere. And only when the famous Russian blogger Sergei Kolyasnikov (Zergulio) wrote to the Prosecutor General’s Office, Semigin immediately became more active. The post was deleted, denials began, cries about hacking and all that.
The website of the All-Russian public movement “Patriots of Russia” was hacked. The attackers did not just bring down the resource, but posted a fake message on behalf of the movement’s press service with provocative assessments of the participation of a Russian soldier in a special military operation. (TG channel of G. Semigin).
It's a lie, you know. The resource was not destroyed; on October 2, you could easily go in and take a screenshot. Which is what I did.
I officially declare that the press service of the movement, like myself, have nothing to do with the messages posted on September 30, 2023.
Well, yes, only the statement was posted on September 29. And everything is so beautiful. For four days, no one had anything to do with the fact that something like this was posted on a “patriotic” website. Somehow, I don’t have much faith in the Ukrainian special services; the game is not worth the candle, in my opinion.
These are the kind of patriots we sometimes have.
But Mr. Semigin generally has a terrible mess in his patriotic statements. In order not to be unfounded, here is another pearl from the main patriot of Russia.
Does anything bother you? So I am confused by the absence of the Kherson region in the list, but the presence of Kharkov region in the first paragraph. This is also probably the machinations of enemies? No, of course not. They just work carelessly. In patriotic broadcasting, the main thing is not the thoughtfulness of phrases, but the volume and number of exclamation marks.
In fact, nothing particularly terrible happened. Some trainee party member wrote a highly spiritual appeal on the 29th, whoever needed it saw it, especially in Chechnya, they counted it. Four days later it turned out to be the work of the enemy. It happens... But from such bricks a wall is formed, behind which the whole country little by little finds itself. A wall of alienation and rejection. And this is a very significant merit of our “patriots”.
Have you ever thought, dear readers, about how ugly everything looks here? Especially in terms of these calls to “close ranks and rally around”? And find yourself in some kind of reservation, isolated from the whole world. After all, it turns out, in the opinion of such patriots, that the whole world is hostile to us. And this really seems to be true. We have 1 (ONE) ally left, this is Belarus. All. The rest are either enemies or simply make great money from us, like Iran, India, China. And China also manages to maintain sanctions by blocking the flow of drones into the country. But they take gas and oil with pleasure.
India generally increased gasoline exports by 142% from last year. Made from Russian oil. Business…
Excuses
Trying to look from the outside, you can see how patriotically we become enemies of the whole world. But that's only half the problem. We Russians calmly began to surrender our own people and learned to justify it very well. What does it mean to “surrender your own” - let everyone find an example for themselves. For me personally, an example was the evacuation of residents of the Kherson region, who were simply abandoned there. And then I had to read how pro-Russian residents who could not leave because they simply did not know that Russia, which came forever, was leaving within XNUMX hours. And they turned out to be to blame for this. These pensioners had to go to the administration every day and check whether Russia was here or what.
I would like Russia to return there. But these people will no longer be there. Unfortunately. These were wonderful people.
We have learned to justify everything. Modernization of the Yeltsin Constitution, written in the USA, pension “reform”, growth of housing and communal services and fuel prices, abandoned Russians in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan (Why would they? They would have abandoned everything and come. In a year they will become citizens), migration policy, when parts of Russia are like Kotelnikov become parts of Tajikistan with everyone leaving, theft in the army, when volunteers buy military equipment on Avito and return them to the hands of the fighters, everything.
Well, if someone cannot explain something in the correct way, there is Yura Podolyaka, who will put everything in its place. The main thing is to unite and not rock the boat.
It’s just that what will happen at the end is a little unclear. But I think in due time the right patriots will explain to us.
And tell me, how many people in the world want to support people like us? Well, every day less and less. Indeed, it is not NATO that is moving to the East, but the East, without looking back, rushing into the arms of NATO. And now Serbia is voting at the UN for anti-Russian resolutions, Bulgaria, following others, bans the entry of Russian cars, practically closing the European door. I’m deliberately not talking about the republics of the former USSR; we owe everything there in life and everything in that vein. The exceptions are indeed Belarus and Azerbaijan, and even then, the latter only because Turkey is still cooperating with us. Beneficial for them.
The rest of our exes see us exclusively as weaklings who can and should be ignored. Even the same Azerbaijanis who calmly shot our peacekeepers who saw too much, knew that nothing would happen to them for this.
Excuses are for the weak. They justified the space program that collapsed with Luna-25, they justified the murder of culture, education, medicine...
This is where all the powerlessness lies - the authorities are silent, they don’t need to say anything, but the masses will come up with everything they need for themselves. And the Podolyaks and their henchmen work. They are working on the content.
***
I know that we have people who, in the first lines of their comments, will say that everything is as always: everything is gone, the author is in his repertoire. I would be happy to be wrong, but alas, the overall picture is rather bleak. However, this, as they say, understanding the situation is a matter for each individual person. Personally, I find it very unpleasant to understand that they are creating a kind of reservation for us, where you and I will live in complete or almost complete isolation. But the saddest thing is that we drive ourselves into this reservation, justifying everything, abandoning our own, betraying our own, forgetting our own.
Perhaps Fedorov did not even accurately estimate the numbers, and the number of people who abstract themselves from this world for themselves is even greater than his experts counted. But this is definitely not better; there is no prospect for us in this.
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