Posted on 04/21/2019 3:30:19 PM PDT by CondoleezzaProtege
Many commentators have suggested that the greatest threat to the authoritarian regime in Russia would be a Ukraine that successfully navigated the difficult passage to economic development and political freedom, but apparently even Ukraine’s moves in that direction are a problem for the Kremlin.
That is because, as the SerpomPo telegram channel put it, the chief reaction of Russians to the debates between the two Ukrainian presidential candidates is envy, envy that each of those who watched as many Russians did could decide for himself or herself who won and how they would if they could vote, something not possible in Russia.
This envy arises, the channel says, because Russians can’t imagine that “Putin would appear on the stage of a stadium with some little candidate and answer why during his watch people died in Syria and in the Donbass...Why with him three percent of the oligarchs own almost everything in the country and why 20 million, even by official data, live in complete poverty.”
Moreover, Russians can’t imagine that Putin would ever fall on his knees in repentance or that the entire stadium would sing the Russian hymn because they know that “Putin unlike Poroshenko never would allow a real candidate to take part in a campaign. A Russian Zelensky would be eliminated at the stage of registration.”
Radio Svoboda provides a selection of Russian reactions that confirm that SerpomPo conclusions (link) , and the Charter97 portal suggests that Belarusians felt something very similar and perhaps even more intensely. (link)
Dmitry Bondarenko says that “the debates in Kyiv are simply fantastic. One can differ about the presidential candidates in Ukraine, but Belarusians can easily see how elections in a free counry are different from elections in a collective farm dictatorship.”
“Belarusians envy Ukrainians. Bravo, Ukraine!”
(Excerpt) Read more at eurasiareview.com ...
” . . . Belarusians can easily see how elections in a free counry are different from elections in a collective farm dictatorship.”(p>
LOL. Belarus really is just a huge Kolkhoz.
Thanks CondoleezzaProtege.
“” “” Many commentators have suggested that the greatest threat to the authoritarian regime in Russia would be a Ukraine that successfully navigated the difficult passage to economic development and political freedom, but apparently even Ukraine’s moves in that direction are a problem for the Kremlin.”” “”
That was the idea of the people who worked in the Dept of State and pushed for the Ukrainian coup in the first place. Russia was a real target and they openly admitted it.
Here is a little video which is not about the topic but upon seeing it any thinking person would realize why the above idea is an absolute delusion.
Nobody Visits This Country...Find Out Why
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wnDxHTaeNX0&t=180s
It is a great portrayal of the cost of anti-Russian Western alignment for an East European country. The video by Western tourist explaining it just great without saying it.
“” ““Belarusians envy Ukrainians. Bravo, Ukraine!”” “”
No they aren’t.
Although it seems like Poroshenko didn’t steal the election this time. I give them that. We shall see how it would unravel but the expectations are low actually.
Do you ever vet the authors of this stuff you post?
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About the author, Paul Goble:
Paul Goble is a longtime specialist on ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia. Most recently, he was director of research and publications at the Azerbaijan Diplomatic Academy.........
He has served in various capacities in the U.S. State Department, the Central Intelligence Agency and the International Broadcasting Bureau as well as at the Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Mr. Goble maintains the Window on Eurasia blog and can be contacted directly at paul.goble@gmail.com .
No peeking behind the curtain plebe.
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