<
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/18/some-buy-the-propaganda-many-have-changed-their-minds-life-in-russia-after-the-invasion>
"From the comfort of their VIP lounges, global leaders watched on as the
decorated former figure skating star Irina Rodnina ignited the Olympic flame to
kick off the 2014 Sochi Winter Games.
The opening torch ceremony, steeped in the competition’s language of “peace and
tolerance,” was meant to be the culmination of Russia’s resurrection as
Vladimir Putin turned to soft power to impress the world.
Ten years later, Rodnina was again entrusted with inaugurating a winter
sporting event. This time, she fired the starting gun as hundreds of Russian
skiers, banned from competing in the west, formed a giant pro-war letter “Z”
at the start of an annual cross-country race on the outskirts of Moscow.
The stark contrast reflected a decade in which Putin annexed the Crimean
peninsula and eight years later unleashed the biggest conflict Europe has
witnessed since the end of the second world war.
He has opened a second front at home, kindling nationalist fervour with a mix
of nostalgia for Russia’s imperial and Soviet past.
Presenting himself as the sole guarantor of Russian sovereignty and traditional
values, Putin has firmly positioned himself against the west, which he brands
“satanic”.
The news of Alexei Navalny’s death in jail on Friday dealt a devastating blow
to the country’s already suppressed opposition. Putin’s control over domestic
politics now appears total. Navalny’s death was also a reminder that Putin is
waging a war on two fronts – abroad against Ukrainian citizens and at home
against those who dare to think differently."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
