Two days after the Crown Prosecution Service announced that Andrei Lugovoi,
the former KGB agent, should be charged with the murder of his old colleague
Alexan-der Litvinenko and demanded that Russia extradite him to face trial
in Britain, I bumped into a Russian friend: worldly, pro-western and a
fluent English speaker who has travelled dozens of times abroad.
I asked him who he thought had ordered the murder of Litvinenko, a fierce
Kremlin critic who died of a massive polonium210 dose in London six months
ago. My friend had no doubts. “Boris Berezovsky of course,” he said
forcefully. It was the exiled oligarch and foe of Vladimir Putin, the
Russian president, who had smuggled polonium into Britain and ordered his
protégé’s death. Why? To sully Russia’s image in the West.
However absurd that seems, many Russians would agree. Even in exile
Berezovsky, once one of Moscow’s most powerful political players, is
regarded as a Machiavellian figure whose influence, they believe, knows no
boundaries. Those who do not share that view, including Litvinenko’s first
wife, believe he was instead killed by the CIA or MI5, enemies of Russia
bent on weakening it just as it is becoming strong again. Few here suspect
the FSB, as the KGB is now known, or the Kremlin. Too small a fish for them
to get involved, they argue.
The striking difference between public opinion in Russia and back in Britain
could easily be overlooked if it concerned only Litvinenko’s cold-blooded
killing. It is, however, just the latest example of divisions running
between the Russians and the West which, 16 years after the collapse of
communism, are set to become only deeper.
Seven years after coming to power, Putin, who served a third of his life in
the KGB, has few friends left in Europe and America. West of Moscow he is
vilified as an authoritarian despot who has crushed opposition to his rule,
turned independent media into a sycophantic tool of the Kremlin and jailed
or chased his critics into exile.
In Litvinenko’s case Putin has effectively been branded a murderer by parts of
the western press.
In Russia, by contrast, Putin enjoys popularity ratings that must surely be
the envy of George W Bush and Tony Blair. Well over 70% of Russians support
him, according to the latest polls – by any standards a record for a leader
at the end of his tenure.
Listen to the likes of Garry Kasparov, the chess grandmaster turned fierce
Kremlin opponent, who is now the darling of western liberals who berate
Putin, and you will be led to believe that the president’s regime “would
collapse in two weeks” if Russia had a free media. Nothing could be further
from the truth.
Under the current leadership this is an authoritarian country run mostly by a
clique of former KGB agents. And yes, the control of the media is so
draconian and pervasive that even the launch of a national children’s TV
channel has become a political issue. Nor would many dispute that the
country’s judiciary is a travesty and that corruption in Russia has become
far more endemic than it ever was even during the turbulent years when Boris
Yeltsin was in the Kremlin.
But like it or not, Putin is genuinely popular. Ask most Russians and they
will tell you that they would happily vote for the constitution to be
changed so as to allow him to stay on a third term (he is due to step down
in 10 months’ time), a feeling shared by western investors whose primary
concern is high returns and political stability rather than democracy and a
free press.
Putin’s record is not the only issue on which Russian and western public
opinion do not see eye to eye. Europe and America increasingly look to
Russia with mistrust but, as always when a relationship sours, both parties
feel injured. Most Russians are deeply disillusioned with the West. They
believe that it has a vested interest in Russia being weak. There reigns a
siege mentality and a conviction that the country is surrounded by
opponents. The cold war is over and the West is no longer an enemy but, as
most will tell you, it is no friend.
How else, Russians will say, should they interpret the fact that Britain
granted political asylum to Berezovsky, Akhmed Zakayev, the former Chechen
field commander whom Moscow accuses of terrorism, and several other figures
wanted by prosecutors here? Why, Putin’s men ask angrily, did the Kremlin
receive so little in return after he defied his generals and opened military
bases in central Asia to US troops fighting in Afghanistan after September
11? And why is Washington seeking to install a missile defence shield in the
heart of Europe and Nato expanding right up to Russia’s borders? Justified
or paranoid, it is partly this strong sense that they were wronged that
makes many Russians prone to believing most conspiracy theories, be it that
opposition journalists such as Anna Politkovskaya, who was gunned down last
year (the 13th reporter murdered under Putin), were killed by Russia’s
enemies. Or that the peaceful revolutions in former Soviet states such as
Georgia, Ukraine and Kyrgyzstan were the work of a CIA bent on installing
pro-Nato governments in Russia’s back yard. Western influences did play a
part but they weren’t pivotal.
Even the war in Chechnya, some Russians never tire of telling me, was somehow
linked to the West. The official in charge of the British press at the
Russian foreign ministry once asked me who prepared my questions whenever I
travelled to the war-torn region to interview Moscow’s opponents.
It is a deep-seated mistrust I am always confronted with whenever I visit the
Lubyanka, the FSB headquarters in Moscow, whose cloak and dagger residents
jokingly describe it as the country’s tallest building, “because from here
we can see as far as Siberia”.
I have known a couple of people there for years. We chat periodically over
cups of strong tea. I probe much and they reveal little. We like each other,
but inevitably I feel they think I am an undercover intelligence officer.
From where they look at the world, an Italian working for a British paper in
Moscow can only be a spy. There is not much point in trying to prove the
contrary, so when they ask how I am I joke: “Not well. They still haven’t
promoted me to major.” They laugh, but never without a nod and a wink.
Hardly surprising that even reasonable and affable FSB officers should be
suspicious of a foreigner, but the point is they share the same background
as Putin and many of his closest aides. Old habits die hard and they, too,
see the West through a prism of conspiracy and distrust – not unlike many
politicians on our side of the divide who were brought up during the cold
war and are still wary of Russia.
Putin’s KGB background was an issue of concern in the West but never in
Russia, where informed people are quick to point out that George Bush Sr
once headed the CIA.
Russia opened up to the West for a few brief years under Mikhail Gorbachev,
the father of glasnost and perestroika that preceded communism’s collapse.
People who had been taught for 70 years that communism was the best system
suddenly saw the value of democracy, market economy and a free press.
But liberalising the economy was a traumatic business. Millions lost their
savings and were plunged into dire poverty while a few insiders became
fabulously rich oligarchs who flaunted their wealth. Crime became rampant
and Russia, once the heart of an empire feared and respected around the
world, was on its knees. For scientists, engineers and state workers who had
traded a life of certainties to eke out a living as gypsy cab drivers, or
for pensioners forced to survive by collecting empty bottles off the street
for a few kopeks, a free press could hardly be much consolation.
As a result, more than 15 years later, for a politician here to be labelled a
“democrat” is suicide because so many associate the term with the economic
hardships and social upheavals of the early 1990s.
It is true that pro-western democrats have been crushed by Putin’s regime,
which has denied them the right to make their views heard, but if they are a
spent force it is mainly because most Russians no longer trust them. That
explains why, in the West, Gorbachev and Yeltsin are feted but are despised
by most in Russia as the two leaders who stopped the clock and engineered
the end of the Soviet Union.
My cleaning lady, to give an example from everyday life, was an officer in
Soviet military intelligence who served in Afghanistan and Hungary. Her
official monthly pension now is £60 and her life has taken quite a turn for
the worse in the past two decades – no wonder that in her eyes Gorbachev and
Yeltsin are criminals who sold away her country.
Western opinion may have been shocked two years ago when Putin described the
end of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the
20th century”, but the Russian president was in tune with most of his people.
Russians who vilify Yeltsin for what he dismantled praise Putin for what he is
seen to have rebuilt. While we in the West are up in arms at his
authoritarian style and the ruthless-ness with which he has rolled back most
of Yeltsin’s democratic reforms, Russians see in him someone who is
gradually returning their self-esteem by improving their standard of living
and making Russia a player again on the world stage.
Greatly helped by record oil prices, under Putin Russia has gone from being a
country that owed billions to one that has paid its international debts and
is sitting on a stabilisation fund of more than £50 billion.
Instead of cringing at the sight of a drunken Yeltsin directing a military
band as he did in Berlin, most Russians now rub their hands with glee at the
sight of Putin taking swipes at Bush, as he did during last year’s G8 summit
in St Petersburg – the first hosted by Russia – when the American president
clumsily suggested that the Kremlin should take an example from democracy in
Iraq.
Most Russians like strong leaders, men who in the tradition of the tsars are
seen to rule with an iron hand. For now, at least, the more Russia flexes
its muscles and forcefully pursues its interests, the greater the impression
that it is regaining some of the influence it lost with the collapse of
communism.
Pro-western liberalism is out while nationalism, fierce patriotism and
self-assertion are back with a vengeance. And since it is a former
superpower that is emerging from very traumatic times of transition,
Russia’s bullish stance is fuelled by two conflicting emotions: a sense of
superiority over what it once was and one of inferiority over that which it
lost.
“During the cold war the West took us very seriously,” said a Kremlin aide.
“Once it ended it ceased to do so and for years we felt humiliated. Putin is
so popular because he is restoring our national pride and hitting back at
all those who can do nothing but criticise us. No one likes to be constantly
vilified.
“It’s clear that the West would rather see a weak Russia that bends to all its
demands. Those days are over and we don’t see why our president shouldn’t
pursue his country’s interests. That what America and Britain do, isn’t it?”
The standoff over Litvinenko’s death and Britain’s efforts to pursue Lugovoi
can only worsen relations with Russia, which are already at their lowest
since the end of the cold war. But the irony is that for all the criticism
of Putin in the West – which is more often justified than not – he is far
more liberal than most Russians, not least those who surround him in the
Kremlin.
Many years ago, when I first came to work in Moscow, a political pundit close
to the Kremlin told me that the problem between Russia and the West is that
Russians are white.
“We look like you. We look like Europeans and so the West expects us to think
and act like you. As a result, when we don’t you get all upset. Why can’t
they be like us, you fret. But you don’t say that about the Chinese, for
instance. You don’t expect them to think and act like you. Well, we are
white but we are different.”
Having lived here for so long, to me Russia is no “riddle, wrapped in a
mystery, inside an enigma”, as Winston Churchill famously put it. But Russia
is indeed different – and we have to face up to that.
I am Russian woman, an emploee, working, age 55.
Pass my thanks to the author of this article. I will cut some parts of the article for my American relatives - the words which better explane the feelings of most Russians today than I can express by myself.
I have read it in Russian Internet an then found the English text for to be able tj send it to USA
Vera, Moscow, Russia
I am a journalist myself and I am eager not to have free media at all. I would rather prefer to have a guarantee of stability and wealth. My strong belief is that Putin's course is what our country hardly needs.
Everything is gonna be OK in my country, if only we do not go back to the democratical reformation. We will rise again. And the West should not be afraid of it. Unlike Western feudals and imperialists, we never fought for someone's land - only for our own.
Eugene Tishchenko, Siberia, Russia
I also don't understand where all the fuss about crushing free media etc. comes from. Governmental channels may be ill-taste eyesores but they are very, very far from being the ideological flamethrowers the West wants them to be.
A difficult thing most---well, actually almost all---Western observers miss is that Russia has not the several centuries of painful social becoming to draw upon. Every country was at some point in its history in the place where Russia is now. It is just that Russia today has to combine the demands of the modern European/American world with her social mentality which may be roughly on par with that of England in the times of Magna Carta. What West does and says does not serve to alleviate this problem but only magnifies it.
Stan Mikhailov, Moscow, Russia
1. I don’t understand why it’s considered that there is no free press in Russia. Yes, all the major TV-stations are state-controlled, but the top Russian newspapers, e.g. Vedomosti and Kommersant, are hardly pro-government. Largest national radio Echo Moskvy is sometimes backing even radical opposition and is definitely far from being pro-Kremlin.
2. I have a feeling coming from reading the Western press that the only reason “the West” didn’t try to establish some kind of Iraqi style democracy in my country is Russian nuclear firepower, making such project too dangerous globally. “Just let Russia be a miserable sick neighbor” has been the option of choice.
3. A perfect example of friendship between Russia and the US was in 1991 (or 1992) when the head of KGB Vadim Bakatin came to the American embassy and handed the blueprints for all spying equipment in the building. Americans were clearly happy with such goodwill, thanked him and maybe even offered a drink.
Andrey, Moscow, Russia
Russia is a Great Land, with a Great People! I say that honestly. Because I believe the people there truly are Great, and their country is to.
And, I agree with individual from St. Petersburg, I believe it was, who mentioned just because "We are (Russians) are white and European just like you in the West, does not mean we think like you in the West". Russia, is a different category of culture than what is found primarily in the West.
But their isolation ended with Peter the Great! Get a life Westerners! Until we all learn to accept each other as equal partners and learn to look into one another's eyes and say, "there is no difference between us really"; this political misunderstanding propagandized by both sides will only serve to weaken us both. And in a time and age when we both need each others support in the worst way confronting the new form of Fascism. The one that just hijacked Islam.
Thank You
Paul Hopkins, Nampa, United States
Very real article. Russian have really gorged on PROPAGATION of democracy. We do not aspire to protect our rich. At our rich very dirty money. At Yeltsin in my city there was only 1 network of supermarkets among all shops of city, the son-in-law of mayor of city owned these shops. At Putin 3 networks of supermarkets have entered into city and 2 shopping centers-entertaining...
NicK, Ural,
Beg Your pardon."CEASE to disappear"...
Leonard, Sardinia, Italy
Scott from Virginia (Polish ? Usually they talk so...), when a contry's economy is fine, when a state has money and wisdom for use them, when family (first of all mothers) can be and is helped, demography is not a problem . So if (and it could well be) Russians manage to stabilize their economy (maybe selling something more than raw materials and weapon, even if first-class ones), and just a bit reduce their corruption rate (or, however, reduce the paralizing influence of "chinovniki" -the bureaucrats-), they will chease to disappear, and will keep getting less and less irrelevant . Very sorry for You...
-
Very fine article, Mark .
Leonard, Sardinia, Italy
Believe me, Russians are very well aware of the the internal problems they are having.The only thing we don't get is why the West has double standards while dealing with Russia: when it comes to protecting your economic interests - it is called "business", when in comes to protecting ours - you say that Russia is using its natural resources as a negotiation tool. hello?!?!?
alsoi've lived in many countries (US, UK, the Netherlans) and can assure you that Russia, when it comes to free media, is as free as you might never get . for you it might be hard to believe, but we know and hear opinion from both sides while you are stuck copy-pasting cliches abt Russia from 70s. pls come to russia to live, try to learn the language, talk to people...read some books on history (you'll be surprised big time by what you are going to learn) and you will end up loving it. Loving it for its diversity, its freedom and the fact that Russia never gave in to what you call "western sense of democracy".
Irina, Sao Paolo, Brazil
Believe me, Russians are very well aware of the the internal problems they are having.The only thing we don't get is why the West has double standards while dealing with Russia: when it comes to protecting your economic interests - it is just "business", when it comes to protecting ours - you say that Russia is using its natural resources as a negotiation tool. hello?!?!?
also... i've lived in many countries and I can assure you that Russia, when it comes to free media, is as free as you might never get . for you it might be hard to believe, but we know and hear opinion from both sides while you are stuck copy-pasting cliches abt Russia from 70s. pls come to russia to live, try to learn the language, talk to people...read some books on history (you'll be surprised big time by what you are going to learn) and you will end up loving it. Loving it for its diversity, its freedom and the fact that Russia never gave in to what you call "western sense of democracy"
Irina, Sao Paolo, Brazil
To Mark from Milano, Italy
You are right to remember about Hitler. But from my point of view it was not too far from the true that Germany in that time was surrounded by enemies. And economic situation in Germany before Hitler was also very bad and similar to situation in Russia 10-15 years ago. For Germany it was because other Western countries were friends against Germany after WWI - so other Western countries are partially guilty for Hitler success in Germany. For Russia it seems to me that no one from Western countries wished to help Russia when Russia was in big trouble after USSR collapsed and today in many cases Western countries continue to be friends against Russia. So if you on the West remember Hitler do not repeat your errors - do not turn your back upon Russia (or other countries) - be friends with Russia.
Yury, St.Petersburg, Russia
Where do the 70% of people who support Putin come from? Opulent districts of Moscow? Villages in Chechnia? Are they middle class? Are they former soldiers or students? Who commissioned the survey? United Russia?
In Anna Politkovskaya's Russian diary, one reads for example that the "Heroes of Russia"'s former pension in kind (ie: free medical care, free travel on buses etc...) has been reduced to a few pounds a month which hardly covers the medical care they need. And this, under Putin's reign. Poor people are getting poorer.
Also oligarch are not that despised as long as they join "United Russia" and contribute to financing the party. Look what is happening to the likes of Khodorkovsky who decided to support opposition parties!
For the ones on Putin's side (and with a full wallet) life's not bad. As for the others.....
Odile D, London,
Sorry for my english.....but i should say this....i read many west post in newspaper about russia but this is the first objective post...everything true...
Miroslav, Novosibirsk, RUSSIA
The Government in Russia is not perfect, but neither is any of the Governments of the so-called "West". Both sides are doing the same :
Suppression of demonstrations: be it around major international events f.ex. through travel restrictions for opposition representatives as at the recent Samara EU-Russia meeting or be it at domestic political demonstrations through police force, as recently in Petersburg.You just have to look at the recent preparations of the German Govt. for the G 8 meeting: house searching,preventive arrests,travel restrictions for foreign demonstrators,prohibiton of demonstrations, an over 10 km concrete and barbed wire fence around the meeting place etc. Doesn't our supposed "democracy" guarantee the right of free speech and demonstrations for people who had different opinions? Muzzling the press: Do not tell me that we have a "free press" :Try to publish an article about Sarkozy's family life or a cartoon film about the Pope!
Piskolti, Signy, Switzerland
AB in NY, as a Western historian of Russia who frequently travels to Moscow, you should know that Russia has a thousand-year long Orthodox Christian tradition, where homosexuality is considered a deadly sin. For homosexuals to flagrantly display their perversion in Russia, where such behaviour has never been welcomed, is an arrogant and ill-advised attempt to promote corrupt Western morality in what remains one of the last truly Christian countries in the world.
Thank you.
Muzhik, Surrey, BC, Canada
Respect, Mark. Good job.
Now I really believe in democracy in the West, although usually I read about Russia only the kind of propaganda which is very much similar to the one of former USSR.
Alexandr, Moscow, Russia
Eureka! Someone who has got the Russian character down. Russia is very very very early in its development as a democracy. People's lives were horrendous in the 90s, and now are starting to get better. If you were bankrupt and left in poverty what would you worry about- a democratic government and a free press, or just making sure you're fed and safe. If Russia did not have a strong man at the top it would tear itself apart in a frenzy of corruption. Russians aren't like us, and they're not currently concerned about meeting western standards, standards which would allow the west to have its own way with Russia. The western coverage of Russia with its total lack of understanding of the country and the people is so frustrating it makes me want to scream. Come and live here for a while and you'll see for the most part everyday life is as free if not more so than in the smug west. They're only 16 years in to their project, give them time to build a civil society for crying out loud.
Sid, Moscow,
Thank you, Mark, for the elaborate analysis of the attitude towards the Russian president.
And to AB from NY: yes, Russia remains a police state in some respects, although you should have seen Russia during Yeltzin, when it was considered a "democracy": war veterans were picking up empty bottles on the street in order to make the living. So the choice is not between a flourishing established democracy and a police dictate, but between poverty and lack of certain freedoms. The Russian people, in their majority, of course, chose the latter. Don't forget that after 9/11 Americans too, traded many of their freedoms for security.
Serge Baduk, NY, USA
We criticize Russia of being dispotical and putting Putin as a new Stalin.
Yet, the west should just for a second shut up and look at themselves from the outside, as russian do everyday due to the western press.
Democracy?
Where have you seen democracy? How can a country be democratic if they obey to the USA in every move?
How can you call your press free, if it doesn't talk about such things as american provocations of Iran, for example?
It's just pathetic.
Russia doesn't see the West as an enemy, they just see it as a hypocritical sum of countries, under the heavy american boot.
Crysania, Cambridge,
I red this article on russian site translated in Russian - that's about liberty of speech in Russia. I think that West don't want to see Russia as strong country. It better Russia to be weak for the West, because Russia is just gas and oil for West. But we doesn't want to be weak and now we are stronger and that's why we have a lot of problems in relationships. West countries do everything to worsen attitude to Russia in their own society and in Russian society. Сontinued problems with Georgia (georgian government are real puppets in hands of their master from USA), problems with Estonia and Poland, death of Litvinenko, defence for real outlaws and terrorists Berezovski and Zakaev and so on - that's all the parts of one chain. And this chain is company to weaken Russia. That's why Putin is so popular in Russia, he makes Russia stronger. And that's why attitude to West is going down, you want our weakness. So, it was your turn, I guess you forget what is this - Cold War! Do you want it?
Sergey, Moscow, RUSSIA,
Quite refreshing article. Good journalistic job. The author managed to catch a gist of what a significant proportion of Russians feels. I am Russian and I dislike a democratic missionary attitude of Western countries. I do not like corrupted, greedy Russian bureaucracy either. But what should be known in the West that in Russia the critics from abroad are ill-received as a rule. In fact their role is counterproductive. To just preach democracy is quite easy, cheap and ineffectual at the end. If EU is really concerned with promoting democratic values over Russian wide - let us have more communication. The visaless system would be ideal :).
Alexey, Moscow,
Good article, but in my view the problem is not Putin or Russians trying to reclaim their national pride. I See the problem being the west, which after the collapse of the soviet union still try to prove to the Russians that they were and are going to be the loosers and that the West emerged victorious of the cold war devide and is going to be victorious in the future.The west is not friendly and seem unable to enjoy life without enemies. Most of the western acts are hostile actions, imagine Bush remainding Putin of Democracy in IraQ at ST Petersberg summit. To me if there is any thing for one to take as an example is the emergence of Mr. Hussein from a hole and his eventual hanging and the flood of Iraqis bloods. To me Bush is telling Putin to think of what America did to Saddam and that is not the way to maintain world peace. At the same time Bush is making comments America is installing missile defense system in Europe, but you expect Putin to just smile?
olimpio Nhuleipo, Windhoek, Namibia
Problem not that the West very often wrongly perceives Russia and Russians, including their president. A problem that on the basis of such incorrect perception the West makes political and economic decisions, which can appear also erroneous, first of all, for the West.
roman, Moscow, Russia
As a Western historian of Russia who frequently travels to Moscow, I take issue with the nonsense here (especially by Russians who have left for the West) about the Western media constatnly attacking Russia. Russia remains a police state; an appallingly corrupt and brutal 'custodian' of the people whose rights it frequently tramples. One only has to read about the attacks on the gay parade yeasterday to se\
e that the state will happily ignore violence if its serves its interests. Putin's Russia is the totalitarianism of the USSR dressed up in the Western clothes of a market economy, no more.
AB, NY,
to russian, new york, usa
agreed 10000000000000000%
roman, kaliningrad,
What is exactly the problem?
- Russians like how things are going under Putin.
- Russia is important partner of the West in world affairs and on most occasions, has similar position, say nuclear prolifiration, North Korea, terrorism, etc.
- Russia is important economic partner and it seems to be keen to develop its resources and supply the West.
- It's stable
So what the heck is the problem?! So they are different, so what? Isn't it democracy trait to respect differences in other people. Why do you have to pick on Russians all the time?
I perfectly understand why Russians think the West wants a weak Russia ( a remark from gentlement from Virginia proves my point).
Alex, Canberra, Australia
Speaking of economics - Putin is doing what is in best interests of his people. Surely, Europe may not like it. Well, it's democracy - Europe didn't vote for him, why
bother trying to please them. Especially, given the level of
russophobia. It's capitalism - if you don't want Russian oil, try shopping elsewhere. Speaking of politics - high oil prices do give some political leverage. Why not use it? Again, in the interest of your people. Such is life, it is normal. Do not be scared/paranoid, "it is strictly business, nothing personal"
Abzats, Houston, TX
I haven’t been to Russia but I do get tired of the constant bickering attitude of the British press which seldom has a good word to say for anyone. In any event I can’t believe that the propaganda and misrepresentation can be any worse in Russia than it is here. I rather suspect that part of their problems, which Vladimir Putin has likely done something to correct, stem from not having the same rigorously controlled press as we have in this country; albeit long practice of the carefully disguised techniques and the general consolidation has concealed this fact. These internet comments are helping to alleviate the strictures. The Russians are much more likely to prosper under a tight rein than otherwise, with the West eyeing their equity potential, and I don’t think they need the example of the centralisation of this country to convince them.
Henry Percy, London, UK
A reasonable article, albeit balanced by another one comparing Putin to Don Corleone. The only point I'd like to reiterate here is that, yes, Russians are different and do not have much opportunities to learn about the West by themselves. It is written a lot about Russians being vary of the West etc. but why shouldn't they be? Most of Russians have no chance of visiting western countries. The reason for that is not the totalitarian rule in Russia, but a rather deeply ingrained western racism against Russians, who are always viewed as potential illegal immigrants no matter what their circumstances back home are. Recently, my friend, a dentist with a private practice in Moscow, was denied a tourist visa to the UK on the grounds that his desire to visit London with his wife and daughter looked suspicious! This has nothing to do with politics, but just shows hostility towards an average citizen and results in reciprocal mistrust. Russia has opened to the West, the West never reciprocated.
Dmitri, London, UK
Good job Mark, very balanced article!
Max Frolov, Moscow, Russia
Sir,
Surely nationalism & fierce patriotism are a tad euphemistic, how about calling a spade a spade, bullying chauvinism perhaps?
It is surprising how many of our Russian comrades are complaining about our apparent hypocrisy, whilst benefitting from their presence here in the West. Long may they exercise their freedom to criticise the state without fear.
SC, London, United Kingdom
Given Russia's dreadful demographic situation ( male life expectancy the same as in Bangladesh) whatever it is today
it won't be for long. Some projections have it being majority Muslim before 2050.
Oil and gas may cushion Russia's slide into irrelevance but it won't stop it.
Scott Angell, Richmond, Virginia
I am Russian who lives in Canada. Every time I read The Globe and Mail or some other Canadian, US, UK newspapers with articles about Russia I once again get wondered at the way of thinking of journalists from those media. I live in the western country where every peny is earned not so easily. And it is very obviosly that the jouralists and their magazines, newspapers are just partisipating in the PROPAGANDA against Russia to earn money. Mark Franchetti made the very good job to analize the difference between us and westerners. I see a lot of disgusting things in Russia related to freedom, everyday life, and belive me, people in Russia have free discussions about them. However, very often these discussions don't help out to improve situation with all issues. Russians understand that and furiously critisize that; however, we NEVER accept any critique from the West or the East. And do you know why? Because Russia won WWII, not the West, and Russians don't need any advice from the West.
Dmirty, Vancouver, Canada/BC
I do rather sympathise with what Mark in Milan said: what are we meant to conclude from this rather long piece?
Do any of you here actually read Russian newspapers, online or in printed form? Surely views in Russia on government aren't all so black-and-white. Surely, all this about strong leaders is verging on cliché. Does the West want to see a weak (i.e. unstable) Russia? I doubt it.
Are intelligence officers and cleaners really the best people to glean information from? What about interviewing a few more opposition leaders, or businesspeople? If, like Mr Franchetti, you are gifted with a knowledge of the Russian language, you can surely ask questions more widely. Most British reporters are handicapped by a lack of language knowledge.
The major question to my mind is why has Russia, with its enormous natural resources, never managed to get the country moving so that wealth indeed trickles down to the provincial towns and that politics is democratic in the Western sense.
Eric, Blaricum, Netherlands
Personally I don't give a damn what the Russians do provided they don't go bullying smaller countries such as they did recently with Estonia and of course the horrible hypocrisy on display in all their dealings with Chechnya the Ukraine and others. Until they learn not to do this I will think of them in just the same way I think about the Yanks, ........ i.e. thugs who simply take what they want in the guise of doing good. Never mind the hype and the spin let's start judging every country including our own on what they do and not only on what they say, or appear to say.
John, Dundee, UK
Well done Mark and The Times for a change a balanced article, I normally place critical comments when articles are written about issues regarding Russia as they often omit facts and have a clear bias. In fact The Times regularly ensures that my girlfriends blood (who is Russian) is boiling with indignation. This time I have been saved from that. The one point I sometimes feel is missed is the magnitude of Russia’s revival. Think about the time after WWII, it took the Netherlands 15 years to get back on its feet. Now think of Russia a country 500 times bigger then the Netherlands and it has managed to go from economic breakdown to economic power in less then that. Love them or loaf them but that is what I call an impressive achievement by any government and its population. Over the last three years I have got to know Russia and have learned that Marks concluding statement is very true. Russia and the Russians are very different learn to accept it.
Erik, London, UK
Franchetti forgot to tell us what we should conclude from all that? Perhaps that since Russians are different, Russia will never be a civilized democratic country? Lets remember what they said about pre-nazi Germany. Hitler enjoyed popularity too and was even democratically elected. Germans were convinced that their country was surrounded by enemies too (in search for "Lebensraum", remember?). Hitler was seen as "someone who was gradually returning their self-esteem by improving their standard of living and making Germany a player again" too (unemployment disappeared under Hitler, remember?). And "nationalism, fierce patriotism and self-assertion of a former superpower was emerging" too "from very traumatic times of transition" (the Weimarer Republik) "which fuelled two conflicting emotions of a sense of superiority and one of inferiority". Also Germans were searching for the "strongman". And got him. How it all ended is well known... Honestly I've seen smarter articles by Franchetti.
Mark, Milano, Italy
Your article projects your deep understanding of Russia but I think the rehabilitation of Russia is a bit miss characterized. Putin's Russia is not trying to become a superpower again. It's defense policy is almost pacifist, I mean except in rhetoric, and its heavy industry is crumbling and is seen as a liability than an asset. If not blocked by the west Russia would have liked to sell toys like china not fighter jets. If not harassed by the west, Russia would be content to be like Germany or South Korea. On the other hand if the west continues to block it's entry to the WTO, block it's companies from diversifying in to consumer products, we would definitely see a Russian military superpower that asserts itself by contrasting the west and seeks alliances wherever western ideology is suspect. The idea of keeping Russia as supplier of cheap row material is visibly creating a conflict seeking country willing to export arms and nuclear tech. to maintain its technological significance
Alfred, Jamestown, PA
I am Russian who was born in Moscow and live now in the US. I believe that democratization is a slow but very important process. That’s the only way to prevent Kremlin from plotting to make “Russia a player again on the world stage” wich means to indenger the very existance of the West by siding with Iran and other terrorist regims. The West should support the freedom of press and human rights in Russia. The murder of Letvinenko is a crime and Putin personally should be held responsible.
starlev, ny, us
Refreshing to see a western journalist living here not trotting out the usual 'tat' about Russia (e.g. The Economist) Russia, if we define it by its people, isn't that different, (people generally seek to satisfy the same or similar personal needs) but it is different enough to confuse many in the west who expect the world (and especially the white, near-Europe world) to fall in line with their 'accepted' version of history, politics and outlook. After many years here I feel relived to be away from that narrow mindset and in one that is thoughtful, tolerant, largely considerate and, for me, without precedent anywhere in the world. If one defines Russia by its political body then it is as onerous or as laudable as any western political system and the vilification of this one in the western press is merely the propaganda and hypocrisy that is, and has very long been, the west's default attitude towards Russia. The cold war is not returning - it never went away.
Marcus Guest, Moscow, Russia
As a Russian, I can tell you the truth. Most of Russians don't care about politics, no matter who's in power, Brezhnev, Gorbachev, Yeltsin or Putin. Putin just got luck. As an old English proverb goes, he's the right man in the right place. Under him, thanks to the high oil and and gas prices, Russian economy is getting back on track. But one day, if anything wrong happens to Russia and its economy, he or his successors will fall into disgrace like many of his predecessors. I don't want to paint a bleak picture of Russia but poverty remains widespread in Russia, Moscow and St. Petersburg are just showcases of Putin's Russia. However, ordinary people still hope that there is enough money for everyone and one day their life will get better. Under Putin corruption has become a common practice among oficials. Want your son to stay our of army, pay. Want to launch your own business, pay. You must pay through the nose to get every paper you need. So far he's not conducted any reform.
fireyez, Moscow, Russia
Well done Mark. One thing I've learnt from living in Russia is that there are two sides to the coin and both must be considered. What Russians need is more articles of this nature which point out their side of the story, instead of simply just having to fight negative criticism on the back foot.
About Berezovsky, perhaps. But what about Nevzlin? He also intended to cause mayhem at the next election. He has been very quiet.
Alice, Brighton,
I second that opinion James. Very nicely written article and very fair.
A pity that most other articles on this topic are written by people who grew up on Ian Flemming and Frederick Forsyth and never even saw the land beyond the "Iron curtain" and went on to vilify it in first person accounts that had nothing to do with the real people living there. This article shares the sentiments of the people and brings forth the ground realities, not something 'Fox News' type of journalists have learned to do ever.
Kaytee, Mangalore,
thanks for the article. something fair and not predictable russophobic anti-russia propaganda coming for the times, for a change.
Im russian living abroad. Could not agree more with above comment. Finally a single journalist in Times who understands what he is talking about.
mike, asia,
The democracy advocated by the west is a system that allowes systematic exploitation of the natural resources of the country .A system that advocates safeguard of onece wealth and society is a dictatorship.Russia is the best example.
joe, London, UK
People of Russia tell one thing and author of this article tells another thing. 70% of Russians like what Putin did and author says that it’s all media propaganda brain washed people's mind. Well, being Russian myself, I can tell you that you will not find more skeptical people on this planet than Russians. We all know communist propaganda and I can see it right away when I see it. Now living in USA I can tell you that US/British propaganda is worse than Soviet could ever be.
In fact every point you bring in this article is a result of such propaganda. You have been brainwashed by Western Media because every single point you maid I hear on TV every day. There was not a single report or program that would try to state over wise or at least doubt media hysteria about present Russia.
You in UK are hiding aligarh who stole from Russia, you are hiding Chechn warlord who killed innosent people in Budenovsk (taking pregnant women hostages) its all your western hypocrasy.
russian, new york, usa
thanks for the article. something fair and not predictable russophobic anti-russia propaganda coming for the times, for a change.
james, new york, ny