An article by RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty (rferl.org) caught my eye yesterday. The header read:

“Punishment for ‘Russophobia’ To Be Added To Russian Criminal Code.”

Well, that sounded as though the Russian people were now going to be punished for being afraid of . . . whom? . . . themselves? That made no sense. And reading on, hoping for clarity, I found only further obfuscation:

“Russian authorities plan to amend the Criminal Code by adding punishment for ‘Russophobia,’ defined as discrimination against Russian citizens and residents of the Russian Federation by foreigners and foreign officials abroad or calls for such actions.” [RFE/RL, September 23, 2024.]

Did you catch that: “ . . . by foreigners and foreign officials abroad . . .” ??!!!

So I wondered whether that meant that, by sitting here in the comfort of my own home in the United States and writing the truth about the Putin regime, I could be tried in absentia in Moscow and convicted of something that is not and never has been a crime where I “committed” it. And it turns out, that is exactly what it does mean.

Well, when that law goes into effect (as it almost certainly will), add one more point of pride to my resume: Wanted Criminal (but only in Russia).

Me . . . and countless millions of others.

But the language of the proposed new law hasn’t been finalized yet. For one thing, the draft as approved by the Cabinet said that the punishment for this new crime would be the “barring of convicted individuals from occupying certain posts and conducting certain activities in Russia.” But someone in the government realized that didn’t make sense, as the law was meant to affect only individuals living outside of Russia. [Id.]

Glad they caught that one, since the Cabinet apparently can’t tell a local from a foreigner.

As presently drafted, the law also fails to specify what is considered “discrimination” of Russian citizens and residents. Perhaps that was left intentionally obscure to allow maximum latitude to the courts in determining guilt.

Did I say “perhaps”?? Hell, just look at the people who have been convicted of high treason for “insulting the Russian military,” or simply criticizing the government. One dual U.S.-Russian citizen, Ksenia Karelina, a legal resident of Los Angeles, California, is in a Russian prison now for having contributed — in the United States — $51.80 to a charity that offers assistance to victims of the war in Ukraine. (She made the mistake of going to visit family in Russia, where she was promptly arrested.)

Who needs specifics when you have a president who seems to have a phobia of Russophobia?

Vladimir Putin has publicly spoken of the West’s “cancellation of the Russian culture”; and officials in the Foreign Ministry, among others, have labeled Western sanctions imposed since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine an “expression of Russophobia.” [Id.]

So we — that would be everyone outside of Russia — are now to be judged by the Russian government for being critical of any member of the government, from Putin on down to the Kremlin cleaning staff, or presumably of any and all things that might be considered part of the “Russian culture.”

*. *. *

I think I’m in big trouble. Because I believe Putin is as corrupt a despot as ever lived; Dmitry Medvedev is a crazed, war-mongering lunatic; Sergey Lavrov needs a facelift; the war in Ukraine is illegal; and I hate borshch. In fact, I hate beets. Period.

So sue me.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
9/24/24