Arresting dissidents and demonstrators wasn’t enough. Shutting down independent news outlets and rights groups wasn’t enough. Monitoring social media content wasn’t even enough. Broadening the definition of “extremist” activity didn’t quite do the trick either. In spite of all of the Kremlin’s onerous restrictions, people in Russia are still finding ways to search out the truth.

So on Friday, the upper house of Russia’s Parliament approved a bill providing for punishment of individuals “deliberately searching for and accessing extremist materials.” [Associated Press, July 25, 2025.] The bill is set to be signed into law by President Vladimir Putin . . . who no doubt “suggested” it to the legislature in the first place.

Russian officials say that ordinary internet users won’t be affected by the law, and that it is intended to root out those who “methodically seek outlawed content” . . . though there was no explanation as to how the distinction would be made. [Id.]

Despite their assurances, there is nothing to stop the government censors from monitoring the online searches of any individual. Even accidentally stumbling across an “undesirable” website while doing research for a class project or in the course of one’s employment would be enough of an excuse for an arrest.

Thus far, the penalty under the new law is only a fine of up to the equivalent of $64. But there are hundreds of political prisoners already serving extended sentences on more serious charges that mysteriously materialized after their initial detainment for minor misdeeds.

George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” referred to Big Brother’s enforcers as the “Thought Police.” And in today’s cyber-driven environment, keeping one’s innermost thoughts to oneself is nearly impossible. Make no mistake: Big Brother is alive and well in the Kremlin, and his Thought Police are out there.

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Of course, this is not a surprising development in light of Putin’s history of totalitarian rule. But that’s Russia. It couldn’t happen here in the United States.

Oh . . . really? If you don’t see it happening already, then you must have had your head buried in the sand for the past six months.

Surely you’ve heard of ICE’s brutal immigration raids; U.S. Marines being called in to break up peaceful demonstrations; elimination of DEI programs; the blackmailing of media outlets, universities, and law firms; firing of people who dare to criticize the administration; decimation of government agencies responsible for the health, welfare and safety of the public; elimination of social safety nets for the most vulnerable of our citizens; the disgraceful subservience of the Congress and the Supreme Court to a single authoritarian with a God complex; and the contravention of the U.S. Constitution itself.

And you still don’t believe it can happen here?

Are you willing to bet your life on that?

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
7/28/25