Thank you Diane for excellent reporting. Putin is also using the Wagner group to clean out jail cells with his dissidents. Given Putin's terrorist regime coupled with ties to the Wagner group it makes me wonder why is the UN still recognizing Russia as a member and with veto powers. Let's hope a revolution within Russia materializes and soon. Kudos to Zelensky for singling out the treatment of Muslims (and possibly other minorities) within Russia.
As usual, Diane, an excellent piece on a long-overlooked but timely and important issue. In fact - just like it took decades, even centuries, for many of the more populous "captive nations" (within the recognized boundaries of their separate "soviet republics") to take advantage of an opportunity for independence - this war is offering the same opportunities for the smaller "federation" minorities. The pot is beginning to boil, and it is likely that nothing short of stalinist repression can stop it. But the strength and motivation in Russia to do so may no longer be there.
However, your blog raises an interesting question and fails to address the inevitable geopolitical policy implications resulting therefrom. The question - if your stats on the predominant presence of Tartars and other repressed (especially muslim) minorities in the Russian forces are correct - then why are we not seeing larger numbers of desertions or the "fragging" of Russian officers? The Tartars, in particular, have a recent memory of their forced exile to Tatarstan, and Ukrainians have been their liberators and protectors. Should Ukraine be far more aggressive in inspiring insurrection and mutinies, especially in Russian armies?
And the unaddressed policy issue is the same that western leaders had to address when they woke up one morning in the early 1990's and discovered more than a dozen nations had replaced the one with which they had to contend (and with which they were comfortable). Will they do as bad a job (eg Bush's appeal to Ukrainians to continue submission to Moscow's lead) and merely stand by while various neighboring states start scrambling to acquire land and resources during the "fire sale" of the century, or discredit democracy and the free market system as a better alternative?
Good questions, yet when I ask why the relatively westernized inhabitants of Moscow and St. Petersburg seem so unresponsive, the answer I read is that we really cannot fathom the depth to which they are "depoliticized." since long before the Revolution in 1917 and ever since, far worse under the Soviets, they have been trained not to notice, not to look up. (This makes the courage of those who do stand and speak, like Navalny and others, all the more extraordinary.) But then we look at the numerous other republics in the vast hinterland, and try something obvious like looking at the road network - it's practically non-existent! Ditto the rail network, apart from the Trans-Siberian which now I regret not traveling when I was young and dumb. They are just so cut off. And then there's the alcohol! I asked my friend Christer (Swedish) the most important thing to do business in Moscow; he said: "An iron liver." I can imagine those other regions wanting independence and even getting it, but I find it very hard to imagine any of them as democracies. I could be wrong though, so live in hope of that.
Trudeau have $500 billion to Ukraine just now. A generous gift worth mentioning. Also Canada home to huge number of Ukrainians as Trudeau just said. So Canada has done much for Ukaine
Oops Diane corected me. It is $500 million not billion. also will give military training. Canada second largest diaspora in world for Ukrainians. Good artcle on this in to-days Globe and Mail which says Canada could do more by supplying more military aid.
Its time to revive the "evil empire" designation for the Russian 'federation'. Keep the information coming Diane. Historically liberation wars are determined on the ground, not at talk fests like the League of Nations or the UN.
Thank you Diane for excellent reporting. Putin is also using the Wagner group to clean out jail cells with his dissidents. Given Putin's terrorist regime coupled with ties to the Wagner group it makes me wonder why is the UN still recognizing Russia as a member and with veto powers. Let's hope a revolution within Russia materializes and soon. Kudos to Zelensky for singling out the treatment of Muslims (and possibly other minorities) within Russia.
As usual, Diane, an excellent piece on a long-overlooked but timely and important issue. In fact - just like it took decades, even centuries, for many of the more populous "captive nations" (within the recognized boundaries of their separate "soviet republics") to take advantage of an opportunity for independence - this war is offering the same opportunities for the smaller "federation" minorities. The pot is beginning to boil, and it is likely that nothing short of stalinist repression can stop it. But the strength and motivation in Russia to do so may no longer be there.
However, your blog raises an interesting question and fails to address the inevitable geopolitical policy implications resulting therefrom. The question - if your stats on the predominant presence of Tartars and other repressed (especially muslim) minorities in the Russian forces are correct - then why are we not seeing larger numbers of desertions or the "fragging" of Russian officers? The Tartars, in particular, have a recent memory of their forced exile to Tatarstan, and Ukrainians have been their liberators and protectors. Should Ukraine be far more aggressive in inspiring insurrection and mutinies, especially in Russian armies?
And the unaddressed policy issue is the same that western leaders had to address when they woke up one morning in the early 1990's and discovered more than a dozen nations had replaced the one with which they had to contend (and with which they were comfortable). Will they do as bad a job (eg Bush's appeal to Ukrainians to continue submission to Moscow's lead) and merely stand by while various neighboring states start scrambling to acquire land and resources during the "fire sale" of the century, or discredit democracy and the free market system as a better alternative?
this was a scene-setter for a number of pieces to come
Good questions, yet when I ask why the relatively westernized inhabitants of Moscow and St. Petersburg seem so unresponsive, the answer I read is that we really cannot fathom the depth to which they are "depoliticized." since long before the Revolution in 1917 and ever since, far worse under the Soviets, they have been trained not to notice, not to look up. (This makes the courage of those who do stand and speak, like Navalny and others, all the more extraordinary.) But then we look at the numerous other republics in the vast hinterland, and try something obvious like looking at the road network - it's practically non-existent! Ditto the rail network, apart from the Trans-Siberian which now I regret not traveling when I was young and dumb. They are just so cut off. And then there's the alcohol! I asked my friend Christer (Swedish) the most important thing to do business in Moscow; he said: "An iron liver." I can imagine those other regions wanting independence and even getting it, but I find it very hard to imagine any of them as democracies. I could be wrong though, so live in hope of that.
Lets hope more countries stand up to Putin and join Ukraine in genocide lawsuit. https://news.yahoo.com/32-countries-join-ukraines-genocide-202147583.html
Very interesting thank you
helpful and informative, you provide more reality and perspective than most media outlets
I agree - he’s a green zealot with no smarts
Trudeau have $500 billion to Ukraine just now. A generous gift worth mentioning. Also Canada home to huge number of Ukrainians as Trudeau just said. So Canada has done much for Ukaine
$500 million not billion
Canadas a laggard as I wrote last Canada’s Mediocracy
Yes $500 million Why won't Canada help with Europe's energy needs? Green lobby at work?But it has world's second largest Ukrainian diaspora
Oops Diane corected me. It is $500 million not billion. also will give military training. Canada second largest diaspora in world for Ukrainians. Good artcle on this in to-days Globe and Mail which says Canada could do more by supplying more military aid.
Its time to revive the "evil empire" designation for the Russian 'federation'. Keep the information coming Diane. Historically liberation wars are determined on the ground, not at talk fests like the League of Nations or the UN.
Thank you.....looking forward to reading them.