• aubeynarf@lemmynsfw.com
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    5 days ago

    When Russian citizens understand there are direct consequences to them, Russian citizens stop supporting Putin’s actions.

      • DdCno1@beehaw.org
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        5 days ago

        Dictators need the support of their citizens as well. None of them have truly unlimited power.

        Every single one of them has to keep people both afraid and happy enough to maintain control. This includes various domestic interest groups (from peasants to members of the military) as well as influential individuals (a small number of key cadres, media figures, intellectuals and generals), in addition to foreign powers. It’s a constant and highly dangerous balancing act, because if there is one thing that is exceptionally rare among autocratic regimes, it’s a peaceful transition of power. No “president for life” wants to share the fate of Muammar Gaddafi.

        You people have been shouting that he’s a dictator

        Yes, because he is one. Nobody in their right mind would deny this.

        since your owners told you to hate Russians.

        This is ridiculous. So people in the free West are slaves now? And no, we don’t hate Russians, just Putin, his cronies, his soldiers who murder and rape their way through Ukraine - and his lap dogs who are busy regurgitating primitive “russophobia” propaganda talking points, either for free or in the vain hope that they don’t get sent in the meat grinder.

    • koper@feddit.nl
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      5 days ago

      Putin couldn’t care less about the support from some random programmers. Be realistic, what do you expect them to do? Take up arms? Protest and get imprisoned? Vote in the sham elections?

      Targeting random civilians in hopes of political change is the strategy of terrorists.