Is there such thing as Russian liberal? – Anastasiia Bakulina explores. Suspilne Culture

In the project “No brotherhood – there wasn't one, isn't and will never be,” Suspilne Culture publishes opinions of Ukrainian creative and cultural actors on the years (and sometimes centuries) of Russia's attempts to destroy the Ukrainian identity.

We publish both Ukrainian and English versions of these texts. The issue of Russia's informational aggression has been part of the Ukrainians' daily discourse, which moved front and center following the 2014 Maidan Revolution. It is now vital that this context is shared abroad to show that the war with Russian influence did not start over just a week.

CEO of "Svidomi" online media, Anastasiia Bakulina, explains how so-called Russian liberals reacted to the invasion of Ukraine and if such a concept as "Russian liberal" can even exist.

Ukrainian version is available here.

Translated from Ukrainian by Inna Makohonova.

Despite eight years of war in the east of Ukraine and the occupation of Crimea, Russian content was on the top of every conceivable chart in Ukraine. As an example, according to Google, the most popular video on Ukrainian YouTube in 2021 was the investigation of so-called Russian oppositionist Oleksii Navalnyi "Palace for Putin. Story of the biggest bribe". At the Top-10 of video content in Ukraine, seven videos were from Russian bloggers and artists.

All these eight years, a question popped up in the Ukrainian infosphere: "When do we get to the point after which Ukrainians stop consuming Russian content?" One would think that it happened on February 24th when Russia launched a full-scale attack on our border. Nevertheless, in literally a few days, I've noticed my friends sharing on social media the post of Russian blogger and "liberal" Yurii Dud. In it, he tells about "innocent Russians" and evil Putin, who they didn't choose (apparently).

In Ukrainian space Yurii Dud takes up a little less space than Navalnyi and a little more than Morgenstern. For a part of Ukrainian youth, Yurii Dud is evidence of the existence of Russian liberalism. But does it even exist, and who is a Russian liberal?

Until 2014 in the Russian infosphere, Ukraine existed only as a "younger brother with a funny language". Ukrainian and Russian music scenes were closely intertwined. However, after the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2014 part of Russian cultural and political personalities created the concept of "Russian liberal". Meaning someone whose narrative looks like: "we are pro-peace", "it's politicians' internal conflict", and "both sides are to blame". In 2014 Russian liberal could agree that Crimea was occupied illegally. But if asked "When will you give Crimea back?" the most you could hope for was "Well, it isn't a sandwich to give back and forth". Also, "liberals" didn't admit that the Russian army was fighting in the east of Ukraine. The narrative of "rebels" suited them just fine. The best they could muster was saying that these rebels were backed and sponsored by Russia.

So, Russian liberal in 2014 — "We, of course, want peace, but won't give back Crimea and no, there are no Russian troops in the east of Ukraine". Evidently, this narrative is no different from the one spread by the Russian government.

Two months ago, when the Russian Federation began the full-scale invasion, so-called liberals even more actively began to further the idea of impossibility of changing the establishment, all while shouting "What atrocities Russia commits!". As if to say: look, we go out to protest, they throw us behind bars, but nothing changes.

And when the USA and Europe started to implement sanctions against Russia and leave the Russian market, these liberals, in a spirit of "progressiveness and freedom", started to posturize as victims.

As an example, "oppositional" politician and blogger Ksenia Sobchak on her Instagram page (to which she posts using a VPN now) tells that "we are first and foremost humans, and should remain humane". If you thought that Sobchak wrote this about Russian soldiers raping minors, I'm sorry to disappoint you. It's about Ksenia condemning the aggression of Ukrainians towards "innocent Russians".

"The worst, the people who are against war can do is to start judging who tried to help more and who less, who cried for real and who only pretended" — Sobchak writes on her Instagram.

If you go through what Ksenia has posted in the last two months, is would seem like the cruel West attacked Russia and took brands and McDonald's away from poor people. Part of her posts is dedicated to calls for support of Russian businesses, so people can earn money. That is to say that Sobchak outright asks to support the businesses that pay taxes to Russian Federation, which will use this money for an army that will invade Ukrainian land, kill Ukrainian men, and rape Ukrainian women.

One more Russian "oppositionist" popular in the Ukrainian media landscape is Maksym Kats. This specimen of "Russian liberalism" felt so at home here that the TV channel "Ukraine 24" even asks him to appear on-air and "Mirror Weekly" writes news articles based on his commentary.

At the first glance, Maksym Kats seems like a "silver lining" of the existence of liberalism in Russia. Nevertheless, he holds views similar to Sobchak's. Full-scale invasion by his county Kats sees as a situation where "from Russian weapons die Ukrainians and Russians, Russian-speaking civilians, Ukrainian and Russian soldiers". At the same time, he thinks that "the entire country is held hostage" by one insane person.

How does Maksym Kats see the solution to this? It's very simple: Putin should call off the troops. Simultaneously, this liberalism apologist doesn't believe that Putin will stop. That's why he advises civilians to talk it out, so the reconciliation comes as soon as possible.

But even so-called Russian oppositionist doesn't think that Russians are to blame. In an interview by blogger Ramina, Kats invokes the fault of the country, clearly avoiding mentioning "Russian people". In the interview, Maksym Kats threatens with the continuation of Russian aggression if Ukrainians won't stop blaming Russians.

"If Russia will feel humiliated, its army beaten and killed, running away, then it'll prompt a war" — states Kats.

So, Russian liberal in 2022 — seemingly a victim of Putin's regime that tries to protect millions of Russians, that are against the war (but for some reason won't go out to protest) and innocent (but afraid to say anything). At the same time, these representatives of "liberalism" try to posturize as victims of "rough Western sanctions", deny any responsibility for their country and ask Ukrainians to be nice to them.

It's clearly stated in the Ukrainian constitution: "The people are the bearers of sovereignty and the only source of power in Ukraine". We are deeply aware of it. We protested in 2004 and in 2014. We fought against arbitrary treatment in courts and demanded fair investigations. We are our power. The president and ministers are simply representatives of our interests.

Simultaneously, Russia has no nation, just a multimillion bunch of broken-spirited victims afraid of a single person. There is no resistance in Russia, only ten people running away from one police officer. Russia has no opposition, only oppositionists who can't oppose.

So, does Russian liberal exist?

Russian liberal ends where the interests of Ukraine begin. And therefore Russian liberal does not exist.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Suspilne Culture.

Does Russian liberal exist? — explores Anastasiia Bakulina

Further reading