Anyone Who Says Russia isn’t the Most Humane and Free Country in the World Will Soon be Sentenced to 15 Years in the Camps, Russians Say

Paul Goble

            Staunton, May 12 – The Duma is about to enact the greatest of all oxymorons, Russians say. The deputies want to enact an amendment to the criminal code that will send those guilty of publicly or privately expressing doubts that Russia is the most human and free country in the sworld to 15 years in the camps.

            That is just one of the anecdotes now circulating in Russia that have been collected by Moscow journalist Tatyana Pushkaryova (publizist.ru/blogs/107374/45796/-). Among the best of the rest are the following:

·       Russians put bumper stickers on their cars declaring “To Berlin.” They don’t ever put any that say “To Bakhmut” because they “don’t want to repeat” that battle.

·       Prigozhin would set new ratings on Russian television if he were allowed to speak to the Duma in an uncensored fashion. That’s probably why he won’t be.

·       The Kremlin is using exactly the same slogans the Nazis used in May 1933 when the latter began burning books: “A decent state involves a decent family,” “educate the youth in the spirit of true patriotism,” and “no falsification of national history” let us honor the past.”

·       Soon anyone who can read and understand what they read will be declared an enemy of the regime and imprisoned just for reading unless they limit themselves to the leader’s biography or collections of his best jokes.

·       A pensioner who said Ukrainian President Zelensky is a handsome young man was fined 40,000 rubles (500 US dollars) for discrediting the Russian army. Indeed, those who ask whether there is anything that doesn’t discredit the Russian army are doing so merely by asking.

·       Artificial intelligence cannot become the president of Russia because no intellect in principle can become president of that country.