Even Pro-War Z Bloggers Now Talking about ‘Pre-Revolutionary Situation’ in Russia

Paul Goble

            Staunton, Mar. 3 – Over the last month, Ivan Filippov of the Vot-Tak TV says, ever more pro-war Z bloggers are talking about the possibility of a coup in Moscow now that they say Russia is in “a pre-revolutionary situation;” and some of them are planning to emigrate because life in Russia is becoming ever more repressive and victories at the front far between.

            In language that rivals or even exceeds that of self-identified opponents of the Kremlin, the TV journalist says, “’the passionate patriots’ in the most direct sense of the word do not see any indication that the situation could improve and instead think that there can be no doubt that it is going to get worse” (vot-tak.tv/92208231/z-rossiya-predrevolucionnaya-situatsiya).

            Filipov gives as an example the following observation by a member of the Dontstopwar channel: “Over the past few months, the country has been experiencing a very disturbing sense of a shift in direction. It feels like, instead of development, we've embarked on a course of total restrictions, and this can't be a simple coincidence. It feels like well-planned sabotage."

            Indeed, this Z blogger says, “Every new day brings either a new ban or a new piece of bad news. And the Z-community views each such event as a "link in a f**king chain"—as part of a conspiracy by some unknown enemies who have infiltrated every level of the Russian government and are now trying, with all their might, to ‘destabilize the country.’”

            The blogger gives as example of this “the Telegram ban, constant mobile internet outages in Moscow and major cities, the slaughter of farm animals in Siberia, new and new bans devised by the State Duma, the lack of significant progress on the front lines and any military victories, and, most importantly, the endless lies.”

            Many are not paying attention, he continues, because Russian television “which paints a picture of a blissful life in a country at peace, is lying. It only takes 30 seconds for television to report on the missile strike on Bryansk, and it's not even worth mentioning that veterinarians and security forces are forcibly taking cows from hapless farmers in Siberia.”

            Filippov gives a variety of other examples, but he stresses what may be the most important point: “Just like liberal publications, the Z authors raise the question: why can’t the powers simply speak with people in a human way by explaining and answering questions. Why does the system presuppose only two possible ways of interacting: lies or force?”

            Unlike most liberal commentators, the Z bloggers want the war to continue and are criticizing the Kremlin for its ineffectiveness and failure to achieve victory. But the fact that even supporters of Putin’s criminal war are now criticizing him and it and talking about “a revolutionary situation” certainly suggests that Putin is facing ever more difficult challenges.