You're infantilizating the russian population. Political satirical TV shows in the 90s (remember this was before the internet) easily rivaled what you would see even on current US TV. Yet most russians were happy to accept a clampdown on independent TV and reelected putin in 2004 (generally considered a free and fair election). And they were OK with the comical medvedev seat warming exercise in 2008, not to mention putin's formal return in 2012.

The russians would never back any political force that would reject imperialism or even acknowledge russian crimes. Even the alleged "opposition" in the form of Navalniy's gang is deeply committed to imperialism.

In real life everybody is to blame, it’s just a question of proportions.

This is a non-sequitur. The ultimate responsibility for the state of russian politics lies on the russians themselves.

It's about the choices they make. There is nothing inherent to russian society/culture that would justify such a state of affairs.

[–] rottingleaf@lemmy.world 1 points 2 hours ago

You’re infantilizating the russian population. Political satirical TV shows in the 90s (remember this was before the internet) easily rivaled what you would see even on current US TV. Yet most russians were happy to accept a clampdown on independent TV and reelected putin in 2004 (generally considered a free and fair election). And they were OK with the comical medvedev seat warming exercise in 2008, not to mention putin’s formal return in 2012.

This whole paragraph does not contradict what I said, but your tone seems to suggest it does.

Also those satirical TV shows were all basically crying wildly that bad things are coming. Said bad things came. So?

Anyway, this doesn't make the Russian population any more or less infantile than the Ukrainian population.

The russians would never back any political force that would reject imperialism or even acknowledge russian crimes. Even the alleged “opposition” in the form of Navalniy’s gang is deeply committed to imperialism.

That political force was dissolved after its key figures were murdered or ridiculed on TV 24/7 in the late 90s and early 00s. It definitely existed.

Also Navalny's ideas have changed a lot over time. If you are referring to his "Crimea is not a sandwich" statement, it's just correct - international law has such a thing as right of self-determination, regardless of what Ukrainian laws say. The fact of military aggression doesn't negate that right.

This is a non-sequitur. The ultimate responsibility for the state of russian politics lies on the russians themselves.

My cousins' father is from Artsakh, Ukrainian politicians congratulated Azeris with their crimes. I couldn't care less what Ukrainians have to say on responsibility after that. Try following your own declared principles first. Otherwise it's not even funny.

It’s about the choices they make. There is nothing inherent to russian society/culture that would justify such a state of affairs.

People are responsible to the degree the structure of power is affected by their choices. Said structure right now is affected negligibly by most of the Russian population.