Photo: EPA / TASS
Journalist Dmitry Muratov, in an interview with the BBC talked about the split in Russia amid the attack on Ukraine and its future.
"Two generations lived without a nuclear threat. Consider this era to be over. We don't know if Putin will press the button now. There is not a single person who would say with confidence that he would not press," - said Dmitry Muratov "The era of safety from nuclear war is gone."
"We see how Russian propaganda is preparing the people that a nuclear war is not bad. Sometimes the propaganda of nuclear war and retaliatory weapons goes the same as advertising food for cats and dogs. People in Russia were exposed to propaganda. Propaganda is a kind of radiation. There are no nations that would not be subject to propaganda - this is not only a feature of the Russian people.
Propaganda is 12 channels, and tens of thousands of newspapers. We have always thought that the Internet is about freedom, and TV is about dictatorship, the journalist adds.
It turned out not. For example, VKontakte works entirely for the benefit of the state ideology.
I believe that 2/3 of the people are for peace negotiations and for peace. And most of these people are young. Putin has a huge base of support - and these are the elderly. People who consider Putin to be their grandson: non-drinking, athletic, and beautiful, who will protect them. He congratulates them on the New Year, on May 9, and every month brings a pension. These people believe that their grandchildren must fight and die.
We have a split between the young and the old generation. I see that the young, educated generation - almost a million people have left, and many of those who are here are categorically against such relations with the world and Ukraine. They are against the hell that Russia has arranged for Ukraine. And I am absolutely sure: as soon as the propaganda shuts up, this generation and sane people will say “everythingâ€."
Muratov believes there will never again be any relations between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples, and Ukraine will never be able to come to terms with this tragedy.
"In Russia, in my opinion, the political persecution of all regime opponents will continue. Russia will completely abandon Article 29 of the Russian Constitution - on freedom of opinion, assembly, expression, and lack of censorship, as well as other articles in the constitution that speak of human rights and freedoms and free elections. There will be no free elections here.
There is hope in the new generation that has appeared in Russia. This is a generation with great empathy, and excellent education, a generation that sees the world as a friend, not an enemy, and wants Russia to be loved and Russia to love the world. And I have only hope for this generation: they will outlive both Putin and me."
