Western Perception of Russia Is Totally Wrong
Author journeyed to Russia (including Crimea) and found a country very different from that portrayed by Western media
Despite its length, this blog post is an excellent summary of what kind of country Russia really is today, and what is wrong with the relations between Russia and the West (and indeed between the West and the rest of the world).
This piece originally appeared at Logon-Echon.com. Translated from the German by Thomas Trautzsch
My fascination with Russia results among other things from a glaring discrepancy between the Russia, which I am experiencing on site and the representation of it in the German media. For me this is giving rise to an almost ethical obligation, to travel this country and to report on it, but moreover, also to animate others to visit Russia in order for them to make up their own minds and to witness by themselves how wrong our media are in their reporting.
While Russia is described in Germany as a dictatorship under a homophobic dictator Putin, who is a megalomaniac and driven by the lowest instincts of power to reestablish the Soviet Union, I am experiencing Russia as a country at the start of its rise, which just now is recovering from its historic percussions. By saying this, I am not only referring to the barbarous invasion by the German fascists, which cost 27 Million people their lives and nor do I only mean the era of Stalinism, but rather the neoliberal march under Yeltsin, which put the country economically into shambles.
This era was by the way also assisted by the late Boris Nemzov, who was murdered right in front of the Kremlin in February. He among others drove the radical free-market policies forward in Russia and was subsequently punished for this in nearly all the following elections. His liberal party of right forces was failing on a regular basis. It is still entirely unclear to me, how this man could have been hyped as a serious politician of the opposition by the Mainstream Media, as it was the case right after his murder. Nemzov was and is extremely unpopular because of his non-solidary economic policies and his 1% Party was by no means any political threat to Putin or anybody else in political Russia for that matter. Yet, if one read the German Press at the time, then the impression was generated that half of Russia was backing him. An unbelievable Distortion of Facts, which have nothing to do with proper Journalism whatsoever.
In the nineties Yeltsin had a policy, which was very similar to the policy of today’s Wolfgang Schäuble and the European Union in Greece, with absolutely similar results: The complete impoverishment of a large part of the population, while at the same time a very few people got ever richer. It was the hour of the oligarchs, which was striking in Russia back then. Today their hour is striking in Germany, Europe and the USA. The times of Russian oligarchs are mostly over. The Forbes-List can be easily consulted about this matter. The upper ranks are occupied by Americans, followed by Germans and only at place 60 the first Russian surfaces.
The Projection of Oligarchism onto Russia seems like a mirror reflection to me. We see something shining there, which we ignore in our own country and society.
But back to my travel. This time my visit not only brought me to Moscow, but also to Saint Petersburg and Yalta on the Crimea.
The first thing, which I noticed was the sheer incredible amount of construction work, as I was stumbling over a steel beam right after the passport control. Already at my last visit, the Airport Domodedovo was a huge single construction site, but this time the construction work was even more intensive. The drive with the Airport Express to the City Center was also impregnates with images of vast construction work. Tracks were being laid, new bridges built, roads were being paved. It even was becoming a little wilder in Moscow itself, as it seemed that virtually every pavement was ripped open. Especially in the city center, those are just being widened, the roads are narrowed and cycle paths are being built. Amazingly, all this happens around the clock, as work is going on day and night. There is construction going on everywhere, public buildings are renovated or built and old ones are being torn down.
Strictly orthodox economists should be driven to insanity by this, as everyone knows that Russia is in an economic crisis right now, due to western sanctions. According to orthodox economic views austerity should be the law of the land now. Most obviously this is neither done by Moscow nor by Saint Petersburg and the Crimea also starts slowly with government-financed construction projects. It literally smells like anti-cyclic economic policies and Keynes.
But those who know, how difficult it is for Europe to deal with Keynes and generally with economic alternatives to the tristesse of the German lack of alternatives - and who follow the processes in Greece and who see, how a German Minister of Finance would rather send the European idea to its doom, instead of allowing some reasonable ecomomic policies to take place - those will know that Russia with the orientation of its economic policies is not making friends in a Europe, which is leaning more and more to the right.
But actually it hasn’t got to be that way. On my journey I also got the impression that Russia is temporarily finished with Europe. There were many attempts by Russia to engage in closer relationships with Europe, which often were arrogantly rejected by the West. Even the Nato-Russia-Council is not taking place anymore, an institution, which was designed to keep the dialog going in times of crisis. NATO broke up this dialog. Russia swallowed one insult after the other, accepted every affront and all the arrogance with equanimity. But now, the west has overstretched the bow. Incredibly patient Russia has turned away from Europe.
This was very visible during my visit in Saint Petersburg. Of course a visit to the Hermitage was mandatory. Besides all the beauty of the Hermitage and its exhibits one thing was very striking: The masses of Indian and Chinese tourists, while European groups were heavily under-represented. Tours around the Kremlin are also more frequented by groups from the BRICS Countries than by those from Europe. Documentations about China are running all over the TV stations and even Russian Pop Icons like Nyusha und Vera Brechneva avail themselves of Indian Style in their Video Clips. The big Topic is BRICS and not the European Union or Angela Merkel. Presumably, this is hard to conceive, because we consider ourselves the center of the world, but that is really the way it is.
It is undeniable that Europe has wasted tremendous opportunities and is still wasting them. In a mélange of arrogance and unbelievable disrespect Germany and Europe are missing out on a development, which is preparing for a new world order and they continue riding the dead horse of the transatlantic alliance. Indeed the attacks against the BRICS countries are increasing, as it is not only Russia, which is being despised. In Brazil a right-wing conservative upper crust is heavily agitating by means of mass media against the President Dilma Rousseff and her socialist workers party. Presumably, there is money flowing, but in any case support for this is coming from the USA. And that the USA has also chosen China as their new enemy is no secret. Actually, everything, which is not the USA is an enemy of the USA, and even on this one the USA is not so sure about it. This is the typical anxiety disorder of a dying empire.
The BRICS Countries are Home to 40% of the world’s population. This alliance has an unbelievable potential, which can unfold itself only in a limited way within the current economic warfare. However, this potential can’t be suppressed forever. Europe and especially Germany should be very attentively observing this development. A stoic loyalty, as it is practiced at the moment by Europe and Germany, is absolutely wrongheaded.
We came with a historic speed train, Krasnaya Strela (red arrow), to Saint Petersburg, which has operated since 1931. We traveled back to Moscow by train as well, but this time with the Sapsan (peregrine falcon), built by Siemens, which has connected the metropolises since 2009 and for which Siemens has a 30 Year Service and Maintenance Contract. Unfortunately there are sanctions and we will see how this will develop further.
There was one train attendant for each wagon in both trains. Generally, the staff is all around. This leads to one of the lowest unemployment rates in Europe. It currently lingers around 5.3% and this is in times of crisis, while according to its own self-perception booming Germany is counting 6.6% by means of a doctored statistic. The fact that Germany considers itself in a boom with an estimated growth rate of 1.7% this year has grown to a running joke outside of German borders. In contrast to Germany, social security and especially its implementation are core issues of Russian politics.
The opposite to Russia in this respect are of course the USA. Never in my life I have seen so much poverty, which stand in stark cynical contrast to the much celebrated wealth there in the USA. One can clearly see, how a completely de-solidarized society disintegrates. Not hundreds, but thousands are just living in the streets in Skid Row, a district of Los Angeles. It is a deeply disturbing picture, which presents itself right there. I don’t need to mention, which skin color is prevailing most in Skid Row. A few miles away Hollywood is shining and entertains the world community with narcotic nonsense. The American society is obscene in a very deep way. If we don’t manage to break with the transatlantic alliance, then this will be the European doom as well.
The fact that this disintegrated society can only be held together by violence was very obvious in Miami. This city is obviously governed by police, which is omnipresent and does not feel obliged to act in accordance with law and rules. So did it happen that someday 10 policemen just marched passed me across the Hotel Lobby and the Hotel-owned pool just to leave the private property at the other side. Without asking permission, without any notification, just like that. Nobody except me thought this was strange, which goes to show, how much the Americans are already weaned from anything, which has to do with democracy and the rule of law. Well, just like in a police state.
In a very strange twist of facts it is insinuated that Russia applies these practices, which are actually the norm in the USA. My first and only encounter with Russian police to date went completely different to my police encounters in the USA. We were just reminded, that it is not allowed to drink vodka in the streets. We were asked to hide the bottle, because otherwise they would also become thirsty for a sip, the policeman said while his companion in the back nodded in agreement and smiled friendly. We just did it and were wished a joyful evening. In Miami, one probably would have been strongly tasered first, before being talked to.
But back to Russia. My Journey also brought me to the Crimea. I had picked Yalta for a destination. I flew together with my friend Dmitry from Moscow to Simferopol. The Airport there is way too small for the load it has to carry now. On the other hand, the train station of Simferopol has become too big in the meantime. In earlier times the trains brought tourists from Russia via Ukraine to the Crimea, but today this border station is closed down. So that leaves the airway only. A bridge-building project is being driven with high pressure, which will connect the Crimea with the Russian mainland. It is supposed to be completed by 2018. But until this day comes people have to content themselves with an airport, which operates at the limits of its possibilities. As a guy from Berlin I am used to pretty much anything and quite possibly the new airport in Simferopol will open up earlier than the new airport in my hometown, which will enter the history books as a concrete-cast symbol of German corruption.
My idea originally was to take the longest trolleybus-line in the world to get from Simferopol to Yalta, because I am a friend of public transport. My friend Dmitry was not so fond of my idea and organized a lift. I began to understand, when I saw the Trolleybuses. The public transport sector was not the only area, where Ukraine failed to invest, but also the Crimea in general was heavily neglected, when it comes to investment in public services. Some of the buses are obviously still from Soviet times and significant Infrastructure investment only began commencing again after the unification with Russia.
Apart from this I am left to say only one thing about the Crimea. The Crimea surely is the most beautiful place, which I have ever been to. Very simple. Pure superlative. The Nature is overwhelming and every square meter is historic. A tourism, which has grown over a span of 200 years did not leave behind the numerous constructional sins that can be witnessed in other tourist centers in the world. Quite the contrary, hotels and facilities integrate harmonically into the landscape especially in Yalta and create a wonderful and inimitable atmosphere.
Much is talked about politics; the topic Ukraine is ubiquitous. However, no Crimean is shedding a tear about the loss of the connection to Ukraine. On the contrary. One can still see the stickers and posters, which asked for a commitment to Russia before the election, which took place on March 16th. Stop Maidan can be read here on a bus station.
And what would be the alternative? Instead of an sub-tropical holiday idyll the alternative would have been civil war and unrest, there is no doubt about that. One can see the alternative every day in the media, the events around Luhansk and Donetsk. The heavier and longer the conflict, the firmer the commitment of the Crimeans to Russia becomes. While doom and violence prevail on the other side, the Crimea is experiencing growth and prosperity.
All those who think they ought to speak about an annexation in the case of Crimea and drivel something about international law must realize this: You wish for a civil war for the 2.5 million Crimeans. Nothing less. No less cynical is the blabbering in German media and transatlantically networked news outlets.
And let me tell you something about international law. No other nation is currently kicking around human rights with its boots, like the US, and the European Union is kicking diligently right along. Extra-legal detentions, torture, extra-legal killings, meanwhile countless illegal wars according to international law, mass surveillance etc. etc. etc.
Concerning the term annexation, three things have to be mentioned. The west is seeing the Unification of the Crimea with Russia as an annexation, which would be the sole legitimation for a war declaration, according to international law. Because of this I would be very very careful using this word. Those nations, which are allies with Russia of course have a slightly different view on this matter. Eventually, it seems to be the case that the international law is not saying anything about this. If the population considers events as an annexation, then it will be treated as one. It will be some time until the correct terminology with regards to the Crimea will be found conclusively. It is of course in the interest of the Crimea to speak about an integration into Russia, because anything else opens the gates to war. In any case, nobody wants to be part of Ukraine anymore in the Crimea.
Speaking about Ukraine: The coup, which took place there went thoroughly wrong. Maidan-Walkie Frank Walter-Steinmeier planted together with his transatlantic allies a failed state in the heart of Europe, which now is plagued with a frozen armed conflict. How can one be so stupid. The USA is clearly the benefactor of this situation, but for Europe it is thoroughly and sustainably harmful. Just yesterday I had a conversation with a friend, who lives in Kiev. Well educated and without a job in the meantime, like so many others, he is hoping for Visa-free traveling coming up soon, in order to go to Germany. But Visa-Freedom will not be coming around any time soon, just like EU-membership will not be coming around in the near future. A lot of weapons are coming, US soldiers and mercenaries are already there, a couple of military advisers too, maybe NATO-Membership will be on the menu soon, but a US Military Base is almost certain and that was about it in terms of western integration of the Ukraine. Oh and by the way, the IMF is of course also coming and will be allowed to wreck and loot this country a little. I almost would have forgotten to mention this one.
Everything else was just pure empty promises in order to fuel the putsch and to destabilize the country. The despair of the people there is growing by the day, as the lack of a proper perspective is awful. In light of this we Germans may get friendly already with another wave of refugees, because everyone just wants to get away from Ukraine. Thanks to western regime-change and democracy promotion the country has sunk to the ground and it will stay there for decades to come.
Russia already took around 700.000 refugees from the eastern civil war areas. But the destination of the people in Western Ukraine will be Europe. Anyone who feels obliged to keep the conflict going by babbling about the annexation of the Crimea can already prepare a bed for those who will be coming from there. Just in an altruistic fashion as a sign of solidarity and because of care about the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The chief-whips against Russia, Ms. Beck and Ms. Harms are surely ready to share their living rooms with larger crowds of people and to abstain from the comfort for an undefined period of time, as it is all at last about a good deed.
Of course the greatest joke is the fact, that everyone who is travelling to the Crimea via Russia is counted as a criminal according to Ukrainian Law. Germany’s Department of Foreign Affairs is referring to this fact by issuing a travel warning, precisely for this reason and advises travelers not to take the trip. The fact that an EU-associate country is infringing the freedom of travel of the EU citizens is in itself an unbelievable process. The head of the Dept. Of Foreign Affairs is, by the way, our already mentioned Maidan-Walkie Frank Walter Steinmeier, for whom it was so incredibly important, that human rights pave the way in the Ukraine. Is he doing anything against the infringement of our basic rights? Of course not. Politics in our country is just PR for pushing through the interests of a very few using well-sounding words, which are popular with many people, but which don’t mean anything.
Before our freedoms are limited further I can only advise you one thing: Travel! Especially to those countries of which public opinion says “don’t do this! This is Dark-Land!” The Crimea is perfect for this, by the way. Because of the sanctions no credit cards will work there and German travel agencies are not allowed to offer journeys to the Crimea, but in the end geopolitics as well is always a little like kindergarden. But please, go there and take a view of ourselves and of our own country from the outside, even though the planning might be a little more difficult than booking an all-inclusive holiday. You will be surprised, how wrong and marginal we already are and how little the world view that is conveyed to us via the Media has to do with reality and facts. Your surprising conclusion will be that we ourselves are the Dark-land, we who are exposed to daily propaganda permanently and irreversibly, and not those our propaganda is pointing its finger to. We ourselves are guilty, because it is our foreign and economic policies, which are highly aggressive and turn against anything which is not willing to be economically subdued. The Cold War and the class-struggle are back on the agenda, in all their cruelty. The West has learned nothing from History. Russia has.
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