zondag 7 mei 2023

Free Gonzalo Lira

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Gonzalo Ángel Quintilio Lira López (born February 29, 1968, in Burbank, United States) is a Chilean/ American Citizen who currently resides in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine.

Gonzalo is a Film Director, Novelist, Political Commentator and Journalist by way of his Blogging, Vlogging and YouTube content creation.

Gonzalo has a substantial following across a wide range of Social Media Platforms. He regularly hosts Political Podcasts on his own YouTube channel featuring many prominent guests. He can also be seen appearing on many other Social Media Channels taking part in debates and discussions on a wide variety of subjects.

Gonzalo brings a substantial wealth of knowledge and opinion to the table. Often times very controversial, often times very critical, but always aimed at bringing a high element of truthfulness and established facts, with the intention of encouraging people to expand their sphere of thought and better educate themselves from the narrow band of narratives Main Stream Media presents.

Gonzalo Arrested by the SBU in Ukraine

On 05 May 2023, the Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) published the following Press Release on their Social Media Platforms

Translated to English the text reads: “The SBU detained a foreign blogger in Kharkiv who denied the crimes of the Rashists and insulted Ukrainian defenders.”

*Note: The word “Rashists,” is a combination of the words “Russian & Fascists,” and is an ethnic slur aimed at Russian citizens and is often applied to non-Russians who appear to support what many people refer to as “The Russian side, or Russian narrative.”

Archive Link in case of Tweet Deletion

Within this post by the SBU, there is a “Summary Statement,” outlining the reasons and justifications for Gonzalo’s detention. The text which is machine translated, reads as follows:

SBU detains foreign blogger in Kharkiv who denied crimes of rashists and insulted Ukrainian defenders

The SBU gathered evidence based on a foreign blogger who publicly justified the armed aggression of the Russian Federation and spread fake news about the war in Ukraine.

The defendant has citizenship in one of the Latin American countries but has been living in Kharkiv for several years.

After the start of a full-scale invasion, the blogger was one of the first to support the Russian invaders and glorify their war crimes.

He also discredited the top military-political leadership and the Defense Forces of our state.

It is documented that last spring he personally shot provocative videos in which he tried to capture the faces of Ukrainian defenders and insulted them.

He published his “streams” on two of his own channels on YouTube and Telegram with a total audience of almost 300 thousand. subscribers.

In addition, in his comments, he denied the facts of Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and the mass killings of civilians by rashists.

During searches of the defendant’s residence, mobile phones and a computer with evidence of illegal activity were found.

The examinations initiated by the SBU confirmed the facts of the criminal actions of a foreign blogger.

Security Service investigators have now served him with a notice of suspicion for chch. 2 and 3 Art. 436-2 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (production and distribution of materials justifying the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, committed repeatedly).

The court chose a measure of restraint ˗ detention. An investigation is underway to establish all the circumstances of the crime.

Comprehensive measures were carried out by SSU officers in the Kharkiv region under the supervision of the Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

Here is the Archive Link to the original article

Gonzalo’s Arrest Video

In addition to this, the SBU decided it would be a good idea to film and publish Gonzalo’s arrest. We have downloaded a copy of this. It is very disturbing that the SBU would do this, but more disturbing given the stage-managed nature of the event.

Notable content in this video is as follows:

The filming of the arrival of the SBU at the residence.
The “Fist-bump,” between the SBU Officer and the person at the Reception Desk.
The dramatic banging on the door of Gonzalo’s apartment.
The Armed Soldier shouting and pointing a weapon at Gonzalo when he opens his door.
The filming of the obviously arranged books on the table.
The filming of Gonzalo’s toilet. (Who needs to see Gonzalo’s toilet?)

This entire operation is clearly stage-managed and manipulated to portray Gonzalo in a bad light. It is clearly designed to “Send a Message,” to anyone who says anything contrary to the “Official Ukrainian Narrative,” regarding the situation in Ukraine.

The posting of this by the SBU is also clearly aimed at stirring up the Pro-Ukrainian NAFO element on social media. To this end, you only have to look through the conversation threads on the post where you will find a proliferation of people who revel in this seedy, unprofessional public spectacle created by the SBU.

The Accusations

These appear to be fully based on Gonzalo’s opinion, interpretation and articulation of how he views the situation of the “Special Military Operation,” in Ukraine.

At no stage in this video being presented by the SBU does Gonzalo say anything that is untrue and not based on known and publicised facts. Nor does his overall view differ greatly from many other outspoken critics of the Kiev Regime and its association with the United States-sponsored proxy war against Russia in which Ukraine is being used as a platform, and its people are being used as the Battlefield Cannon Fodder.

Gonzalo has been arrested purely for holding the opinions he holds and for expressing them honestly and freely.

Ukraine & Freedom of Speech

Incidents such as this don’t show Ukraine in a good light. The threatening, bullying and arresting of people who speak out, be they Journalists or otherwise, is far from a good look for a country which struggles to understand and come to grips with what we refer to as “Western Values.”

As Ukraine seeks to communicate with Westerners in its efforts to gain understanding and sympathy for its position, it has to accept that “Free Speech,” is a fundamental building block.

When “Officials,” take to social media to sell their ideas, they have to be prepared for the fact that people will respond and that this response may not always be what they want to hear.

Put simply, Ukrainian Officials cannot simply go around arresting everyone who disagrees with them or has a contradictory opinion. Ukrainian Officials have to take the rough with the smooth and not engage in oppressive and aggressive actions against those who speak out. Ukraine has to rise above this primitive temptation for a quick “Propaganda Coupe,” and move on to the more important matters it has to deal with.