If you search “Russian occupation” on Google News, you’re in for a particularly ugly shock. The constant stream of war crimes tales from liberated areas seems endless. Every little town and village under Russian occupation has stories of atrocities. It’s like the story of Bucha, but for months on end.
The Russian “military” apparently has no problems waging war on people who can’t fight back. Seems any group of armed Russian “soldiers” can heroically torture a grandmother.
I’ll spare you the details, but check out that Google News search link. Even just the headlines are revolting. There are pages and pages. Also, consider that the Russians have been recruiting their own criminals to fight. If you’ve read the Gulag Archipelago, you’re up to speed with modern Russia.
All of this is being done under official sanction. These atrocities are official policy. The state also clearly isn’t doing anything about these crimes. That alone makes the state legally complicit in enabling war crimes.
An “official” crime is still a crime. There are no “we were just following orders” easy outs, either. A soldier does not have to obey an illegal order. Officials don’t have to follow illegal instructions.
Up to the 1917 revolution, Russia was still basically medieval. Most Russians were serfs. They effectively still are serfs. After the 1917 revolution, even the illusion of modern life was taken away from them and replaced by a national prison camp. Stalin probably killed more Russians than the Germans over those decades, directly and indirectly.
There’s a centuries-long track record of brutality and oppression in Russia going back to Ivan the Terrible. The czars, the USSR, and now the Russian Federation have routinely oppressed their own citizens using much the same methods. They may think it’s normal.
That never was and never will be any kind of excuse. The Russians of all people should know that. The only environments in which this behavior is considered “normal” are dictatorships, religious fanatics, and organized crime. Russia has its share of all of these.
Russia has broken every law available in terms of basic human rights, and it’s still going on. Add to this the hysterical nuclear threats, the irrational statements, and the countless war crimes.
There’s a cure for that.
Russia may not be familiar with the expression “Liberty or death”. Perhaps an explanation is required.
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Disclaimer
The opinions expressed in this Op-Ed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the Digital Journal or its members.
