About Russia | Leonard's Revelation

I have a Russian wife. Because of that, I have learned to speak Russian (to a certain extent), and I have been to Russia 6 times. I have been to my wife’s hometown several times, to Moscow once, and to Sochi once. As a result, I have a good sense of the country. One thing I want to tell you right now. The Kremlin is a fascinating place. It is a large campus, with many old churches and museums that are open to visitors. I would love to see it again and I recommend it to everyone.

And now just a few observations about Russian culture. Russians love their holidays and observe them with gusto. They prepare a stage for dancers, get dressed up, play traditional music, take off from work and head for the center of town. The celebration goes into the night, and then they have fireworks. The music, culture and traditions of Russia do not change anywhere near the speed of change that Americans experience, and I found this refreshing.

As for personal safety, I felt safe wherever I went. I never felt threatened, even when walking or traveling alone.

The Truth Behind the War in Ukraine

U.S. news media almost universally represents that the war started when Putin invaded Ukraine. That is not correct. Here is a more accurate account:

The U.S. began getting involved in Ukraine around the year 2013, encouraging the populace to pull away from its ties with Russia and push for independence. Propaganda was circulated encouraging the ousting of then-president Yanukovych (Putin's appointed president). In 2015 the U.S. successfully engineered a coup, ousting Yanukovych and instating Poroshenko -- a man beholding to the west.

Almost immediately thereafter, the US took steps to recruit and equip an army of local Ukrainians who happened to be Nazis. This militia, armed with weapons from the US, began to harass the nearby regions of Donbas and Luhansk, where a good many Russian Jews live, launching rocket bombs into their territory. I assume this was to provoke Russia into a military response, with the aim of drawing Russia into a conflict that would (further) weaken Russia. (This would not be the first time such a thing was done. The Afghanistan war of the 80's was instigated for that very purpose.)

Note that the existence and use of this proxy army in Ukraine was kept completely secret in the US media.

The constant bombardment of regions Russia considered to be under its protection, plus the relentless push for Ukraine to join NATO, eventually became more than Putin could take, and on 21 February 2022, Russia officially recognized the Donetsk People's Republic and the Luhansk People's Republic as independent states. Three days later, Putin announced a "special military operation" in Ukraine during a televised broadcast, marking the start of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

For an excellent (and more comprehensive) explanation, please view this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMiSQAGOS4

Is Russia a Communist Country?

Before answering this, it is important to clarify what it means to be communistic. Let’s break it down. What are the main characteristics of communism?

Power is concentrated in the ruling Communist party, which makes decisions, sets the rules, and owns and manages all production.

When pure communism is in effect, there is no private property. Neither is there any currency. The government controls all productivity and distribution of goods and services. The government of Russia is not like this today. Here is a very brief explanation of Russia’s history:

Beginning in 1922, when the Russian revolution came to its conclusion, the country became the USSR, or Soviet Union, with one-party rule of the Communists, as the Bolsheviks called themselves. This had Lenin as its top political leader. Following Lenin’s death in 1924, Joseph Stalin became the supreme leader of the Soviet Union and he ruled until his death in 1953. He was succeeded by Nikita Khrushchev and the communist government continued.

In 1989 Russia began to weaken, both politically and economically, eventually succumbing to utter collapse in 1991. This resulted in utter chaos and abject misery for the citizens. One author compared it with the collapse of the US economy in 1929 and the resulting Great Depression. However, the author pointed out that Russia’s collapse and depression was more severe. A great many Russian’s died of starvation during this time.

During the years that followed, several of Russia’s major business interests (esp. owners of natural resources) were reorganized and fell into the hands of a privileged few. These became known as the oligarchs – wealthy individuals who, to a certain extent, vie for power in Russia.

Russia Today

In terms of the distribution of goods and services, Russia has a free economy. People can own property, earn money at their jobs, and keep or spend that money as they please. There are stores, restaurants, and open (outdoor) markets.

In terms of government, Russia remains a dictatorship. Although they hold elections, dissenting candidates are often repressed.

Is there free speech in Russia?

According to Olga, the news media, as well as the general public, can say whatever they like. No government agency listens in on what people say. News companies report on events in Russia, as well as in other countries (especially the US). I saw this first-hand when I was there. Every day, half of the TV news report was about events in the US.

Olga told me that an exception is made when Russia is at war, as it is now in Ukraine. To show solidarity, no news commentators are allowed to express dissent. All support Putin’s efforts.