apached

Is it true that Russia is a police state, and Putin is fucked up? I must admit when your President denied the EU-deal, and made a deal with Putin, a lot of alarm bells were ringing in my head. It was so obvious something crazy was going on with Putin and your president.

And thank you for standing up against this. I have huge respect for people who stand their ground and actually doesn't accept all kind of bullshit coming their way. One of my favorite quotes which has changed my life is "It is up to you how people treat you" If you accept getting fucked over, people will do it again and again, but if their actions has consequences it must stop.

In Denmark we have a lot of protests. But usually people don't give a fuck, and the politicians doesn't give a fuck. So huge respect for Ukraine, and your people. Big inspiration!

It is so tragic that people have to die because of this. The Rioters who died because of this is real heroes in my opinion. Their sacrifice can potentially make the life better for many Ukraine's in the future. I really hope that their death isn't wasted and it is worth it in the end even how sad it is. The thing is just consistency. After some time people just give up because there's not happening anything, and that is the worst thing that could happen, because then they win. Just like Nelson Mandela had to stay in prison for such a long time, nearly anyone would have given up, but not him, and it all worked out in the end.

Thank you a lot for taking your time to make such a detailed and well-written point of view.

What surprises me the most is just that you mention most people have voted for Putin and it doesn't look like you make any points about the election being fair?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPT0vg_Jl8Q&feature=player_detailpage#t=2008 <- from 33.27

That is also how I understand it, that it is just a nasty way to show the western world that they are actually "free to choose, when they are actually not"

If you make the odds so bad for the opposition that you can't lose, and Putin gets elected. How can you ever say that is a fair and intelligent democratic election. Maybe this was not what you meant but "In short, Putin is a legitimate leader" really confuses me.

From what I see and hear it is like you are going to play a tennis match against another person and the person who wins the tennis match becomes elected, but before the match Putin has managed to remove both arms and 1 leg for his opponent, and now he wins "fair and square" the match and gets elected. I simply don't understand that logic, it is like being a childish douche bag on the highest level in a way. I can't even take it seriously to be honest. That is so obviously a manipulation of the democracy.

It just confuses me you write that what Kasparov and the link said was 99% correct from what you know. But you write that Putin was chosen legitimately :D.

Thank you again for putting all this effort in your replies. Very grateful, and very exciting to learn something from other cultures and parts of the worlds through others.

If you have time, then you have seen this or want to watch it, I would like to hear your opinion as an insider living in Russia about this information by Garry Kasparov. The reason I came by this, is because I am a great chess fan, but I am also very curious in the world around me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Js1G45u7Oc&feature=player_detailpage#t=1902 <-- 31.42 to end

It is just very very confusing to be an outsider to Russia. It is such an interesting country, geographically you are such a big part of the world. But still there's so much mysticism about Russia for me living in Denmark. I don't know what is up and down in Russia. What to trust, and what to distrust.

I have decided to stay open-minded and accept that there's no right or wrong. For some people Putin might be the devil, for others he might be a hero. Just like most people in the world. Even in the middle east for some Taliban, Osama Bin Laden, and Hussain were heroes. For others they were villains. In Isreal vs Palestine. It is just a matter of border you are on. Who the terrorists and heroes are.

But from this footage, and from my just intuition, I have a very bad feeling about Russia politically. Not about the civil and people as such. But simply I feel it smells rotten from the top and down. Not to say it isn't like that other places.

Just curious. So thank you for providing yourself for answering stuff, it is very valuable :)

edit: I can tell even in Denmark if you question the government there has been cases where people have been locked up in small white cells. Without being aggressive or anything. Just questioning it. So Denmark is by far no better than Russia, that is not my point. To say we are better or anything. Denmark is maybe just better at hiding their shit, than Russia is. Even USA is a big mysticism to me. Very difficult to understand what is up and down as well :) Best regards from Denmark.

Edit 2: If you want to know my stance. Then I am also from birth/genetics a very rebellious person. I am all about peace. But if I see something I consider unfair, even if it is not for me, but other people. Something inside of me is deeply pissed. I can't stand people not acting fair, and without any logical reasoning or ability to have a conversation about it. So in general I am a very peaceful, and freemdom loving person. But somehow if I see someone not treating others with respect, or not being fair. My entire being is becoming rage :) - Sometimes I even cry if I see others being "raped" not in physical sense. But in a sense of freedom.

edit 3: Somehow the clip of the guy's face at 34.17 - Always make me cry, because you can see that speaking up about something that you consider wrong is just leading to jail, and you can like see in his face that he just died a little bit inside. Scary. Fucking 12 years....

It is very interesting that this is so close, but still so distant living "safely" in Denmark. It is especially crazy to think about the freedom some countries enjoy to a large extend today is because millions of millions of people have died fighting a fight for our rights and freedom today. Somehow it makes me extremely humbled, and grateful and I refuse taking anything for granted. Those people are truly heroes, and I simply can't comprehend how all that stuff have been possible. When I see terror in television, and the riot in Kiev it really touches me. It reminds me that I am mortal, and that I am living in some kind of bubble here in Denmark. I have also always been a "rebel" in a sense by personality with the main motive being freedom, love, peace, and having fun. To know so many people died for me, and the world to create it maybe just a little more free, and better in some places today is very thought provoking, and surrealistic. Realizing that my freedom today is on top of the grave of millions who said "enough is enough" - The most pathetic thing I could do would be to take it for granted and not caring to do my part at least.

What I hate myself for most is that it is so "easy" to say that I "care" and I am "affected" by it. But it ain't changing shit. Sympathy is not changing anything. Action is the only real testament to show that you actually care.

Do you guys know if it is possible in anyway to support Ukraine or Venezuela, when living in Denmark and not having enough money to actually travel to Ukraine or Venezuela and actually potentially stand against some of this tyranny? It scares me as fuck, but at least then it would maybe change something, and I would have a life worth living. I guess the reason you have to fight is because it is too painful not to fight. In Denmark we have so much security and economical welfare system, that it doesn't hurt enough for people to actually take action if something is wrong. Which of course is sad.