I agree with you that western leaders demonize Russia and Putin for those things because of politics, but they also do that to "brown" people as well. Turn on the news every night or hell, jump on reddit. There is a constant stream of stories of how backward "they are" and how they need to catch up.
This is very elementary. What surprises me is how the average person, including most on the internet, buy into the bull about having superior values, not realizing that is exactly what the goal of their propaganda is. Dehumanize, belittle, or de-value the other so we don't feel as bad when we kick their teeth in.
Not familiar with that angle,its not as prevalent in Canada we have different order of racism but imagine the drama will increase as more people move north for a better life. Last person on the bus works the hardest to keep the next person out and racism seems to work in that field most of the time.
The amount of spew on Putin is obvious propaganda and must be poured out for the dumb that recite everything they see on the news as fact. Its sad because my grandparents tombstones are written in Russian and yet where not Russian,but they spent many summers there for some reason. Always wanted to figure what that was all about but that side of the family is very ashamed of their up bringing and grandfather potentially working for Russia in some facet is a no go issue to talk about. Go figure.
Not sure where I was going with that just a funny tidbit that always makes me look to Russia with wonder.