And how many of those 144.1 million people are on the streets of Russian cities protesting against the aggression their government is committing against other nations?
Protest participants receive 15 days of arrest or fines. This is how single pickets take place:
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/EXJx7IrGiKUIf a person was detained in this way three times in six months, then a fine of 600 thousand rubles (about $ 6,000) or imprisonment for a period of 5 years. If you just share someone else's post, where they call to go to protest actions, then this is an arrest for a month. These are not just excerpts from the legislation. Russians have been vividly demonstrated for years the use of these articles on oppositionists and their followers.
If you wrote something like "I am against the war" somewhere in social networks, then this is already a risk. Today I heard a statesman call the Ukrainian troops terrorists, and the media that share information referring to them - accomplices of terrorists.
There are already rumors that people may be persecuted simply for speaking out against the war. In fact, the Russian media is basically forbidden to call it a war.
I doubt that people abroad, who are calling for protests, even understand what is happening inside Russia.
There are people who did not vote for Putin, are against his politics and were not able to leave Russian, but not suffer from sanctions and etc. Is whole world is going to help them? Maybe collect donations for them? Or help them to leave?Or it is their problem that they were born in Russia? Or we have double standards? Bunch of people cant agree on something, due to that nations now suffer, but call for help is only for one side.
I live in Russia and I have a ticket to Georgia on my hands. Russia also spoiled relations with Georgia a few years ago, so a connecting flight in Turkey and in time it will take more than 10 hours (I hope Turkey will not cancel the air service by then). The price of tickets is growing every day, because now there is an increased demand and those who realize what is happening are abandoning their homes and trying to leave Russia while it is possible.
I have never supported Putin or even his party. Seeing that the situation in Russia is getting worse, last year I planned to sell all my property and leave Russia with my family. As a result, I was only a few months short of implementing my plan. My savings in rubles, which previously would have been enough to live modestly another year in Russia, have significantly depreciated and it will continue to get worse. Prices for equipment have already increased by almost 50%, the rest of the goods will probably react a little later.
The borders are closed and those who did not have time to leave become hostages of the regime. People will simply work and continue to deduct a huge percentage from wages in the form of taxes to the state, thereby supporting the regime against which sanctions are directed. For example with each of my purchases in any store, I have a tax deducted that will support this state. Thus, some the sanctions will work to maintain the regime.
I have constantly heard before about the struggle for human rights, about independence and other wonderful values that are just as close to me, but sanctions in the form of closing borders and lack of support for ordinary citizens seem to say "Russians are not worthy of this, we are absolutely indifferent to their fate." The few remaining oppositionists and human rights defenders in Russia who are close in spirit to European values also turned out to be just Russian garbage. That's how equality works.
