AZE.US
Most Russians are unlikely to protest against declining living standards because Russian society retains a feudal mentality and has grown accustomed to enduring deprivation, according to prominent Azerbaijani journalist Elchin Alioglu.
Speaking on the Musavat TV YouTube channel, Alioglu dismissed suggestions that gasoline shortages, long lines at filling stations and other economic problems could trigger mass unrest or political chaos in Russia.
“Russia has a feudal mentality, and most of its population is slave-minded. Do you really think these people will take to the streets? No,” Alioglu said.
He also rejected attempts to separate the Kremlin’s policies from the attitudes of Russian society.
Alioglu said it was misleading to claim that President Vladimir Putin alone was responsible for the war against Ukraine while ordinary Russians were innocent citizens waiting for an opportunity to overthrow the government.
“We constantly say that Putin is waging this war, that the Russian authorities are responsible and that Russian citizens are not to blame. We are told that they are simply waiting for a signal to rise up and overthrow the hated regime. After hearing that, we might as well believe in a fairy tale and go to sleep,” he said.
Alioglu described Russian society as both feudal and chauvinistic. In his view, many Russians regard neighboring peoples as second-class nations and treat the independent states surrounding Russia as incomplete political entities with limited sovereignty.
“For Russian society, there is no Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan or Kazakhstan. There is simply ‘Central Asia.’ For Russian society, there is no South Caucasus. There are ‘Tatars,’ Armenians and Georgians. By ‘Tatars,’ they mean us, Azerbaijanis. And they hate all three of us,” Alioglu said.
He argued that neither Armenians nor Georgians should assume that they enjoy any special affection or privileged status in Russian society.
“Russians do not particularly love Armenians or Georgians. They try to use Armenians and Georgians against us, Azerbaijanis against Armenians and Georgians, and Georgians against Azerbaijanis and Armenians,” he said.
Alioglu also addressed lines at Russian filling stations following Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries and other parts of the country’s fuel infrastructure.
He said shortages and queues were unlikely to provoke a rebellion because generations of Russians had learned to accept them as part of everyday life.
Alioglu recalled that Soviet citizens routinely waited in long lines for toilet paper, soap, toothbrushes, needles, buttons and other basic products.
“Do you think a Soviet person who stood in line for toilet paper and soap will revolt because of a gasoline line? For the Russian people, queuing is an organic part of life. That is why there will be no chaos,” Alioglu concluded.
AZE.US