Russian Media

  • Does Putin understand the free world? Probably not

    The world Putin lives in is largely of his own making. He doesn’t get disagreement like we do.

    He doesn’t see dissent like we see it everyday. His is a perfectly ordered system of economics and policy airbrushed for the Russian people.

    His recent statements, then, that gave rise to the idea of problems of censorship in the West are laughable in comparison.

    He doesn’t note that we draw a line at content that’s not wanted for obvious, moral reasons.

    He doesn’t recognise that Russian media aims to undermine if not destroy our own.

    He doesn’t highlight his own approach to foreign affairs or international relations and how it stifles free speech.

    This is the perfect art of a leader unencumbered by democracy or the forces of reason or change. We benefit, while the Russian people and its state suffer in silent rancour and undeterred pessimism.

  • Russia puts the UK on notice

    The deteriorating state of affairs here over who poses what threat to us is made worse now by a statement from the Director of Russia’s FSB, Alexander Bortnikov.

    According to TASS, a Russian news network, Bortnikov called out recent comments by Sir Richard Moore regarding the defection of Russian citizens to MI6 to serve the interests of the UK.

    “Mr. Moore is perhaps aware of what such calls may imply, given the problems in politics, the economy and society facing England itself and numerous ill-wishers of the British empire.”

    This is bad news for the UK. It’s because we rely on good things being said about us by foreign states. The fact this has been declared means that we may have more problems in future.

    However, the comments are purely one-sided. Russia itself is a broken up federation of former Soviet states. It suffers strongly with riddled crime and other inhumanities that Russians can’t overcome.

    They barely get any help. Putin’s authoritarian leadership structure is largely impervious to complaints. It puts out wise words to the Russian people but it doesn’t back these up with firm action.

  • Russia’s info war

    The struggle for credibility is a familiar tale particularly for those seeking to build followings online. It’s something users of sites like YouTube, Facebook, and X have long known.

    The encroachment of Russian news media sits in this frame of context because of its need for an audience that will listen. The powers of the West however are not so sure about its intentions.

    The banning of Russia Today by Ofcom in 2022 separated Russian origin programming from the UK market. It found the broadcasts did not meet our impartiality standards and probably wouldn’t.

    The context of late has been the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It leads to fears that Putin’s grip over the media there cannot loosen at such a pivotal moment in its foreign policy.

    In the UK we have access to media because of the darker corners of the Internet and websites that aren’t blocked. One of them is Regnum, a Moscow-based news outlet that also reports on the West.

    Its writing is stolid, typical of Russian origin propaganda. It’s not clear if it’s meant for English speakers or if it’s meant for Russian nationals of any location. The fact is it can be accessed and read here.

    The inherent flaw in Russian attempts to reach out is that we’re ready because of our history and our innate suspicion of difference. In general we distrust Russian publications because we know its slant.

    The opportunity Russia Today had for a brief time was to present a visually based representation of Russia as a modern, outward looking state. The Ukraine invasion has proven otherwise.