[Arrests of Angry Patriots like war blogger Igor Strelkov in
Russia have begun. No matter how wrong the Angry Patriots may be, they
are punished not for their sins, not even for their principles, but
for the fact that they have principles at all.]
[[link removed]]

IDIOTS, NO LONGER USEFUL  
[[link removed]]


 

Boris Kagarlitsky
July 26, 2023
Russian Dissent
[[link removed]]

*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

_ Arrests of 'Angry Patriots' like war blogger Igor Strelkov in
Russia have begun. No matter how wrong the Angry Patriots may be, they
are punished not for their sins, not even for their principles, but
for the fact that they have principles at all. _

,

 

_Just a day before the publication of the column Idiots, No Longer
Useful by noted Russian Marxist dissident Boris Kagarlitsky, the
author was arrested by the FSB (Russian security police) and
criminally charged
[[link removed]] for
"justifying terrorism." As Kagarlitsky's associate on the Rabkor
website Vasily Chapaev describes, other contributors to Rabkor were
also searched and interrogated. The editors of Rabkor have issued an
appeal to left socialist movements for international solidarity
[[link removed]] and
for Kagarlitsky's release. -- moderator._

_1. Idiots, No Longer Useful_

2. 'When They Came': The Detention of Boris Kagarlitsky

Idiots, No Longer Useful
by Boris Kagarlitsky
Russian Dissent
[[link removed]]
July 26, 2023

_THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) IS PRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED AND (OR)
DISTRIBUTED BY FOREIGN AGENT BORIS YULYEVICH KAGARLITSKY, OR RELATES
TO THE ACTIVITIES OF FOREIGN AGENT BORIS YULIEVICH KAGARLITSKY._

“They can, but we can't.” We had to repeat this for many months,
when left-wing and liberal oppositionists were detained and sent to
trial for the mere word “war” uttered in connection with military
operations on the territory of Ukraine, while Igor Strelkov and his
associates criticized words of the military leadership, complained
about defeats at the front, and talked openly about the terrible state
of affairs in military units. Of course, they got away with it because
they did not question the very need for military action. At first,
Putin was not called by name and was not directly scolded. The
government was reproached only for not being severe enough. With
regard to Ukraine, they strictly adhered to the opinion that a country
with such a name should not exist.

But everything has changed. On July 21 at 11:30 they came for
Strelkov, FSB officers detaining the founder of the Angry Patriots
Club. Earlier, charges were brought against retired colonel Vladimir
Kvachkov, another well-known member of the Club. He is to be punished
for discrediting the Russian army.

Of course, Strelkov crossed certain unwritten lines by making
insulting remarks about Putin. But more importantly, the situation has
changed.

Angry Patriots can justly be accused of aggressiveness and
bloodthirstiness (and against the background of his comrades-in-arms,
Strelkov is even one of the most moderate). Yet their main problem is
not with their views _per se_, but in their monstrous political
naivety and economic illiteracy, which just led them to where they are
today. They did not understand that military operations have been
conducted as competently and effectively as the current Russian state
is capable of doing. They did not want to accept that the goals of
this conflict had nothing to do with official statements (which, in
any case, constantly contradicted themselves), or with beautiful
dreams of restoring the Russian Empire or the USSR, about which the
Angry Patriots continue to rave. The authorities, they say, have done
everything right, and solved their problems as best they could. If you
want it differently, then you need to change the state system and
policy goals. But the trouble is, any sufficient changes would leave
no room for either the current oligarchy, or for a “patriotic”
agenda aimed at returning to an imaginary past.

A unique quality of the Russian elite is that it not only refuses to
admit its mistakes, but also does not wish to be aware of the
existence of objective problems (particularly those problems generated
by its own actions). Instead of recognizing problems, the authorities
only see threats, and they react to these threats in only one of two
ways - by either lying on TV, or repression. The one, of course, is
inseparable from the other.

The lies of modern Kremlin propagandists are radically different from
what we saw in the USSR. In those days, propaganda was at least aimed
at solving real strategic problems, at mobilizing support and public
participation. Today, only an immediate justification of the current
situation is required, while a change in course requires no
explanation whatsoever, but only a refusal to recognize one's own past
statements - they just didn't exist! The practice satirically
described by Mr. Orwell in _1984_ has become our daily routine.
Nothing is required of society except political amnesia.

Strelkov and his Angry Patriots began to pose a threat not at the
moment when they began to criticize the course of hostilities, but
when they began to take seriously the rhetoric they'd been fed over
the past year and a half.

We do not need to think about the regime's justification for why this
whole operation was started. The authorities clearly don't take these
seriously, as are clearly preparing for a major about-face. Officials
at all different levels are well aware that it is necessary to leave
the territory of Ukraine, the sooner the better. How this will be
done, and most importantly by whom, we do not yet know. Putin clearly
does not fit into these change of plans, but after the rebellion of
Yevgeny Prigozhin, it is no secret to anyone that his reign is nearing
its end. In the meantime, Angry Patriots can be silenced under the
pretext of disrespect for the ruler. They have become much more
dangerous than the left and liberal opposition, not because they offer
some kind of alternative, or because they want or can change
something, but because they stubbornly cling to the old agenda at the
very moment when the ruling elites themselves are preparing to change
this agenda. Angry Patriots create an ideological ferment for a
conservative revolt. They cannot organize anything themselves, and
they are not going to. But you never know how your own words will
echo! What if people who have seen enough of TV will take the
burdensome slogans that were proclaimed earlier too seriously? Respect
for power in Russia today requires not support for its constantly
changing official goals that contradict each other and contradict
reality, but requires humility. A loyal public must be ready to be
loyal to any decision. Then they will try to crush sincere patriots,
admirers of the tsarist empire, militarists, nostalgic for the USSR,
and simply those who memorized yesterday's mantras too tightly.

Yesterday's opposition may gloat today. But there is nothing good in
this. No matter how wrong the Angry Patriots may be, no matter what
terrible statements they make, they are punished not for their sins,
not even for their principles, but for the fact that they have
principles at all. Even if such measures herald an overdue change in
policy, there is not the slightest reason to think that the next turn
will be any more successful than the previous one. Problems are not
only not solved, but they are not even recognized. Those in power are
now beginning to understand that they still have to get out of the
Ukrainian trap, into which they happily jumped a year and a half ago.
But after that, the whole huge burden of other unresolved problems
will fall on their - and our - heads.

However, if someone seriously tried to solve these problems in the
sphere of economy, politics, management, social life, and
international relations, there would be no Ukrainian campaign, no
current situation, no Angry Patriots Club.

_Translated by Dan Erdman_

_BORIS YULYEVICH KAGARLITSKY
[[link removed]] is a
Russian Marxist [[link removed]] theoretician
[[link removed]] and sociologist
[[link removed]] who has been a political
dissident [[link removed]] in
the Soviet Union [[link removed]]. He is
coordinator of the Transnational Institute
[[link removed]] Global Crisis
project and Director of the Institute of Globalization and Social
Movements
[[link removed]] (IGSO)
in Moscow [[link removed]]. Kagarlisky hosts
a YouTube [[link removed]] channel Rabkor,
associated with his online newspaper of the same name and with
IGSO. _

_Russian Dissent is a reader-supported publication. To receive new
posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid
subscriber [[link removed]]._

'When They Came': The Detention of Boris Kagarlitsky
by Vasily Chapaev
Rabkor
[[link removed]]
July 25, 2023

THIS MATERIAL (INFORMATION) IS PRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED AND (OR)
DISTRIBUTED BY THE FOREIGN AGENT BORIS YULYEVICH KAGARLITSKY, OR
RELATES TO THE ACTIVITIES OF THE FOREIGN AGENT BORIS YULIEVICH
KAGARLITSKY.

Boris Kagarlitsky was detained yesterday. Three more members of the
Rabkor team were also detained. This news was shocking for me, a
member of the editorial board and an author of articles on Rabkor. I
know Boris as a true patriot of Russia, as a person who is not afraid
to speak openly about problems in the state and offer ways to solve
them. And all this Boris always says calmly, confidently, giving
arguments and never slipping into demagoguery and insults, which
Kremlin propagandists often suffer from.

That is why I first started watching Rabkor and Boris' streams, I
really liked the level of discussion on the channel. What was my
surprise when I decided to just write him a question in the chat and
it was read live, and he answered it. Boris answered and answers
everyone, answers honestly, openly, without concealment, even to
personal and uncomfortable questions. This is what a real politician
should be like, he should not be afraid of uncomfortable or
provocative questions. Boris has always been open to ordinary people,
to the people. So we began a correspondence, and then I began to
write articles for Rabkor, because Boris speaks himself and allows
everyone who has something to say to speak. To all those who cannot
remain silent.

A variety of people came and continue to come to his streams, from
ideological communists to hardened liberals, scientists, teachers,
journalists, writers, poets, musicians, activists, farmers,
businessmen, artists, governors, other politicians and even Kremlin
propagandists. Everyone who has expressed a desire or responded to an
invitation comes.

Boris Kagarlitsky gives the floor to everyone, he follows the
principles of freedom of speech and freedom of opinion, exactly as it
is guaranteed by Articles 28 and 29 of the Russian
Constitution. According to it, “Everyone is guaranteed freedom of
thought and speech. Propaganda or agitation that incite social,
racial, national or religious hatred and enmity is not
allowed. Propaganda of social, racial, national, religious or
linguistic superiority is prohibited.” Boris never called for
hatred and enmity, he is one of the most peaceful people I know. "No
one can be forced to express their opinions and beliefs or to renounce
them." However, it is for expressing his opinion that he is
persecuted. “Freedom of the media is guaranteed. Censorship is
prohibited." Boris has always stood for freedom of information and
against censorship, all questions are read out at the worker's
correspondent, not violating the laws of the Russian
Federation. “Everyone is guaranteed freedom of conscience, freedom
of religion, including the right to profess individually or jointly
with others any religion or not to profess any, freely choose, have
and disseminate religious and other beliefs and act in accordance with
them.” Boris Kagarlitsky has always been someone who respects the
opinions of others. He is an adherent of Marxist ideas, solidarity,
peacefulness and scientific enlightenment.

I am sure that Boris’s conscience is clear and that he was arrested
for justifying terrorism is a monstrous mistake by law enforcement
agencies, because I have never heard that our editor-in-chief could
somehow justify it, on the contrary, he always condemned terrorism and
was against any terror in general, and political too. The arrest of
Boris Kagarlitsky is a huge blow for the left movement, not only in
Russia, but for leftists around the world. I call on everyone who
adheres to leftist views, everyone who advocates freedom of speech,
everyone who believes that people should not be persecuted for an
opinion different from the opinion of the current government, to show
solidarity and support! Politics in Russia should not be a crime!

I would like to end my address with a very famous quote:

_“When they came for the communists, I was silent - I was not a
communist.
When they came for the Social Democrats, I was silent - I was not a
Social Democrat.
When they came for the trade union activists, I was silent - I was not
a union member.
When they came for me, there was no one to intercede for me.”_

¡NO PASARAN!

VASILY CHAPAE_V_ [[link removed]]_ IS A
RABKOR AUTHOR, ROSTOV ON DON._

_The electronic magazine Rabkor [[link removed]] appeared
in 2008, in the midst of the "first wave" of the global economic
crisis, when confidence in the recipes of liberal economists was
falling in Western Europe, and in Russia only the price of oil. The
staff  of the Institute of Globalization and Social Movements
[[link removed]] (IGSO) created this journal as a response to an
urgent need for a daily left-wing Internet publication that offers the
reader, instead of a trivial set of ideological mantras and slogans,
an analysis of the current situation, a platform for debate and an
overview of the development of social movements in Russia and the
world._

_For all questions (including authorship) write
to [email protected]
[[link removed]]_

_Donate to Rabkor [[link removed]]_

 

* Boris Kagarlitsky
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* Russia
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* Ukraine
[[link removed]]
* international solidarity
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