The onslaught of Russophile media of the kind you are talking about, Edward, came in early 2014. This was the time when The Saker came into prominence, but the real explosion came on the side of Runet, as Russians frequently call the Russian language Internet segment. This was the time when "out of thin air" dozens of resources suddenly sprung up - Politikus.ru, NewsFront, ANNA News, Antifashist.com, hundreds of YouTube channels and so on and so forth. This was the time of a movement that had a name of "Russian Spring" (Русская Весна), symbolizing a rebirth of the Russian spirit that faded after 1991. But the feast didn't last too long, first shadows of a doubt came on May 7th, 2014 after Putin met with then OSCE head and president of Switzerland Didier Burkhalter that, as most agree, delivered to Putin dossier that global powers kept on him and his family with detailed listing of bank accounts, assets and other things of interest. That's when Putin's rhetoric "we'll defend our compatriots in Donbass" quickly changed to "you shouldn't have that referendum" and when he asked for permission by Federation Council to use Russian troops in Ukraine to be revoked. You should watch that video of Putin-Burkhalter press conference, here is the link with no sound - just facial expressions and body language, https://youtu.be/WJGIa-rbGXk. After that moment the term "Putin flushed down the toilet" (Путин слил) came into existence, that Prigozhin trolls quickly responded to with "Cunning plan by Putin" (Хитрый план Путина or ХПП). There were many more events after, that shaped the Rusophile media inside of Russia and outside of it, but those resources that survived to this day have a definite, easily detectable propaganda slant and a state funding attached. This whole period and a segment of Russian and foreign media space requires a separate research, would be a very good topic for a doctoral thesis, I'm not aware of anything like that being done.
With this bit of history background the main thing where I agree with Edward is that ordinary people who remain in this media space of Russian patriotism model of 2014 are there primarily for comfort. It is so good to be in the world that could be easily understood and is black and white in nature. To the credit of Russian people I have to say that many, have snapped out of it, but awakening is a hard process. This is similar in a way to very large numbers of people in US still supporting Trump, but even here, in US, the tide is slowly changing,
On point, as always. It's clear Russia is in "lockstep" with the global agenda. But some people are so partisan it blinds them to all reality. Once you've renounced any and all political affiliation and can view everything from a completely neutral stance, it all becomes clear. Because then you are looking at global developments from the point of view as a human being living on this planet and we can see war being waged on humanity. Many that would proclaim to be on our side are only on our side due to partisan bias or because they've latched onto one particular facet of the agenda (i.e. vaccines) but their political identity is still intact. This politicalization of the soul is a mind-virus. For some people it comprises the majority of their identity. They are blind so of course they cannot see.
Dec 23, 2021·edited Dec 23, 2021Liked by Edward Slavsquat
The last couple of months have proven that these so-called Russia-experts were completely out of their depth. I don't even think they get paid to shill for the Russian government - they just fervently believe their own fantasies. This is literally textbook Boomer behavior regardless of the country that these people hail from. It's always 5D Chess with these people. You had the same phenomenon with the Qanon Boomers who were always 2 weeks away from Dognald Brumpf shutting down the pedophile tunnels and the gremlin army of Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks. Facing reality is difficult, so people turn to fantasy in the hope that the cavalry will swoop in soon to save them.
We're on our own, people. Let the scales fall from your eyes. We need to plan for the future with that in mind.
China is definitely running circles around the West - they've had people in a totalitarian digital bootcamp for a number of years now. Maybe that's what the "Russophiles" mean that Russia is now "harmonized" with that Chinese "doctrine".
If you paid close attention, the pro-Russian shills from the West have always been quick to flip-flop: Erdogan shoots down Russian jet in Syria: "OMG this turkish dood is a killer and a dictator who supports terrorists, Russia should issue the strongest response and send goons to his palace!"
Erdogan buys S-400: "OMG Putin and Erdogan are so based, playing 85000D chess against NATO and the West about to clean up Syria from terror!"
Same thing on just about every other issue.
It's a comfortable "shill ecosystem" where they just appeal to a certain audience and the Russian shills need the pro-NATO guys and vice versa for more divide and conquer.
When something big like the "pandemic" happens, you start to see that everyone is pretty much paid from the same bank accounts at the end of the day.
If you still need a booster after being FULLY vaccinated, and still need to get tested after being FULLY vaccinated and still need to wear it mask after being FULLY vaccinated and still get hospitalized after being FULLY vaccinated…
It’s probably time you admitted that you have been FULLY conned.
Yes, I know this type very well - intelligent Russians denying the reality and believing that Putin will outsmart the West and the globalists. And if the fruits of the smart strategy are not so obvious, this is because Putin is in the ambush. But he surely knows what he is doing, just trust him and don’t ask too many questions. Talking about Covid vaccines, it is interesting to see how small Russian community in Australia is divided: one party believes in Pfizer and the other party believes in Sputnik-V. The second party even demanded the Australian government to recognise Sputnik and allow Russian citizens to get vaccinated by Sputnik - the only vaccine they can trust - in order to leave and re-enter Australia. A friend of mine, a very intelligent man and true Russofile, has just recently returned from Moscow, fully jabbed by Sputnik and very proud of himself. However, being an honest man, he did not hide from me the fact that shortly after the second shot he and his wife both got sick with covid which quite ruined their holiday-making in Crimea. Unfortunately, Australia does not recognise Sputnik, so on return to Sydney my friend and his wife ended up in a quarantine hotel at a cost of $3500 for 14 days, while other incoming travellers jabbed by Pfizer, Astra or Moderna were allowed to quarantine for 7 days at home. But of course he had no regrets about paying a hefty price for his patriotism. When I told him that Sputnik is the same sh…t as Astra Zeneca, that they are twin brothers, he said that I don’t get it, and that while technology is seemingly the same, Sputnik is much better purified and does not contain harmful ingredients which Astra does…. In short, Putin has outsmarted the West again. What can I say? I gave up on my otherwise intelligent friend and other compatriots like him. But thank you Edward for the “Inside the Whale” metaphor - this is it.
Orlov has made only one significant remark on this issue so far, something about Western ´´paid´´ opposition to the vaccine rollout in Russia.
Several months ago, (as a respectful but tentative follower) I was disappointed that he was avoiding any critical analysis of Russia´s involvement with the WEF. Being a dedicated Russophile, I asked him to please address the somewhat dissonant issue of ´´Herr Gref and Herr Mishustin´´ at the top table of cyber polygon, while Western mass media were simultaneously rambling on about the ´´Russian´´ cyber threat. This issue had been highlighted with surgical precision by Whitney Webb and I stupidly thought Orlov would have a different but logical ´´interpretation´´ of such an anomaly. All we got however was his ever more tired polemic about the ´´imminent ´´collapse´´ of the US empire.
There is a lot of ´´Slithering´´ going on everywhere and unfortunately for us who love Russia and Russian culture, there too, the slugs are rampant!!
So thanks Edward for your energy and for opening an important space for the wider Anglophone resistance.
Believe it or not Dmitry Orlov (D.O., pronounced D’oh!) reads your blog. How could he not? You, Mr. Sheppard, and precious few others are lifting the lid on the worldwide con re: Russia.
Pancake boi, AKA блин, AKA crepe, Kremlin apologist and bootlicker extraordinaire posted his drivel a few days ago. He’s butthurt that his magnum opus “Economic Collapse of the West” has been upstaged by the ongoing bust-out of capitalism’s western project via the covid hoax.
And that is what it is, too. Organized destruction of SMEs. Degradation and dismantlement of security forces including armed services. Take down of “health” care system. Dismemberment of education at every level. Yuri Bezmanov would be proud. Did he realize before his death that he was working for western capitalists?
Hey Dmitry, do you really believe that your pseudo-intellectual status and not-quite-perfect command of American English will entitle you to special privileges when the worldwide gulag system is implemented? They are going to lock up your ass too, MFer!
Riley, Motovun might be a really good place for a retreat. It is on a hill. Italian is spoken/understood. You will fit right in.
It was shocking to me too, as a Russophile, making a Russia-Norway FB group in 2018, first to see Putin all over himself with "Satan" Klaus, and then coming across this site with info on Russia I've never before seen.
So I had to swallow the bitter Red Pill on whats going on in Russia, as I previously have swallowed the Red Pill on what the intersexual dynamics between men and women really are, as opposed to the fake Disneylike dogma media presents us with.
So links to our group about what is really happening goes down poorly.
Most people are afraid of confrontation and simply dont like. Some voice strong emotional protests, devoid of discussing facts, and a few have left the group. They weren't ready and choose to remain Blue pilled.
Very disappointing. I think Orlov was my entrée into the alt-Russia blogosphere with his interesting analyses of the West's cultural decline and the decline of the USSR. Alas, if he is advocating the whole vaccine & QR-code regime, he is just advocating for a return to the Soviet Union. But worse. Mandatory injections for everyone - not just selected dissidents. And a digital propiska on steroids. Ugh.
Dec 25, 2021·edited Dec 25, 2021Liked by Edward Slavsquat
My wife is Russian. My daughter lives and works in Moscow. I am quite familiar with Russia and I find it a beautiful place to be, the people are fantastic (the ones I have met). I had admired President Putin because I thought he was the guy who was standing up for all the good things that we in the west have deliberately and foolishly discarded(ing)—you know those civilization-building things. My daughter always disagreed with me regarding Mr. Putin, but I always chalked that up to youthful ignorance. But now this scamdemic has changed my mind. Given the alleged treatment of Russia by the west, I had thought that this was the perfect time/event for Mr. Putin to come out and expose what is going on. I mean surely with all the resources of the SVR, FSB, GRU etc. he would no problem collecting evidence right? Instead, he has jumped on the globalist bandwagon. So my tentative conclusions are: 1) that he has probably been part of the cabal the whole time or has been converted (2014 could have been the time), 2) that there are no sanctions from the west, it is all smoke and mirrors, and 3) that this Russophilic media is all disinformation—the bird-man and Orlov especially. So my hopes have been dashed, there is no place left on earth for men of honor, we are all screwed.
Orlov is a piece of shit. It's well explained here by Riley.
He wrote something on his Facebook wall about how bad the western vaccines turned out in NZ. I simply replied that none of them work, including Sputnik. He replied demanding proof or, in his words, GTFO. I replied simply "classy", then he made fun of my name like an immature child and booted me out.
I found his e-mail and told him what I think of him, but that's x-rated so best kept private, haha.
Anyhow, Dmitry Orlov has lost any credibility he ever had.
Thanks, at least for your mentioning of Putinasskisser, TheFaker! Funny thing is even Paul Craig Roberts (supposedly to be Russia Expert) has sung many songs inside the whale!
The onslaught of Russophile media of the kind you are talking about, Edward, came in early 2014. This was the time when The Saker came into prominence, but the real explosion came on the side of Runet, as Russians frequently call the Russian language Internet segment. This was the time when "out of thin air" dozens of resources suddenly sprung up - Politikus.ru, NewsFront, ANNA News, Antifashist.com, hundreds of YouTube channels and so on and so forth. This was the time of a movement that had a name of "Russian Spring" (Русская Весна), symbolizing a rebirth of the Russian spirit that faded after 1991. But the feast didn't last too long, first shadows of a doubt came on May 7th, 2014 after Putin met with then OSCE head and president of Switzerland Didier Burkhalter that, as most agree, delivered to Putin dossier that global powers kept on him and his family with detailed listing of bank accounts, assets and other things of interest. That's when Putin's rhetoric "we'll defend our compatriots in Donbass" quickly changed to "you shouldn't have that referendum" and when he asked for permission by Federation Council to use Russian troops in Ukraine to be revoked. You should watch that video of Putin-Burkhalter press conference, here is the link with no sound - just facial expressions and body language, https://youtu.be/WJGIa-rbGXk. After that moment the term "Putin flushed down the toilet" (Путин слил) came into existence, that Prigozhin trolls quickly responded to with "Cunning plan by Putin" (Хитрый план Путина or ХПП). There were many more events after, that shaped the Rusophile media inside of Russia and outside of it, but those resources that survived to this day have a definite, easily detectable propaganda slant and a state funding attached. This whole period and a segment of Russian and foreign media space requires a separate research, would be a very good topic for a doctoral thesis, I'm not aware of anything like that being done.
With this bit of history background the main thing where I agree with Edward is that ordinary people who remain in this media space of Russian patriotism model of 2014 are there primarily for comfort. It is so good to be in the world that could be easily understood and is black and white in nature. To the credit of Russian people I have to say that many, have snapped out of it, but awakening is a hard process. This is similar in a way to very large numbers of people in US still supporting Trump, but even here, in US, the tide is slowly changing,
On point, as always. It's clear Russia is in "lockstep" with the global agenda. But some people are so partisan it blinds them to all reality. Once you've renounced any and all political affiliation and can view everything from a completely neutral stance, it all becomes clear. Because then you are looking at global developments from the point of view as a human being living on this planet and we can see war being waged on humanity. Many that would proclaim to be on our side are only on our side due to partisan bias or because they've latched onto one particular facet of the agenda (i.e. vaccines) but their political identity is still intact. This politicalization of the soul is a mind-virus. For some people it comprises the majority of their identity. They are blind so of course they cannot see.
The last couple of months have proven that these so-called Russia-experts were completely out of their depth. I don't even think they get paid to shill for the Russian government - they just fervently believe their own fantasies. This is literally textbook Boomer behavior regardless of the country that these people hail from. It's always 5D Chess with these people. You had the same phenomenon with the Qanon Boomers who were always 2 weeks away from Dognald Brumpf shutting down the pedophile tunnels and the gremlin army of Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks. Facing reality is difficult, so people turn to fantasy in the hope that the cavalry will swoop in soon to save them.
We're on our own, people. Let the scales fall from your eyes. We need to plan for the future with that in mind.
China is definitely running circles around the West - they've had people in a totalitarian digital bootcamp for a number of years now. Maybe that's what the "Russophiles" mean that Russia is now "harmonized" with that Chinese "doctrine".
If you paid close attention, the pro-Russian shills from the West have always been quick to flip-flop: Erdogan shoots down Russian jet in Syria: "OMG this turkish dood is a killer and a dictator who supports terrorists, Russia should issue the strongest response and send goons to his palace!"
Erdogan buys S-400: "OMG Putin and Erdogan are so based, playing 85000D chess against NATO and the West about to clean up Syria from terror!"
Same thing on just about every other issue.
It's a comfortable "shill ecosystem" where they just appeal to a certain audience and the Russian shills need the pro-NATO guys and vice versa for more divide and conquer.
When something big like the "pandemic" happens, you start to see that everyone is pretty much paid from the same bank accounts at the end of the day.
If you still need a booster after being FULLY vaccinated, and still need to get tested after being FULLY vaccinated and still need to wear it mask after being FULLY vaccinated and still get hospitalized after being FULLY vaccinated…
It’s probably time you admitted that you have been FULLY conned.
Yes, I know this type very well - intelligent Russians denying the reality and believing that Putin will outsmart the West and the globalists. And if the fruits of the smart strategy are not so obvious, this is because Putin is in the ambush. But he surely knows what he is doing, just trust him and don’t ask too many questions. Talking about Covid vaccines, it is interesting to see how small Russian community in Australia is divided: one party believes in Pfizer and the other party believes in Sputnik-V. The second party even demanded the Australian government to recognise Sputnik and allow Russian citizens to get vaccinated by Sputnik - the only vaccine they can trust - in order to leave and re-enter Australia. A friend of mine, a very intelligent man and true Russofile, has just recently returned from Moscow, fully jabbed by Sputnik and very proud of himself. However, being an honest man, he did not hide from me the fact that shortly after the second shot he and his wife both got sick with covid which quite ruined their holiday-making in Crimea. Unfortunately, Australia does not recognise Sputnik, so on return to Sydney my friend and his wife ended up in a quarantine hotel at a cost of $3500 for 14 days, while other incoming travellers jabbed by Pfizer, Astra or Moderna were allowed to quarantine for 7 days at home. But of course he had no regrets about paying a hefty price for his patriotism. When I told him that Sputnik is the same sh…t as Astra Zeneca, that they are twin brothers, he said that I don’t get it, and that while technology is seemingly the same, Sputnik is much better purified and does not contain harmful ingredients which Astra does…. In short, Putin has outsmarted the West again. What can I say? I gave up on my otherwise intelligent friend and other compatriots like him. But thank you Edward for the “Inside the Whale” metaphor - this is it.
Orlov has made only one significant remark on this issue so far, something about Western ´´paid´´ opposition to the vaccine rollout in Russia.
Several months ago, (as a respectful but tentative follower) I was disappointed that he was avoiding any critical analysis of Russia´s involvement with the WEF. Being a dedicated Russophile, I asked him to please address the somewhat dissonant issue of ´´Herr Gref and Herr Mishustin´´ at the top table of cyber polygon, while Western mass media were simultaneously rambling on about the ´´Russian´´ cyber threat. This issue had been highlighted with surgical precision by Whitney Webb and I stupidly thought Orlov would have a different but logical ´´interpretation´´ of such an anomaly. All we got however was his ever more tired polemic about the ´´imminent ´´collapse´´ of the US empire.
There is a lot of ´´Slithering´´ going on everywhere and unfortunately for us who love Russia and Russian culture, there too, the slugs are rampant!!
So thanks Edward for your energy and for opening an important space for the wider Anglophone resistance.
You are on fire, bro!
Believe it or not Dmitry Orlov (D.O., pronounced D’oh!) reads your blog. How could he not? You, Mr. Sheppard, and precious few others are lifting the lid on the worldwide con re: Russia.
Pancake boi, AKA блин, AKA crepe, Kremlin apologist and bootlicker extraordinaire posted his drivel a few days ago. He’s butthurt that his magnum opus “Economic Collapse of the West” has been upstaged by the ongoing bust-out of capitalism’s western project via the covid hoax.
And that is what it is, too. Organized destruction of SMEs. Degradation and dismantlement of security forces including armed services. Take down of “health” care system. Dismemberment of education at every level. Yuri Bezmanov would be proud. Did he realize before his death that he was working for western capitalists?
Hey Dmitry, do you really believe that your pseudo-intellectual status and not-quite-perfect command of American English will entitle you to special privileges when the worldwide gulag system is implemented? They are going to lock up your ass too, MFer!
Riley, Motovun might be a really good place for a retreat. It is on a hill. Italian is spoken/understood. You will fit right in.
It was shocking to me too, as a Russophile, making a Russia-Norway FB group in 2018, first to see Putin all over himself with "Satan" Klaus, and then coming across this site with info on Russia I've never before seen.
So I had to swallow the bitter Red Pill on whats going on in Russia, as I previously have swallowed the Red Pill on what the intersexual dynamics between men and women really are, as opposed to the fake Disneylike dogma media presents us with.
So links to our group about what is really happening goes down poorly.
Most people are afraid of confrontation and simply dont like. Some voice strong emotional protests, devoid of discussing facts, and a few have left the group. They weren't ready and choose to remain Blue pilled.
Very disappointing. I think Orlov was my entrée into the alt-Russia blogosphere with his interesting analyses of the West's cultural decline and the decline of the USSR. Alas, if he is advocating the whole vaccine & QR-code regime, he is just advocating for a return to the Soviet Union. But worse. Mandatory injections for everyone - not just selected dissidents. And a digital propiska on steroids. Ugh.
Leaving the whale makes me want to crawl into a bottle...
My wife is Russian. My daughter lives and works in Moscow. I am quite familiar with Russia and I find it a beautiful place to be, the people are fantastic (the ones I have met). I had admired President Putin because I thought he was the guy who was standing up for all the good things that we in the west have deliberately and foolishly discarded(ing)—you know those civilization-building things. My daughter always disagreed with me regarding Mr. Putin, but I always chalked that up to youthful ignorance. But now this scamdemic has changed my mind. Given the alleged treatment of Russia by the west, I had thought that this was the perfect time/event for Mr. Putin to come out and expose what is going on. I mean surely with all the resources of the SVR, FSB, GRU etc. he would no problem collecting evidence right? Instead, he has jumped on the globalist bandwagon. So my tentative conclusions are: 1) that he has probably been part of the cabal the whole time or has been converted (2014 could have been the time), 2) that there are no sanctions from the west, it is all smoke and mirrors, and 3) that this Russophilic media is all disinformation—the bird-man and Orlov especially. So my hopes have been dashed, there is no place left on earth for men of honor, we are all screwed.
Orlov is a piece of shit. It's well explained here by Riley.
He wrote something on his Facebook wall about how bad the western vaccines turned out in NZ. I simply replied that none of them work, including Sputnik. He replied demanding proof or, in his words, GTFO. I replied simply "classy", then he made fun of my name like an immature child and booted me out.
I found his e-mail and told him what I think of him, but that's x-rated so best kept private, haha.
Anyhow, Dmitry Orlov has lost any credibility he ever had.
Thanks, at least for your mentioning of Putinasskisser, TheFaker! Funny thing is even Paul Craig Roberts (supposedly to be Russia Expert) has sung many songs inside the whale!
🤣🤣🤣
I hear Xi is envious about how controlled the Russian media are.