June 8th 2024.
At the recent Kremlin-organized 'Russian Davos', Professor Sergei Karaganov, a former advisor to President Vladimir Putin, portrayed the Russian leader as a divine savior sent by God to rescue humanity. Karaganov's hawkish views, even more extreme than Putin's, included advocating for tactical nuclear strikes against the West as a warning against supporting Ukraine. He reiterated these sentiments at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, suggesting that Russia should hold a 'nuclear pistol' to the head of the West.
But perhaps the most revealing moment was when Karaganov addressed Putin directly, speaking of the dire situation in 1998-99 when Russia was on the brink of collapse. He credited God for sending Putin to save the country, and acknowledged the difficult task ahead for the Russian president - not only to win, but also to save the world from sliding into a potential World War.
The Russian propaganda machine has consistently portrayed Putin as a powerful leader, capable of standing up against the West and its colonial tendencies. In a video shown at the forum, images of British soldiers fighting under the Union Jack, overflowing trunks of treasure, and slaves in chains were used to depict the West's plundering of other countries. The narrator claimed that Russia, with its long history of resisting Western colonization, is the only country capable of standing up to it.
Russia's cultural domination has been so strong that when Kazakhstan's president spoke his native language instead of Russian at a meeting with Putin, the Russian delegation was flustered and had to use interpreters. This highlights the extent to which the Russian language and culture have been imposed on other countries, even those with their own distinct identities.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine is seen by many as a continuation of Russia's centuries-long attempt to erase Ukrainian identity and absorb it into the Russian empire. Crimea, a territory occupied by Russia, used to have a predominantly ethnic Tatar population until they were deported and replaced with ethnic Russians. Similar population transfers occurred in other parts of Ukraine, as well as in Baltic states and central Asian countries.
The toll of this conflict has been devastating, particularly for ethnic minorities living in regions occupied by Russia. Conscription rates have been disproportionately high for these groups, and many have lost their lives in the fighting. This has led to high mortality rates in these regions, with some areas 75 times more likely to experience death than the capital, Moscow. This has also been attributed to the Kremlin's insulation from the true toll of the war, as it is far removed from these regions.
Despite this, Putin and his regime continue to use anti-imperialist rhetoric to defend their own imperial ambitions. In 2005, Putin referred to the collapse of the Soviet Union as 'the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century'. And just three months before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he lamented the disintegration of historical Russia under the Soviet Union. This imperial nostalgia was evident at the 'Russian Davos', where Karaganov asked Putin if he wanted to replicate the success of Peter the Great, the Tsar who made Russia an empire.
But while Putin may deny any threat to the West, his actions and rhetoric suggest otherwise. In a disturbing statement, Karaganov urged Putin to use nuclear weapons to 'smash the will of the West' and prevent a potential World War Three. He acknowledged the moral implications of such a decision, but claimed it was necessary for the survival of Russia and potentially the entire human civilization. This alarming sentiment is further exacerbated by the revelation that Karaganov owns a secret luxury apartment in Venice.
Despite these aggressive views, Putin has denied any intention to invade NATO territory and has claimed that he would only use nuclear missiles if Russia's sovereignty is threatened. However, the continuing conflict in Ukraine and the rhetoric of his advisors suggest otherwise. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen how Putin's imperial ambitions will impact the rest of the world.
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