The 2021 Nobel Peace Prize winner is concerned about how far the Kremlin is willing to go in a confrontation with the West. BBC. “Two generations lived without the threat of nuclear war,” says Muratov. “But this time is over.”
“Will Putin push the nuclear button or not? Who knows? Nobody knows. There is no one person who can say for sure,” says the Russian journalist.
A few days ago, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, and his close adviser Nikolai Patrushev warned that Russia has “a single modern weapon capable of destroying any enemy, including the United States.”
“We see how propaganda prepares people to believe that nuclear war is not a bad thing,” says Muratov. “On TV channels here, nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons are advertised like animal feed.”
“We have this missile, that missile, another type of missile,” they declare. I speak of an attack on Great Britain and France; About triggering a nuclear tsunami that inundates America. Why am I doing this? So the people here are ready,” he said.
Despite repeated threats launched in public, Kremlin propaganda portrays Russia as a country promoting peace, while accusing Ukraine and the West of being aggressors. And many Russians believe the propagandists.
“There will be no normal relations between the Russian and Ukrainian peoples”
“People in Russia were irradiated by the propaganda,” says Muratov. “Propaganda is a form of radiation. Not only Russians, but everyone is affected by it. In Russia, propaganda is spread by 12 TV channels, tens of thousands of newspapers, social networks like VK (Russian version of Facebook), which fully support the state ideology.
“I’m sure that once the propaganda stops, this generation – everyone with common sense – will speak up,” says Muratov.
As for the Russians who support Putin, Muratov admits, “But these are old people who see Putin as their own grandson, someone who protects them, who brings them a pension every month and wishes them a happy New Year. Every year. These people believe that their real grandchildren will go to war and die.”
Last year, Muratov sold his Nobel Prize to raise money for displaced Ukrainian children. The Russian journalist has little reason to be optimistic. “There will never be normal relations between the Russian and Ukrainian people. Never. Ukraine cannot accept this tragedy,” Muratov said.
Muratov believes that political repression in Russia against all opponents of the regime will continue for a long time.
“The younger generation has only one hope; “People who see the world as a friend, not an enemy, want Russia to be loved and Russia to love the world,” says Muratov. I hope this generation will outlive me and Putin.
Author: Raul Nesoyu
Download the Digi24 app and find the most important news of the day
“Evil gamer. Amateur music trailblazer. Alcohol geek. Problem solver. Coffee advocate. Troublemaker. Infuriatingly humble zombieaholic.”