This is what Russian historian and opposition politician Vladimir Kara-Murza tells independent Russian media Medusa.
Read all about the war in Ukraine
Kara Murza was sentenced earlier this year to 25 years in prison. Among the charges is that he allegedly damaged the reputation of the Russian military. He is serving his sentence in a high-security Russian prison. However, Meduza was able to interview a prominent critic of Vladimir Putin.
-It's dark
He is ruthless against the regime that he believes destroyed the Russian state in a short time.
– When someone who has been in power for a quarter of a century believes that this is not enough. When this country launches an unprovoked war on a neighboring country, it bombs cities, kills their residents, and occupies territory. Yes, and then it's dark, notes Vladimir Kara-Murza.
He describes Putin's era as a constant dismantling of the country, including the destruction of all institutions, such as parliament and courts. He believes the biggest political mistake was made when Russian leaders failed to deal with and punish those responsible during the dark years of the Soviet Union. Now he is warning Russians not to make the same mistake the day Putin's regime ends.
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– If evil is not understood, condemned and punished, it will certainly return, and this is exactly what we saw in Russia after 2000, sums up Vladimir Kara-Murza.
Watch the video: Putin is beaten by a “double gang”
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We must not waste the historic opportunity
Despite all the oppression, brutality and dictatorial way this huge country is governed, the historian sees hope for change, and believes it could come sooner than people think.
Kara-Murza compares Putin's reign to the dark years at the end of Nicholas I's rule, and the final years of Stalin's rule, which witnessed widespread state terrorism and extreme abuses against his own people.
– I believe that the changes in our country are much closer than they seem, and it is important to prepare for them now so as not to waste the historic opportunity.
– A semi-totalitarian state with strong control
Danish TV 2 Talk to Senior Researcher at the Danish Institute for International Studies, Flemming Spledsboll. Like Kara-Murza, he believes something big may be about to take shape.
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Russia has transformed from a traditional authoritarian state into a semi-totalitarian state with strong control. A place where you have to publicly express your support, and where it's not enough to be negative. Everyone will be asked to provide support, says Spledspoel, who is asking the world to be prepared for the possibility that something may happen, but it will not necessarily happen as quickly as the West had hoped.
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