The First One
There, among them/us—lived a man who could have become a leader.
He shook hands with Thatcher and Clinton, McCain and McFaul, Cameron and Biden. And many others.
At that time, he embodied a still-possible pro-Western civilizational choice for Russia.
He was not a dictator. He was not a despot. That is why they/we—laughed at his white trousers, ridiculed (and envied) his love for women and his success with the finest women, mocked his unexpected openness, and chuckled at his proposal that officials should drive Volgas. And they mocked many other things as well.
They/we—quietly accepted that, despite any logic of constitutional law, Yeltsin and his family essentially installed his successor for them/us. An unremarkable man, unknown to everyone (a subhuman).
And they tried to forget that cheerful and open fellow. A man who embodied the pro-Western choice. Why? Because it turned out that they/we—are not worthy of his choice or of the man himself.
And then Putin killed that fellow.
The fellow who was killed near the Kremlin was named Boris Nemtsov.
And fifty or a hundred thousand people came out for the protest demonstration. A drop in the ocean of the multi-million population of Moscow and the Moscow region. Not to mention Russia. They forgot about him.
The Second One
Also there, among them/us—lived another man. A cheerful guy, full of life, devoted to his family. And they laughed at that again, as if it were not a virtue, but a flaw.
We watched his anti-corruption investigations with pleasure. Some were outraged. Some said, “Look how they live!” But a significant portion of us echoed the propaganda: “He’ll get to power and be just the same.”
And they did not like him. They did not like him for his courage, his openness, even for his effort to be liked by people and to look good in photos—they did not like him. And they laughed at what he believed in. He even believed in God. And he believed in us.
They made fun of his “six-pack” (well-developed abdominal muscles, editor’s note), mocked his “smart voting.” They envied his looks and charisma.
He had many flaws. Especially regarding national issues.
And they did not and would not forgive him for that.
Then he was poisoned. At first, many did not believe it. Then it was proven.
Miraculously, he survived. Yes, that miracle happened thanks to his strong health, his friends—and thanks to the persistence of his wife.
But it was a miracle.
Then he returned. “I am not afraid—and you should not be afraid either!”
He hoped that they/we—would not be terrified. That we would take to the streets. But we were terrified. Except for tens, maybe hundreds of thousands of genuine and brave people—we were terrified. But there were catastrophically few of us.
And then Putin killed this guy too. The guy Putin killed in prison was named Alexei Navalny.
And it turned out that they/we—are not worthy even of his memory and his name.
Alexei was killed when the war was already in full swing. And he spoke about it in prison, wrote about it, supported Ukraine. But these words of his did not make it into the posthumous Russian-language edition of his book.
Someone’s hand (I don’t believe it was the editorial staff) decisively struck it out—his true political and human legacy.
And it turned out that even his followers, his former team, are not worthy of his memory.
The Others
And during the war, others came. With weapons in hand. They are different. Maksimilian Andronnikov is not Petr Ruzavin. And Petr Ruzavin is not Denis Kapustin.
But these guys are united by one thing. They have weapons in their hands. And it is they who will come to Russia after its inevitable defeat in Ukraine.
They will come. With weapons in hand. And they will no longer ask you/us. We had chances. Chances to be asked. You/we—squandered all those chances (forgive me). That is why both Boris and Alexei were killed.
That is why Denis will come. Or Petr. Or all of them together. Or others whom you—not I and not we—call fascists.
Hey, ladies and gentlemen, the fascists are on the other side. It was the fascists who took everything from you. They took all your freedoms. Your soldiers are rampaging in Ukraine. Your officers are throwing you into pits. Your fellow soldiers are taking your money. And it is you who are killing Ukrainians just because they are Ukrainians. The Nazis are Putin’s people. You are confusing the sides again.
But for you, the fascist is Denis Kapustin. Nonsense.
You betrayed one man. You betrayed the second. They were killed.
And now—and therefore—your opinion today does not matter at all. No, they will not kill or rape you. They will even ask you in real referendums, as Kapustin says.
But no one will ask whether you like it or not.
I’ll let you in on a secret—I don’t like it in many ways either. But still.
You did not take up a weapon. But he did. He will be the one speaking, not the snide commentators. They will speak. And you/we—will listen. And be silent. Silent even when you are called upon to speak. Because you are cowards.
Understand this, people have come—or rather, are coming—whom you will no longer be able to betray. You might even want to, but it won’t work. They have weapons in their hands.
But no one wants loyalty from you. No one wants you to stand at attention.
Denis wants, Petr wants, Maksimilian wants—and we all want you to feel like human beings. And then, with any luck, like citizens.
The war either is, or it isn’t
This interview (Yury Dud’s interview with Denis Kapustin, editor’s note) has once again divided us into two groups: those for whom the war does not exist. And those for whom it does.
Nothing else matters.
Either the war is, or it isn’t. If it is, then there are heroes—our heroes, with weapons in hand. And if it isn’t—you can invent fascists, Nazis, and whatever else.
But your words no longer mean anything. No one will ask you anything. Not at first. And no one will invite you anywhere. Because you would betray again.
You have already wasted your time.
You killed bright people.
And so others have come in their place.
Those who will not be killed so easily. And who themselves kill and are killing every piece of scum.
So watch. Listen. Perceive. They are coming to liberate you. You don’t like it? Look higher. You missed everything else.
Nemtsov. Navalny. Kapustin. Evolution, or involution?
I don’t know. That is your problem.
But the arrival of Kapustin is no accident. The times call for him. It is a challenge of the times. And the answer to that challenge.
You don’t agree with everything? Please. Neither do I. Especially when looking at it outside the context of the present.
But now it is war, not the peaceful times of Larry King. Do not compare the incomparable.
And if you have the opportunity, help the volunteers.
Help however you can.
If Ukraine wins, the bright times will be closer. And they will liberate us/you.
People with weapons in their hands—will liberate.
We have no other heroes for you.
Glory to Ukraine!
Glory to our heroes—the volunteers.
Glory to the heroes!
