Hardly. Russia is not the free utopia some have made it out to be. Freedom of speech is limited. Speaking out against Putin in particular could get one disappeared or at least arrested. There is no uncontrolled opposition in Russia - not anymore. The internet crackdown is because there has been a wave of Putin's own supporters within Russia that have been publicly starting to speak out and questioning what they have been told - especially concerning the war. Things are not good in Russia after 4 years of war and it is personally affecting the lives of Russians living in the two largest cities - the Russian core. Putin has always known if he keeps those two cities on his side, he is safe and in firm control of the country. Basically the regime could care less what happens to less populated and more isolated ethnic regions of the country. Recently there have been cracks in the facade of propaganda narratives where the core Russian people, along with many of the oligarchs, are starting to seriously question what they have been told. That is dangerous for the regime. That is why there has been a crackdown. Russia, and especially Putin, are standing on shaky ground and they know it. This is coming from within Russia among ethnic Russians, not external to it.
Authoritarian governments operate under a social contract with the people they govern. As long as the people that make up their base support can live a reasonably somewhat prosperous life, especially in the major cities like Moscow and St Petersburg, the people have little to no input as to how the government is run. It works for authoritarian regimes and the country is functional until it isn't. That is what is happening in Russia, China, and in Iran right now. Those social contracts are failing with the people that make up their core support. Their people are suffering the consequences and are speaking out about their discontent. This then becomes a dangerous situation for any authoritarian regime because the people start demanding political change instead of more cosmetic remedies. Superficial changes, like building more churches or other such cosmetic additions, will no longer work to pacify the people. So, the regime doubles down on the control because real political change is not an option. That is what we are seeing occur in all three of those countries that have restricted internet communications - a first step in what could be wider crackdowns at controlling unrest. They don't want their people reporting on what is really occuring within their respective countries - not with each other or the outside world. It's the usual playbook.
Hardly. Russia is not the free utopia some have made it out to be. Freedom of speech is limited. Speaking out against Putin in particular could get one disappeared or at least arrested. There is no uncontrolled opposition in Russia - not anymore. The internet crackdown is because there has been a wave of Putin's own supporters within Russia that have been publicly starting to speak out and questioning what they have been told - especially concerning the war. Things are not good in Russia after 4 years of war and it is personally affecting the lives of Russians living in the two largest cities - the Russian core. Putin has always known if he keeps those two cities on his side, he is safe and in firm control of the country. Basically the regime could care less what happens to less populated and more isolated ethnic regions of the country. Recently there have been cracks in the facade of propaganda narratives where the core Russian people, along with many of the oligarchs, are starting to seriously question what they have been told. That is dangerous for the regime. That is why there has been a crackdown. Russia, and especially Putin, are standing on shaky ground and they know it. This is coming from within Russia among ethnic Russians, not external to it.
Authoritarian governments operate under a social contract with the people they govern. As long as the people that make up their base support can live a reasonably somewhat prosperous life, especially in the major cities like Moscow and St Petersburg, the people have little to no input as to how the government is run. It works for authoritarian regimes and the country is functional until it isn't. That is what is happening in Russia, China, and in Iran right now. Those social contracts are failing with the people that make up their core support. Their people are suffering the consequences and are speaking out about their discontent. This then becomes a dangerous situation for any authoritarian regime because the people start demanding political change instead of more cosmetic remedies. Superficial changes, like building more churches or other such cosmetic additions, will no longer work to pacify the people. So, the regime doubles down on the control because real political change is not an option. That is what we are seeing occur in all three of those countries that have restricted internet communications - a first step in what could be wider crackdowns at controlling unrest. They don't want their people reporting on what is really occuring within their respective countries - not with each other or the outside world. It's the usual playbook.