Entrepreneur and television producer Andrei Ekis reports that he was recently called a Russophobe.
"And it is important to understand how this word works in the language of propaganda. In propaganda, the word 'Russophobe' is not used to defend the Russian people. It is used to deliberately conflate Putin's regime with the Russian people.
You say: the Russian state behaves aggressively. You say: let's talk about facts, not slogans.
And the response: you are a Russophobe.
This serves one purpose — criticism of the regime is presented as an attack on the entire nation. It nullifies the conversation. There is no need to talk about solutions, responsibility, or violence anymore. It creates the impression that the problem lies with you, because you supposedly 'hate all Russians.' But this is not true. Putin's regime is not the Russian people.
Millions of people with different views live in Russia, and many of them suffer from this regime themselves. That is why this tactic is so convenient: the aggressor can portray themselves as a victim! But the Russian people are used as a cover for the regime's actions. Criticizing authoritarian power does not mean hating the people. Blending these two things is a deliberate manipulation," emphasizes A. Ekis.
Yanis: There is no point in justifying or explaining oneself. Hostile people will always use some narrative – fascist or Russophobe. Moreover, a phobia is a fear, but I, for example, do not fear them, so I always ask to call me a Russophile, because I cannot live without exposing evil.
Dzinters: It's very simple: if you support Ukraine and condemn Putin's war and its supporters, then you are a Russophobe! It has nothing to do with Russians here.
Horen Stalbe: Nowadays, words like 'genocide,' 'fascism,' etc., are used inappropriately and without tolerance for differing opinions.
Edgars: I am also a Russophobe x 10.
Terz: Those who were once 'anti-Soviet' are now 'Russophobes.' Moreover, the first version did not sound as false.
But the real Russophobes – in the literal sense of the word – are today's inhabitants of the Kremlin. Those who are in a panic about their own people.
