Translated material
Medvedev, stop trailing behind!
Dmitry Anatolyevich, you wrote
article “Russia, forward!”, offering to join its discussion. Sorry, but my comment will be brief.
To begin with, I couldn’t make out where the cry “Russia, forward!” came to me from. Maybe this is the cry of a man who has become an example for everyone in the fight against corruption? Maybe he personally exposed high-ranking corrupt officials? No. Maybe this person is an example of protecting the rights of citizens, maybe he defended refugees, compatriots, or the disabled, or veterans, or children with cancer who do not receive free treatment? Not again. Maybe this person has grown some kind of innovative business from scratch? No again!
Well, okay, maybe the person shouting was the head of an independent party, went through the thorns of the electoral process and through many years of political activity proved that he was worthy of becoming the head of the state? No, no and no!
So maybe this cry “Russia, forward!” was given by the overseer who walks behind? Or maybe someone expects dog-like submission from Russia, and this is something like the command “fas”?
Where is this leader who calls you forward? Is he ahead or where?
Tell me, maybe I don’t understand something, Dmitry Anatolyevich, but where will everything so beautiful that you described come from, if there was and is not an honest, open discussion of systemic, fundamental problems? You want there to be no weeds, but you don’t pull out the roots, limiting yourself to attaching beautiful petals to the thorns - maybe they’ll pass for a flower.
What the hell, excuse me, is the West? Is it his fault that in the capital of Russia citizens cannot hold even the most seedy picket, because they are prohibited from doing so? How do you plan to openly discuss problems if the whole of Russia has probably already been blacklisted on TV? What kind of innovation will you have, what kind of fight against corruption will you have if city mayors do not resign when their wives become billionaires doing business in the same city?
You want fresh air, but you yourself are afraid of it. You want the progress of Russia, but with the preservation of all your secrets about your cooperatives “Ozero” and Kremlin-9.
Have you ever thought that Russia’s progress and the system you built might simply be incompatible? Has it ever occurred to you that the best future of Russia and your personal political future may contradict each other? How can political gopism be connected with freedom, democracy, development? Handsome people are not born in nuclear waste. Development and beauty require a different atmosphere.
Dmitry Anatolyevich, you want competition and leadership in the world, but you are afraid to compete even with the most seedy opponents. Your condition for criticism is wagging your tail, remaining silent about the root problems. A straight look, an unruly head, and honest speech are not the inhabitants of your corridors.
Are you really ready to meet a free, strong, independent, thinking Russia, Dmitry Anatolyevich? Will you pass this test? Won't you dissipate like smoke and no one will remember what it was?
Put away the whip. Stop being a driver. Learn to stand next to your citizens. Learn to hear them, and not your phobias and myths. Go through competition yourself, through disputes, through disagreement with you. And maybe someday you will learn to be ahead. But the one who is ahead has the right to say “Russia, forward!” And people will hear this. And it will go along with this.