To face Russia’s imperial heritage, the opposition has to acknowledge not only the brutality of Putin’s regime, but also the complicity a society which has long embraced denial and aggression.
The widow of the late Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny attended the Women of the Year lunch and Awards at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, England on October 7, 2024. (Hoda Davione/Dave Benett/Getty Images Women of the year)
In 2018, a prominent politician, who is now a war criminal on the run, asked: “What’s a world without Russia?” In 2024, a less prominent Russian official echoed the sentiment, but in a less threatening way. He said, “The disintegration would be a disaster, not only for our people and country, but a tragedy to the world.”
The first quote is from Russian President Vladimir Putin and the second comes from one of his most vocal critics, Illya Yashin, a dissident. Despite their disagreements, they both seem to be oblivious of the true cause of Moscow’s aggression: an empire built on deceit and violence, masquerading itself as a nation. Both are unwilling to confront the foundational lie that underpins their nation’s politics and culture.
The enduring legacy of Russian colonialism, manifested in this century’s wars against Georgia, Ukraine, and Ichkeria, is not due to a single leader or regime, but rather a mindset deeply ingrained in our collective psyche. Moscow, rooted in centuries of conquests, reframes aggressiveness as defense. This shields Russian society from facing its role in maintaining the empire and its violence.
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