Putin's responsibility and the responsibility of the Russians

The effort to separate Putin's responsibility from that of the Russians has been necessary and sensible thus far.

The danger of Russophobia is real and the blame should only fall on a despot who, under the guise of elections, has been assuming an autocratic and authoritarian power that excludes freedom of the press and expression, freedom of political parties, basic rights such as equality regardless of sexual orientation and more signs of a drift towards the totalitarianism of the darkest regimes.

The possibility of exercising dissidence has been closing like an arctic night in winter.

Trying to lead an alternative party in Russia costs you your life or jail.

Poisoning is already customary.

The display of power goes beyond ostracism and humiliation of the opponent.

And the revival of Stalinism indicate Putin's preferred path.

But a time has come when the Russians must react.

The images of murders of civilians with their hands tied, old people fallen in the street, cyclists killed on public roads and mass graves must have somehow reached them despite the censorship.

The hoaxes of the Kremlin about a possible setup by Zelensky can no longer be credible for a people that is cultured, well educated and with a great weight of education such as the Russian people.

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Last minute of the war in Ukraine, live

The Germans have been burdened for decades with the regret that Hitler advanced in his criminal delirium without enough being done to stop him.

Great books such as

by Sebastian Haffner or the great

by Tony Judt or the immense work of Victor Klemperer have illuminated the mistake of a blind or defenseless people in the face of the brutality of their leaders.

It is an understandable weakness.

But also an error that is paid.

Democratic countries and non-governmental organizations are already contemplating the difficult possibilities of prosecuting war crimes: it will be very difficult through the International Criminal Court, since Russia is not a member.

The court under the Council of Europe is also not viable because Russia has abandoned this organization.

Initiatives or suggestions are opened to create a specific one, as other criminals had.

All this will be necessary to close the path to impunity for crimes.

But nothing can stop a leader more immediately than the rejection of his population, his teams, his intellectuals.

A heroism, yes, but also a lesson in dignity that would help the Russians to reconstitute —for themselves— their own national pride.

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