March 2020
At first, constitutional amendments were discussed. The amendments are long, hard to read, something on pensions, something on maternity/parent capital. Even God is mentioned in there, and just imagine: the state granted 14,625,870,900 rubles were channelled for promotion and clarification of these amendments. But on March 10th they offered to add zeroing of the current president’s terms! Right after President Putin’s statement broadcasted live, Natalia Shavshukova, a psychologist and former municipal deputy, while on live television, said the following:
“Rarely is it possible to watch a coup d’état on live television. And now the voting on April 22 is taking on some new meaning. The coup d’état live is what Putin just did. That the vote is illegitimate – everyone understands that. There were disputes in the opposition – to ignore or not to ignore, the amendments were not really so terrible … Well, yes, if you read the current text of the amendments – they certainly are not so terrible. But taking into account what has now been said, voting “No” becomes the duty of every citizen of the Russian Federation, because if we do say “no” we will preserve the framework of the state, the foundation of the state structure. We will not allow one person, who now declares “The state, it’s me”, to use state institutions in his own interests. He identifies himself with this post, he is rooted in it. As a psychologist, I find it obvious that it is a professional deformation of personality. He is clearly not going to leave. I really do not want to go out to the streets, I am a peaceful person. I am used to solving issues through elections. What I do, I work on preparing an opposition to go to municipal elections. But now President Putin is provoking a revolution with his actions.” The men sitting in the studio showed with their silence and body language that they did not agree with Natalia. It is hard to say what they really think. About men who are silent and do not interfere, people here often say – “Well, he has a family to feed”.
Then the deputies voted on the amendments. Seventy MPs spoke out against it, in the Russian regions – Yakut parliament as a whole. It was good news.
Then there was an appeal to the Constitutional Court not to recognize the amendments as corresponding to the basic law of the state. The petition was initiated by academicians and writers and signed by many others, including me, through social networks. But the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation gave a non-critical conclusion. On this conclusion, sharp words were said and spread on Facebook: “rarely when the spirit of slavery and intellectual cowardice express themselves with such completeness in a written text”.
At the same time one talks about going to the polling stations on April 22nd, using this occasion for a protest action. Only what about the COVID19 quarantine? And yesterday, March 17th, a decree on national voting on April 22 was signed! If not postponed, this will be a “plague vote”. Kirill Rogov writes, QUOTE “While the whole world is cancelling everything, closing everything, and urging citizens not to gather in groups and not leave their homes, Vladimir Putin is signing a decree on “all-Russian voting” (the form not stipulated by law), on the basis of which he is going to rule for another 15 years. Isn’t that a reason to cancel all quarantines? Or will everyone vote without leaving home? Oh, yes, we forgot that in Russia people are not really needed for a voting. Ms. Pamfilova will announce the results in advance and people will not take health risks! The main news of the day. Perhaps outside of Russia people ask whether we have gone crazy here. And by the way, I have a version on why Vladimir Putin schedules the vote for April 22 – the birthday of Lenin, who organized the most terrible and bloody civil war in Russia’s history. It’s just that he wants to go to the mausoleum.” UNQUOTE.
And here’s a picture where everything is together: the virus, empty toilet paper shelves, and amendments to the Constitution. Folklore. “Novelty! Constitution. Now in rolls. Even more convenient. Covid Family Pack! “Zeroing” presidential terms.
Thank you, Facebook! Where else would I see it?
