Not even joking. Our (Russian) pro-western libs always make a big deal about “right to protest”. Used to have big gatherings on 31st of some month (because right to assembly is 31st article of the constitution, AFAIK). That got wrapped up eventually. More recently we had people posing with empty sheets of paper in front of cameras, usually next to some important building (i.e. next to kremlin on the red square). And when those people eventually got bagged by cops (which arguably was the point of these performances) they would soapbox about how this doesn’t happen in le free and enlightened democratic West.
But but IRAN!
But Russia!
Not even joking. Our (Russian) pro-western libs always make a big deal about “right to protest”. Used to have big gatherings on 31st of some month (because right to assembly is 31st article of the constitution, AFAIK). That got wrapped up eventually. More recently we had people posing with empty sheets of paper in front of cameras, usually next to some important building (i.e. next to kremlin on the red square). And when those people eventually got bagged by cops (which arguably was the point of these performances) they would soapbox about how this doesn’t happen in le free and enlightened democratic West.
So yeah. I’m gonna be laughing all the way.