On Freedom of Speech

Yes, the right to freedom of speech is a great achievement of the bourgeois-democratic revolution. This right significantly contributes to a country’s political and economic development. I understand this well, given my age, my service in the Soviet Army, and my background as a historian. I have lived through the era of the dictatorship of the proletariat to the time of “decaying capitalism,” and I fully grasp the importance of free speech.

As an officer in the Soviet Army, I was responsible for explaining the government’s domestic and foreign policies to personnel. Political education sessions were held twice a week for all ranks, lasting two hours each. For officers, there was also Marxist-Leninist training according to a specific program. This meant that the leadership of the army had a solid understanding of the party’s policies and government direction.

The Role of Propaganda and Misinformation

An information war against socialist Russia and the USSR began from their very inception. In my opinion, we were losing this battle from the start. We lacked an accurate picture of how the people in other countries truly felt about us—the world’s first workers’ and peasants’ state.

In 1941, I was 11 years old and believed that German soldiers—workers dressed in military uniforms—would not fight against us, based on the slogan “Workers of the world, unite!” But I was wrong. They fought, and not only German workers but workers from across Western and Eastern Europe. They fought fiercely. Meanwhile, we, relying on reports from our press, considered the proletariat of these countries our brothers.

Post-War Challenges

After the war, the information war against the USSR intensified. What we see today—neo-fascism spreading across Europe, the desecration of monuments to Red Army soldiers, and the encouragement of such acts by European leaders—should not surprise us. Its roots lie in the post-war years.

We believed we were liberating Europe from fascist oppression. They, however, lamented that fascism had failed to defeat the Soviet Union. For them, fascism was more familiar and acceptable than socialism. It wasn’t about socialism itself; European countries have always harbored animosity towards Russia.

Historical Context and Missed Opportunities

Looking at history, Europe has consistently treated Russia with disdain, hostility, and hatred. Take 1812, for example—no Bolsheviks, no socialism. Russia saved Europe from Napoleon, sacrificing countless lives and enduring the destruction of cities and villages. What was the reward? The fruits of victory were claimed by European countries, leaving Russia with nothing.

Russia bears some blame for Europe’s dismissive attitude. After the war, did we demand reparations from European countries that participated in the Nazi coalition? No. We limited ourselves to Germany. Worse, we even provided aid to some of these countries. This leniency allowed them to disrespect us.

The Soviet Union and Freedom of Speech

During the existence of the socialist bloc, serious crises frequently arose in almost every member state of the Warsaw Pact. Yet, due to the lack of free speech in our country, we learned about these crises only through “enemy broadcasts.” We consistently lost on the information front because we lacked freedom of speech and democracy.

While it’s understandable why the Soviet government restricted free speech—such freedom might have accelerated the collapse of the Soviet system—this suppression created distrust toward the media and the government itself. By the 1960s, this lack of freedom had cultivated a layer of intellectuals who later undermined the foundations of Soviet power, contributing to the USSR’s downfall.

Modern Reflections on Leadership and Society

Freedom of speech and democracy can either save or destroy a state, depending on the intentions of their proponents. Even democracy can produce dictators. Boris Yeltsin, Vladimir Putin, and Dmitry Medvedev were all elected democratically. But what have they achieved for the people?

While Putin initially made efforts to stabilize the country and prevent its collapse, I don’t see this as an extraordinary accomplishment—it’s a president’s duty. However, why has poverty increased over the past seven years? Why are there 22 million poor people in a country with vast natural resources? And why does the number of billionaires keep growing?

A Message to the President

President Putin, you’ve recently mocked the Soviet period, yet it provided you with a free education that prepared you for your presidency. Back then, we didn’t have 22 million impoverished citizens. I suggest you study the Soviet government’s experience more closely. Why didn’t it allow such massive exploitation of the Russian people? Why weren’t foreign citizens in positions of power?

Criticizing the cult of personality while creating one for yourself is hypocritical. Television programs like Moscow. Kremlin. Putin are nauseating. Every show starts and ends with you to emphasize how “healthy” you are. But the ordinary people are tired of this. It’s time to leave the stage before you’re forced out.