Russian Albanologist: Russia's criminal war in Ukraine

In an interview with Radio Free Europe, he says free media in Russia have been shut down, while ordinary Russian citizens have been subjected to government propaganda for war in Ukraine and do not know the real reasons for Ukraine's Russian occupation.

Professor Rusakov describes the war in Ukraine as criminal by the Russian government, while, according to him, the consequences of sanctions on the Western world imposed on Russia have only begun and are expected to be felt for a long time.

Radio Free EuropeProfessor Rusakov, where are you currently?

Alexander Rusakov: I'm at my home in St. Patterson, where I work at the University of St. Petersburg, the Albanian Language Branch, and at the Institute of General Language in Patterson. But I'm home now.

Radio Free Europe: What's the current situation in the city where you live?

Alexander Rusakov: How do I tell you... On the outside, the situation is as always. Everyone works, all people go to stores, to cafes, and so on. But there are also protests against this war (in Ukraine). But, on the outside, the situation is quiet, here in Patterson.

Radio Free Europe: Is there fear in ordinary people in Russia about the consequences of the conflict in Ukraine but also the sanctions of the Western world that are becoming more and more serious?

Alexander Rusakov: For me, it's very difficult to answer for the opinions of the population in general, because the social opinion in Russia is now very divided. It's a lot of unfortunately, for me to support the actions of the Government (of Russia) and they watch and listen to television and believe propaganda. Propaganda says everything will be fine. Meanwhile, it's a minority I can't tell you how much this minority is. It's not small. It seems to me that it is 20 or 25 percent, perhaps more or perhaps less, who are in terrible condition because they realize that this is a criminal war against friendly people, against people who are very close to the Russian people.

That is true because almost all Russians have relatives and friends in Ukraine. They have blood in Ukraine. I, for example, am also a Ukrainian.

Radio Free EuropeProfessor, you mentioned propaganda in Russia. What is the situation regarding information today in Russia, and how are Russian citizens informed about the war in Ukraine?

Alexander Rusakov: Now, the information situation is getting worse every day. For example, the last free television station Dozhez closed Wednesday. Also, Moscow's Ekho radio station was shut down, which was a very popular radio in Russia. Now only the internet can give us free information, but even the internet is narrowing down and everyone needs to use the Wiber and other tools to listen to the tools of free information that provide objective information. This is because from state television people hear only propaganda, which is very aggressive.

Radio Free Europe: In your opinion, do ordinary Russian citizens know the reasons for this war and support the invasion of Ukraine from Russia?

Alexander Rusakov: The average citizen thinks according to Russian propaganda that this is the result of the aggressive politics of the Atlantic Union (North-Atlantic Alliance), which has its aims for Russia, that fascists, Nazis, and others have won Ukraine. That's not true. We understand, but the average citizen watching TV, who listens to our president's speeches (Vladimir Putin), thinks so. But, I can't tell you what the real proportion of those who believe official propaganda to those who don't.

Radio Free Europe: What's your opinion on the Russia-Ukrainian war?

Alexander RusakovMy opinion and the thought of many of my friends is that this is a criminal war, really...

Radio Free Europe: Criminal by whom?

Alexander Rusakov: My government's side of Russia. Yes, because it is an aggressive fight against a smaller state that poses no danger to Russia.

Radio Free Europe: Finally, Professor, are Western sanctions in Russia felt, did you notice them?

Alexander Rusakov: Yes, now we notice and we still just start to feel the consequences of these sanctions. But I think they'll also be very heavy, because we won't be able to pay, for example, for everything we buy in the West.

We now almost have no chance of going out. This has not been banned on the official side, but rather technically impossible, because planes do not fly in most Western countries and others. But I think now this is only a beginning and we will feel the consequences of these sanctions at the following time.

The situation is very unstable. We all do not know and cannot imagine how the situation will develop further, both on the part of war and on the inside of politics. That, too, will get harder here. The situation is severe.