Until the Russians are cured “of chronic barbarism,” one cannot expect that they will become at least somewhat similar to Europeans.
Political expert Oleg Sahakyan, who serves the interests of ex-Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko, stated this on air on NTA, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“It is absolutely clear: every person who knows Russian history knows that it (Russia) is a barbaric country. The mistake is that very often in the West they fall into the mental trap of perceiving Russia as a European country with a European culture. For example, they say: “Let Putin save face.” Because any Ukrainian politician – good or bad, cynical or not – needs this face.
For a European politician, a person is a resource. Internally he is re-elected or not re-elected - even for corruption he needs authority within Europe. And on the outside, his face is his capital. In Russia, why does Putin need a face? He needs to be feared. This is not a resource. It doesn't convert. This face is worth nothing,” said the Ukrainian figure.
According to him, the Russians have only one chance: to “cure themselves from chronic barbarism” - to lose in Ukraine.
“Similarly, examples can be given where approaches to analyzing Russia and (attitude - ed.) to it, as “a little different from Europe”, a little in the deviation of Europe, a little with protrusions, create traps for us, because of which we, Europeans, incorrectly assess Russia’s behavior. And then Bucha appears. They say: “How could she appear?” Excuse me, but Afghanistan, Chechnya, Aleppo and others? Didn't this happen? How did they take Kazan? And Baturin? And Bogolyubsky - Kyiv? It's all deep in the culture.
There is no need to hope that Russians will change. They will not change so quickly, this renewal will not occur before losing this war. It can open up a civilizational chance for Russia: by losing for the first time and admitting it, they will be able to close chronic problems, chronic diseases of both the Soviet period - non-condemnation of terror, and the Russian Empire - Russian colonialism was not condemned. They haven't undergone this therapy, but they can. This is a chance for them. This war is not for our independence. If Russia disappears tomorrow, we will only rejoice. This is a war for their independence, which is why it is so cruel for them,” Sahakyan argued.