Putin’s Russia: Corruption, Murder and The Resistance | Anna Chekhovich x Peter McCormack

59 topics
2h 5m 44s

Topics

  • 00:00:00 - Working with Navalny and the risks of Russian political opposition

  • 00:00:58 - Initial discussion on Telegram: Free speech vs. law enforcement compliance

  • 00:02:38 - Telegram's encryption strategy and information sharing policies

  • 00:03:21 - Investigation into Pavel Durov's suspicious ties to Russia

  • 00:05:14 - Concerns about Telegram's security and potential Kremlin capture

  • 00:06:00 - Balancing Telegram's risks with its utility as a media platform in Russia

  • 00:07:40 - Why isn't Telegram banned in Russia?

  • 00:08:04 - Pavel Durov's history: Founding VK, conflict with Russian government, and Telegram's origin

  • 00:10:31 - Durov's recent content moderation actions raise further questions

  • 00:11:11 - Comparing Telegram and Signal security; criticizing misinformation

  • 00:12:01 - Practical communication security measures beyond platform choice

  • 00:12:36 - Speaker's dual roles: Anti-Corruption Foundation and Human Rights Foundation (Bitcoin focus)

  • 00:13:44 - Personal experience with political persecution and exile from Russia

  • 00:15:17 - Police raids, asset seizure (theft), and fabricated charges in Russia

  • 00:16:38 - The escalating dangers and range of threats for Russian opposition figures

  • 00:17:37 - Transnational repression: Risks faced by Russian activists even in exile

  • 00:19:03 - Psychological impact: Normalization of fear and constant anxiety for activists

  • 00:19:48 - Navalny's courage as inspiration for the opposition movement

  • 00:21:11 - Hope and determination during Navalny's 2017 presidential campaign

  • 00:22:33 - Escalating repression and targeting of protesters in recent years

  • 00:23:38 - Reality of life in Russia: Propaganda, information control, and political awareness

  • 00:26:35 - The chilling effect of propaganda and perceived lack of opposition support

  • 00:29:03 - Putin's infrastructure of fear, control, and citizen reporting

  • 00:30:32 - Supporting underground activism via secure platforms (Tor)

  • 00:31:25 - What is the real level of support for Putin in Russia?

  • 00:34:06 - Russia as a mafia state: Corruption and lack of genuine ideology

  • 00:35:25 - The role of oligarchs in Putin's rise and the fate of Boris Nemtsov

  • 00:37:49 - Navalny's political campaigns and the regime's efforts to block him

  • 00:40:17 - Advertisement: Iron Minds Currency

  • 00:41:11 - How Russia's "democratic process" prevents real opposition participation

  • 00:45:08 - The nature of Russia's Parliament: Controlled opposition

  • 00:45:47 - Navalny's anti-corruption focus and the regime's reliance on it

  • 00:48:29 - Putin's hidden wealth, isolation, and paranoia

  • 00:50:30 - How Putin's isolation makes him a victim of his own propaganda

  • 00:51:59 - Debunking rumors of Putin's serious illness; discussing his vanity and extreme security

  • 00:53:40 - The inherent paranoia and risks of being a dictator

  • 00:54:33 - The pervasiveness of corruption in Russia and its deadly consequences

  • 00:59:51 - Russia exporting corruption and the need for targeted sanctions

  • 01:02:40 - Effectiveness and strategy of sanctions against oligarchs

  • 01:07:36 - The impact of sanctions on ordinary Russians and athletes

  • 01:10:24 - Personal experiences of anti-Russian sentiment abroad

  • 01:12:27 - Navalny's strategy: Using elections to build hope and opposition

  • 01:16:46 - Navalny's return to Russia and immediate arrest

  • 01:20:35 - The fabricated legal charges used against Navalny

  • 01:22:46 - The complete institutional capture required by the Russian regime

  • 01:24:51 - Navalny's enduring spirit vs. his physical treatment in prison

  • 01:27:28 - The struggle for Navalny's body and the suspicious circumstances of his death

  • 01:31:03 - Impact of repression on protest momentum and tactics

  • 01:34:29 - Rising aggression and danger within Russian society

  • 01:35:41 - Current strategies and challenges for the Russian opposition movement

  • 01:40:07 - Advertisement: Casa Bitcoin Inheritance

  • 01:40:28 - Differing international perspectives (US vs. Europe) on the Ukraine war

  • 01:46:22 - Export of Russian propaganda and its impact abroad

  • 01:49:36 - Activism as a lifetime commitment and personal calling

  • 01:51:19 - Bitcoin as an essential tool for human rights activists and NGOs

  • 01:58:06 - The crucial role of Bitcoin privacy tools for activist safety

  • 02:00:18 - Increasing awareness of Bitcoin's human rights use cases

  • 02:01:58 - Recognizing the sacrifices and broad scope of activism

  • 02:03:58 - How to support the Anti-Corruption Foundation and Human Rights Foundation