Andrei Illarionov: Russia is the Beginning of a Disaster

Andrei Illarionov, once one of Vladimir Putin's top economic advisors, just dropped a column in The Wall Street Journal titled "Beginning of disaster." About eighteen months ago, he was warning us about a potential disaster; a month and a half ago, he was introducing the disaster; and now, the disaster is officially underway. The big catalyst here is the upcoming election on December 2nd. Honestly, this whole campaign feels like a dark rerun of history. It’s giving me major vibes from the USSR 12.12.1937 Supreme Soviet elections and the 1933 Reichstag elections in Germany. All three of these periods share the exact same playbook: blatant lawbreaking—even by the people who wrote the laws—wildly theatrical displays bordering on psychosis, blocking political rivals from running, intimidation, terror, violence, and straight-up throwing opponents in jail. The December 2nd vote isn't an election; it's a special operation. It’s a coordinated effort involving United Russia, the "for Putin" crowd, and the "Us" youth movement. Their main goal? To legalize the regime—not just the one we have now, but the one they’re building over the next few months. Once you start tearing down modern institutions like an independent parliament, the courts, free media, local governors, the civil service, and even the presidential administration itself, there's no stopping it. And it looks like they're just getting started.

The Wall Street Journal:
http://www.ej.ru/?a=note&id=7613

English translation:
http://publiuspundit.com/articles/20..._the_russi.php

Look, I can see it now. Andrei Illarionov is going to make a killing over the next few years. He’ll be touring around the US, lecturing at all those fancy Western universities, basically pulling back the curtain on what Putin’s regime is actually about. Just one sit-down interview with Larry King and he’ll probably walk away with half a million bucks easy. Then comes the book deals—he'll write all these deep dives into the true nature of Putin's rule, and they'll be shipped off to every prestigious Ivy League school in the country.

Who knows? Maybe he’ll even snag a Nobel Prize.

😵

northernbison63 said:Look, I can see it now. Andrei Illarionov is going to make a killing over the next few years. He’ll be touring around the US, lecturing at all those fancy Western universities, basically pulling back the curtain on what Putin’s regime is actually about. Just one sit-down interview with Larry King and he’ll probably walk away with half a million bucks easy. Then comes the book deals—he'll write all these deep dives into the true nature of Putin's rule, and they'll be shipped off to every prestigious Ivy League school in the country.

Who knows? Maybe he’ll even snag a Nobel Prize.

😵

So what if he does make some money? Look, people in developed countries find certain things happening in places like the former America, Russia, Asia, Africa, and Latin America totally incomprehensible. Whether or not students actually decide to read his stuff is really up to them, isn't it?

The whole process of dismantling the pillars of modern government and society—things like an independent Congress, a fair judiciary, most of the free press, non-partisan governor offices, the professional civil service, and even the White House itself—once that momentum kicks in, it’s hard to stop. It feels like once it starts, there’s no turning back, and honestly, it looks like it’s just going to keep rolling.

This is just complete nonsense. Before Putin took over, none of the institutions in Russia were actually functioning properly anyway. The military is undergoing modernization and has started this unstoppable push toward becoming more professional (I could go on about that, but whatever, it's not important). During Yeltsin's era, various mobsters and oligarchs actually liquidated far more journalists than we've seen during Putin's time, yet back then, nobody in the West was even writing about it... So, the idea that they are moving toward a one-party system in Russia is a lie. Any halfway decent analyst knows that the ultimate goal of Russia's transformation is basically to "copy" the American two-party system, since that offers the most stability and progress. That's really all I have to say on the matter. It seems like Illarionov has just decided to run an anti-Putin campaign just to make a quick buck 🙂

Russia is turning into a total totalitarian state. People can deny it all they want, but you just can't hide what's actually happening on the ground. According to official numbers, Putin and his United Russia party controlled about 97% of the news coverage on national TV—leaving the remaining 3% for the few people who even got a shot at running in the elections. Then, in just a matter of days, three journalists from BBC Moscow—Davlat Qudrat, Mikhail Denisov, and Yevgeny Demchenko—were attacked and left with various injuries. A coincidence? I mean, sorry, but I really don't think so. It feels like a new USSR is right around the corner.

slydrifter Asks:
Russia is turning into a full-blown totalitarian state. People can try to deny it all they want—and believe me, some will—but you simply cannot hide from the facts on the ground. According to official data, Vladimir Putin and his United Russia party controlled a staggering 97% of the airtime on national television. That leaves a measly 3% for everyone else, and even then, that tiny slice was only for those lucky enough to actually be allowed to run in the elections. It’s like a rigged game where the house owns the cards, the table, and the dealer. To make matters worse, within just a few days, three journalists from BBC Moscow—Davlat Qudrat, Mikhail Denisov, and Yevgeny Demchenko—were physically attacked and left with varying degrees of injuries. Is that just a coincidence? I’m sorry, but I don't buy it for a second. Not by a long shot. A new USSR is right on the horizon.

God willing. 🙂 It’s been a long time since we’ve had anyone around to actually keep Americans on their toes and provide a bit of balance.

Russia's future looks pretty uncertain right now. It'll be interesting to see how things unfold.

I honestly find myself hoping that Dmitry Medvedev, should he ever ascend to the presidency of the Russian Federation, might decide to pull a complete reversal and turn on Putin, much like how Putin has historically betrayed his own inner circle.
It’s a classic case of poetic justice—may the hunter become the hunted.
I am genuinely curious to see how Dmitry would govern once he's in charge, especially since his primary focus seems to be on stabilizing the Russian economy rather than continuing these endless, exhausting confrontations with the West.

Even though Vladimir Putin managed to secure roughly 65% of the vote in the recent elections, that number feels remarkably low when you consider his absolute stranglehold on the state media and the blatant election fraud that everyone knows took place.

goldenmason172 said:I honestly find myself hoping that Dmitry Medvedev, should he ever ascend to the presidency of the Russian Federation, might decide to pull a complete reversal and turn on Putin, much like how Putin has historically betrayed his own inner circle.
It’s a classic case of poetic justice—may the hunter become the hunted.
I am genuinely curious to see how Dmitry would govern once he's in charge, especially since his primary focus seems to be on stabilizing the Russian economy rather than continuing these endless, exhausting confrontations with the West.

Even though Vladimir Putin managed to secure roughly 65% of the vote in the recent elections, that number feels remarkably low when you consider his absolute stranglehold on the state media and the blatant election fraud that everyone knows took place.

Lucky, what exactly is this "well-known fraud" you're talking about? Seriously, do you have a link? I'm genuinely interested in seeing the details.

Secondly, who’s giving you any guarantee that Medvedev will even become President? It’s entirely possible Putin just proposes some third person altogether. Besides, how much did any of you actually care about Putin before he replaced Yeltsin? Exactly—nobody.

Paul Johnson5 said:Lucky, what exactly is this "well-known fraud" you're talking about? Seriously, do you have a link? I'm genuinely interested in seeing the details.

Secondly, who’s giving you any guarantee that Medvedev will even become President? It’s entirely possible Putin just proposes some third person altogether. Besides, how much did any of you actually care about Putin before he replaced Yeltsin? Exactly—nobody.

Of course I do; I've got the receipts, and a special thanks to Ice for the assist! 🤣

goldenmason172 said:Of course I do; I've got the receipts, and a special thanks to Ice for the assist! 🤣

Dammit 😠 I can't get onto YouTube at work, so this is going to have to wait until later.

Paul Johnson5 said:Dammit 😠 I can't get onto YouTube at work, so this is going to have to wait until later.

Trust me, it'll be worth the wait. Cheers! 🤣

Russians just aren't cut out for democracy.

Then again, neither are the people living in those so-called "democratic" Western nations...

At this rate, democracy is eventually going to lead to the total collapse of the West.

Ryan Sanders4 said:Russians just aren't cut out for democracy.

Then again, neither are the people living in those so-called "democratic" Western nations...

At this rate, democracy is eventually going to lead to the total collapse of the West.

👍 🙏

What the West calls "democracy," though it has nothing to do with the actual concept,

goldenmason172 said:I honestly find myself hoping that Dmitry Medvedev, should he ever ascend to the presidency of the Russian Federation, might decide to pull a complete reversal and turn on Putin, much like how Putin has historically betrayed his own inner circle.
It’s a classic case of poetic justice—may the hunter become the hunted.
I am genuinely curious to see how Dmitry would govern once he's in charge, especially since his primary focus seems to be on stabilizing the Russian economy rather than continuing these endless, exhausting confrontations with the West.

Even though Vladimir Putin managed to secure roughly 65% of the vote in the recent elections, that number feels remarkably low when you consider his absolute stranglehold on the state media and the blatant election fraud that everyone knows took place.

http://www.nytimes.com/world/article...putin,101446.jl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/detailed.php?nid=50723

🙂 😲

Ashley Rodriguez41 said:http://www.nytimes.com/world/article...putin,101446.jl

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/detailed.php?nid=50723

🙂 😲

Could you please enlighten me as to who I am actually talking to on the other side of this screen? Is it an intelligent individual who fails to see anything unusual in this article, or someone who genuinely believes that Medvedev is going to claim he’s planning to stab Putin in the back? I am not asserting that such a thing will happen; I simply ask that you revisit my previous post and try to read it with a bit more nuance this time. After all, who could have possibly predicted that Putin would turn so sharply against his own closest inner circle?

Ashley Rodriguez41 said:👍 🙏

What the West calls "democracy," though it has nothing to do with the actual concept,

This brings us to a fundamental question: how exactly do you define democracy?

Russia is sinking fast because they tried to pivot to capitalism—if you can even call it that when the whole country is basically run by the mafia...
It’s a wealthy nation, sure, but the wealth gap there is absolutely insane. You’ve got a massive population living in poverty while a tiny handful of ultra-rich elites act like they own the place. They have zero class. It’s like how certain high-end spots in New York or Los Angeles won't even let those types in anymore because they ruin the vibe for everyone else. These billionaires stay protected by a small group of people—maybe 5% to 10%—who benefit from the system. They might be "well-off" compared to the poor, but they're just part of the machine. I don't see things changing in Russia anytime soon...
The only exception is probably the military and the scientists. They aren't under the thumb of the mob quite as much, which is why they still manage to pull off decent results in science and military tech...

placidcyclist5 said:Russia is sinking fast because they tried to pivot to capitalism—if you can even call it that when the whole country is basically run by the mafia...
It’s a wealthy nation, sure, but the wealth gap there is absolutely insane. You’ve got a massive population living in poverty while a tiny handful of ultra-rich elites act like they own the place. They have zero class. It’s like how certain high-end spots in New York or Los Angeles won't even let those types in anymore because they ruin the vibe for everyone else. These billionaires stay protected by a small group of people—maybe 5% to 10%—who benefit from the system. They might be "well-off" compared to the poor, but they're just part of the machine. I don't see things changing in Russia anytime soon...
The only exception is probably the military and the scientists. They aren't under the thumb of the mob quite as much, which is why they still manage to pull off decent results in science and military tech...

I think you've completely misread the situation and misinterpreted the facts. Are you suggesting that because everyone was equally impoverished during the communist era, that somehow made it an acceptable way to live? Are you even aware of how many millions of people have actually climbed out of poverty, or how much the purchasing power of the average American citizen has increased over the years? Of course there are wealthy individuals, just as there are in any other nation on Earth, except perhaps in North Korea or Cuba, but a massive number of people are escaping poverty, much like what we've seen in the People's Republic of China. Do you actually have a superior system in mind? Since you're clearly so "brilliant," I'm eagerly waiting for you to present us with your flawless alternative.😉

goldenmason172 said:I think you've completely misread the situation and misinterpreted the facts. Are you suggesting that because everyone was equally impoverished during the communist era, that somehow made it an acceptable way to live? Are you even aware of how many millions of people have actually climbed out of poverty, or how much the purchasing power of the average American citizen has increased over the years? Of course there are wealthy individuals, just as there are in any other nation on Earth, except perhaps in North Korea or Cuba, but a massive number of people are escaping poverty, much like what we've seen in the People's Republic of China. Do you actually have a superior system in mind? Since you're clearly so "brilliant," I'm eagerly waiting for you to present us with your flawless alternative.😉

Look, you're right about one thing: they were poor under communism. And don't start with that "but they have new cars now" nonsense—that's just basic global development. But what really hurts people there today (I've talked to plenty of Americans...) is the massive gap between the classes. Back then, maybe only the top communist officials had a bit more cash, but even they weren't loaded. Now, it's impossible to watch these arrogant elites—who basically stole their wealth through shady privatizations and looting the banks and natural resources—flinging money around while the working class is living worse than they did during the old days...👎

That whole bit about American purchasing power increasing is a lie. Sure, the purchasing power of the ultra-rich went up, but for everyone else, it tanked. If you look at the statistics, it looks like Americans are getting wealthier, but that's just because those few wealthy individuals are spending a massive amount of money...

And we haven't even touched on how society is structured. That's a whole other conversation right there...
The truth is, both democracy and communism look great on paper. But once you try to actually make them work in the real world? Everything falls apart. Why? Because people are greedy. They just want power and money, plain and simple. It’s built into us. Look at how almost every nation talks about God—they always say "God and us," never "God and all of humanity." It's all about "us" versus "them."
I don't know. Maybe the world will finally sober up after the next big war hits... 😢