Russians' Battle Against Putinism: A Documentary Examination

In the face of constant accusations against Russians about a "slave gene" and "unwillingness" to fight for freedom, a new documentary titled "Dashing 2000" serves as a powerful reminder of the struggle of the Russian people against the Putin dictatorship.

The documentary, published recently on Vladimir Milov's YouTube channel, emphasizes that there was indeed resistance in Russia against the Putin dictatorship. It records major protests and actions of the Russian opposition during the two decades of the 2000s.

"Dashing 2000" is part of a series called "Lihie 2000" (Dashing 2000). The documentary features prominent opposition figures such as Boris Nemtsov and Iliya Yashin, among others. It also includes footage of protests that were triggered by an independent TV channel being forced to go under state control.

The documentary highlights the resistance of Russians against the emergence of Putinism. Many of the protagonists in the documentary, including Alexey Navalny and Mikhail Khodorkovsky, are either imprisoned or in exile. Alexey Navalny, a prominent opposition figure, appears in the documentary and asks the crowd if they are afraid.

Vladimir Milov, the creator of the documentary, is currently living in political exile since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. His YouTube channel has around half a million subscribers, and the documentary has surpassed 121,000 views.

It is incorrect to say that Russia did not resist the emergence of Putinism. The documentary shows that protests started in the '90s and continue today, with people going on solitary pickets despite the risk of imprisonment. According to OVD info, 19,747 people were detained during anti-war protests since the beginning of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The introduction of the documentary states that the Russian society came to its senses later than necessary, with mass protests occurring when the opposition was squeezed out of official politics and Putin had built a lot of power lines of defense against the people.

The documentary also sheds light on the alleged bribing and coercion of opposition politicians by the government. Nikita Belykh, a former opposition leader, is mentioned in the documentary as an example.

Alexey Navalny is currently serving a nine-year prison sentence and is expected to receive a 20-year long sentence. Vladimir Milov's documentary serves as a testament to the resilience and courage of the Russian people in their struggle against the Putin dictatorship.