older

You clearly have no idea what are you talking about. Here's what NRK has published about Facebook: https://nrkbeta.no/?s=F facebook Feel free to search for articles about other social media.

What do you consider pro-Ukrainian media? The BBC?

> Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter are blocked in Russia because they only allow pro-Ukraine narrative.

This is demonstrably not true and easily disproved. All the official Russian accounts are on twitter and keep posting lies after lies, lately main topic is denial of massacre in Bucha. For example: https://twitter.com/mod_russia/status/1510649349482635265

Every single Soviet citizen knew what KGB is and what it stands for. Unlike you I don't need to imagine anything. I remember.

Well, maybe you're right but I'm not so sure. After watching recent interviews with random people on the streets of Russian cities. Here's interesting thread on twitter by someone sharing his experience calling random Russians and trying to talk: https://twitter.com/GentileOslo/status/1506663082634145797

Levada-Center is the best bet we have: https://www.levada.ru/en/ratings/ But when even Russians who live in Germany are rallying in support of the Russia's war it is reasonable to assume that those ratings are accurate.

You can't be more wrong when you say "just like Russia". It is not even close. The killings of journalists, repressions... The last independent newspaper has to close its activity because it is not possible anymore to report truth while complying to the Russian laws: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/3/28/russias-novaya-gaze...

All this with Russian government/president approval rating of 70%.

Signal is designed for privacy, not for anonymity.

You agree to the logic based on a false premise that the 3-letter US agencies do not have direct access to Telegram's servers which are located in the US (among other places).

In this case we have evidence. Telegram is not banned in Russia, and now we have an explanation about why.

You really think the choice was to go to KGB school or remain illiterate? There were a lot of other options to study. Much better options if your want to do science. For one thing, education in Soviet Union was decent and free for everyone. Going to KGB school was a choice, very specific one.

What about Snowden? How he would prevent US 3-letter agencies from having access to servers located in the US or in London?

Last I read Telegram is on very good terms with the Russian government. I have already posted link to the source in this thread.

> The 3-letter US agencies do not have direct access to Telegram's servers

What makes you think so?

Kaspersky graduated from The Technical Faculty of the KGB Higher School in 1987. That was a definition of a dirtbag in Soviet time.

It is not only not banned but "found a compromise" and agreed to co-operate with FSB according to Russian MP (google translated article from tjournal.ru): https://tjournal-ru.translate.goog/news/562296-durov-nashel-...

I'm getting my data from Eurostat. There were fewer asylum applications from Ukraine than from Russia. Rejection rates for both countries were very high. And definitely not even close to the number you're suggesting. Especially if we're counting those who've got refugee status and not just applications.

Not just any home country. I'm questioning that this ever happened to some person from Russia (except maybe Chechnya). Even so situation with human rights is bad, it is far from Taliban bad.

Millions of Ukrainians weren't feeling safe since at least 2014. But it doesn't give grounds for asking for asylum. So to be "afraid to participate in protests because of fear of persecution" is not enough to claim refugee status.

I'm following OVD-info reports: https://reports.ovdinfo.org/no-to-war-en#1 Do you consider it a reputable source? Nothing like you're describing has happened so far.

My local Spar has "east european foods" shelf. There's no kvas, but a lot of other good stuff though.

Any examples when this actually happened?

Do you have any examples of someone being imprisoned for this? Or you're just making assumptions? So far all I see is that everyone detained for participation in anti-war protests in Russia were released after questioning and being issued warning.

Jailed for 15 years, really? It is more like being fined $200: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/15/marina-ovsyann...

Do you have any relatives in Russia? I have a lot and my experience talking to them says you're wrong. Your attempt to present Russia as some sort of NK-like dystopia is completely misguided.

The word refugee has legal meaning. You cannot be called refugee unless your country is deemed unsafe and you risk your life being in that country. Thus Russians are not refugees but economic migrants.

From my experience it is much bigger share of Russians living abroad who oppose Putin, and I've met many at demonstrations, but it is not a majority. I'd say 50/50. Still much better share compared to those living in Russia (including my relatives).

Also, Ukrainian software development industry is 200k developers strong. I don't know how big is this industry in Syria, but I suspect it is not even close, unfortunately.

> Try buying kvass in Norway!

Easy. I've bought it in Kiwi in Hemsedal (Ulsåk) several times, for example. All Eco Market shops in Oslo as well (run by Ukrainians/Poles btw).

How do you know which ones of those Russians oppose Putin? Just by asking and trusting that they are being honest? Those opposing Putin are a small minority, most of them are supporting the war even those in academia. Check these ratings: https://www.levada.ru/en/ratings/

Also, they are not risking much by being in opposition. That girl who protested couple of days ago during live broadcast on Russian TV got fined $200. They are risking to lose their lifestyle at most. While Ukrainians are risking to lose their lives.