Russia’s ill-conceived invasion of Ukraine has so far failed to meet the goals set by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and his top propagandists are struggling to hide their growing panic.
On Monday, the head of RT Margarita Simonyan appeared on The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov and admitted that the Kremlin’s collaborative elite has concerns about the possibility of being tried for war crimes. After disingenuously claiming that neither the Russian leadership nor their fellow propagandists in the studio ever wanted to stage strikes against Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, Simonyan said: “I am amazed by our people – and unfortunately I know many of them – including those in very high ones Circles who are afraid of it and afraid to call things by their right names because people over there might think.”
Simonyan defiantly claimed: “We could spit on what those over there think! People who are afraid of The Hague – listen, you should be afraid of losing, afraid of being humiliated and afraid of betraying your people. Let me tell you that if we manage to lose, The Hague – whether real or hypothetical – will come even for a street cleaner sweeping the cobblestones behind the Kremlin.”
In her tirade, Simonyan contradicted her earlier assertion that Russian forces would not attempt to bomb civilian infrastructure, suggesting that another Kiev district left in the dark will not change the potential for future war crimes trials or the “disaster.” who do this will hit Russia if it loses its war against Ukraine.
Host Vladimir Solovyov immediately returned to his old and weary routine of threatening nuclear strikes if things don’t go according to Russia’s will: “If that happens, there will be no Hague, there will be nothing at all. The whole world will turn to ashes.”
During the broadcast of 60 Minutes on Wednesday, presenter Olga Skabeeva continued with the same topic. “God forbid we cannot allow it, nor even say it out loud, but suppose that something suddenly happens and our country is unable to achieve victory: then we should assume that everyone, without exception, will be held accountable —whether they are located within the Russian Federation or abroad. Those abroad will most likely be arrested immediately. It doesn’t matter whether he is a collaborator with Putin’s regime or just passing through. We will all be found guilty. At stake is not only the existence of the country, but also the carefree existence of every citizen of the Russian Federation – our future is at stake.”
Skabeeva added: “To avoid the Hague tribunals, the initiation of criminal proceedings, compensation, reparations – to avoid all of this, we need a total intensification of military action, we need to pressurize them so much that they approach us over.” a truce or a peace process… Otherwise they will insist on surrender.”
On the recent show of Sunday Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, Margarita Simonyan reappeared and delivered the new directive: In order to preserve Russia’s already tarnished image as a military superpower, any supply problems of equipment, weapons and ammunition should be discussed behind closed doors and not to broadcast. She unknowingly confirmed that the said problems were systematic and serious, urging the government to take extreme measures to secure funds for the troops.
Simonyan described those who are not mobilized for frontline service as people who are failing in their duty to their country. “How can we sleep knowing we’re not sharing and not participating?” she asked. “Rich people should pull themselves together and remember that we cannot go on living as we have lived since the collapse of the Soviet Union. We must restore social equality.” The head of RT urged the wealthy to stop buying Chanel purses and “adopt” dozens or hundreds of needy families to provide for them.
Describing herself as a wealthy person, Simonyan said she found it difficult to look at people who refuse to share their wealth, many of whom she knows personally. “I challenge you, citizens: you must share!” she demanded.
Without questioning why the country’s exorbitant military budget has proven to meet Russia’s war needs — while Putin’s circle has no shortage of palatial homes or yachts — Simonyan noted that the invading forces are being supplied with donations from civilians. She felt this was insufficient and called for “an involuntary vaccination of conscience”, adding: “Raise taxes on the rich and wealthy. What do you have to fear? Raise taxes!”