Putin's mass mobilization lies, and a brewing revolution in Iran
Putin's mass mobilization lies, and a brewing revolution in Iran
Anti-government protests grow in Russia and Iran.
A lot of news coming out of Russia this morning, after President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization (aka draft) yesterday to buttress the floundering Russian war effort in Ukraine. Putin claimed he was only drafting 300,000 men, and that he would only draft military reservists, i.e., men who had already served in the military. That was a lie.
Reports are coming in this morning that men who never served in the military have received draft notices already — including one man age 50 — and police have been registering anti-draft protesters (over 1,200 were arrested yesterday) for the draft, forcing military service on them as a punishment for protesting the state.
Oh, but it gets worse. A secret codicil to Putin’s order reportedly sets the real number of draftees at one million, not 300,000 as Putin publicly claimed. That means even more social unrest as Russians around the country find out that they and their loved ones are heading to Ukraine to fight a losing battle with a better-equipped, and far more motivated, enemy.
Interestingly, Putin had avoided any kind of draft until now because he feared social unrest. And that’s exactly what this mini-draft got him. One suspects that yesterday’s protests will only make it more difficult for Putin to institute a true nationwide draft if the war in Ukraine continues to falter.
Meanwhile, Russians are fleeing the country, after news of the draft went public. One-way flights from Russia to neighboring countries that don’t require a visa were reportedly either sold out yesterday, or the price of the tickets skyrocketed to three and five -times normal. In addition, Google’s Russian search engine noticed a surge in searches for “how to leave Russia,” and “how to break your own arm.” Not kidding on that last one.
Meanwhile in Iran, we’re in the sixth day of growing nationwide protests following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who mysteriously died in the custody of that country’s “morality police” (yes, that’s a real thing) after being arrested for wearing inappropriate attire, i.e., not wearing a hijab — a scarf of sorts — in public. The protest videos from Iran are harrowing and uplifting. I was especially pleased to see so many men openly-supporting women. I have been surprised, however, at how little coverage the protests are getting in the west.
This video is particularly wild. Note the man slapping the woman in the face, during one of the anti-hijab protests. Then watch what happens to him next.
And here are protesters intervening when the riot police try to arrest other protesters:
Other things I’m keeping an eye on, via social media
Support for NATO is at an all-time high:
Christian Amanpour tells the Irani government to stuff it:
Anthony Bourdain on Putin, a few years back:
More protesters in St. Petersburg, Russia:
And here’s an excellent analysis of Putin’s speech.
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Thanks as always folks, JOHN
I was feeling bummed about the political news of far right hate groups seizing power or growing in strength in Italy and Sweden (and the US!) so while the unrest is hard on the protestors, this news from Russia and Iran is great in my book! Thx.