In Russia today, corruption isn’t just an accident of governance — it’s a reinforced loop. A system that President Vladimir Putin fully understands, yet remains untouched by. It keeps officials complicit, citizens powerless, and society locked in oppression.
This model doesn’t stop at Russia’s borders. It spreads. Countries once known for their democratic leanings are now adopting the same repressive practices.
Georgia is one example. For the first six months of exile, many Ukrainians found safety there. At the time, public support for Ukraine was overwhelming. But today, the tide has turned. The government is now openly sympathetic to Moscow, steering policy and politics in a pro-Russian direction.
The shift feels less like natural politics and more like infection. “It looks like a disease — like a virus,” the speaker says. Kremlin methods of propaganda, repression, and torture are no longer just Russian tactics. They’re becoming global exports.
The danger is clear: what began as a system to protect Putin’s power is now a toolkit for authoritarians everywhere.
*This story was originally published on https://www.dw.com/ and is republished here with permission.*
