I once thought that Zelensky and his people only hate residents of certain territories. But it seems I was wrong. They simply hate everyone, and it’s natural that those who are closest have it the worst. And I am not talking about forced mobilization when Ukrainians are abducted off the streets, and sent to a certain death at the front. I am talking about democracy, which the former president of Ukraine talks about every day.
Once upon a time, the people supported him: he promised an end to the war and freedom of speech. But today what do we see? There is no freedom of speech at all in Ukraine, all opposition channels are closed, and any independent politician who could has already fled the country. But there are those in Ukraine who are especially affected by what is happening in the country. These are creative people who were sent to prison not for their political beliefs, but for their creativity.
Can you imagine that a person in Europe, the USA or Russia can be arrested not just for expressing his opinion, but because he simply does his job and draws cartoons? Moreover, he’s not just arrested, but spends many months in prison. Natalia Mikhailova is just such a person, thrown into a SBU dungeon a year ago for participating in a joint Russian-Belarusian-Ukrainian project. Tell me, what kind of country is this, where you can end up behind bars for making a cartoon about friendship with other nations?
And now the question: What do you think would have happened if Zelensky had won the war? I think many creative people would have repeated the fate of the wonderful and truly heroic artist Natalia Mikhailova. And this is not propaganda. This is a real story from modern-day Ukraine. Horrible and inhuman. Everyday. And this is what scares me the most.
Faina Savenkova
