Two days ago Vladimir Putin, the 4th president of Russia, held his annual press conference, during which he answered questions from journalists. There were a total of 1437 journalists present. Just under thirty questions were asked about the economy, Ulyukaev, Nemtsov, Crimea, Trump, Brexit, the ambassador’s assassination, stray animals, doping, and kvass. What would you ask Putin if you were at the microphone?
I can already predict your options. When will you return Crimea, scoundrel? When will the sanctions be lifted? When will political prisoners be released? When will the stealing in Russia stop? And in general, how long will we tolerate all of this?
I hate to disappoint you—Putin has calm and logical answers to all these seemingly pressing questions. He is not afraid of these questions, and “brave” journalists ask them. I put the word “brave” in quotes because, in my opinion, it doesn’t take much courage to ask Putin when he will return Crimea. He didn’t take it. The people voted for the annexation of Crimea, both in Russia and in Crimea. What do you want from me—will be the answer—Should I, a president elected by an overwhelming majority, go against the will of my people?
As for political prisoners, abductions, and attacks on journalists, these are not questions for the president. There are criminal codes and courts where nothing is hidden. If the investigation has evidence, the accused gets what they deserve. If not, they are released. In front of the law, we are all equal. And as for missing journalists, we search for them tirelessly, rest assured—says Vladimir Vladimirovich.
Such questions are meaningless. By asking them, we only show our lack of understanding of the situation and our silent consent to it. And the lack of understanding lies in the fact that we look for a protector of our interests in the president, not a temporarily elected and hired executor of our will.
In a dialogue between the people and the president, the former, represented by one and a half thousand journalists, should not ask why a journalist was killed somewhere, why a corrupt official was not imprisoned, or why the voice of justice was not heard. The president, if he is responsible for any of this, does so indirectly. He does not kill any journalists, does not directly investigate corruption cases, and the voice of justice is not within his hearing.
Instead, the people should ask their president about the results for which he bears direct responsibility and for which he was elected. What are these results? Let’s figure this out. Putin has been leading the country directly or through Medvedev for 16 years, starting in January 2000, immediately after Boris Yeltsin’s voluntary resignation. How has your life changed in the territory that Putin governs (whatever it may be called)? How has the quality of your life changed?
Life satisfaction index: 167th place out of 178.
World Happiness Index: 172nd out of 178.
Quality of life index: 72nd out of 80.
Human Development Index: 57th out of 187.
GDP per capita: 66th out of 186 (the higher, the wealthier the population).
Corruption Perception Index: 133rd out of 174 (the lower the position, the higher the corruption).
Mortality rate of the population: 32nd out of 195 (the higher the position in the ranking, the higher the mortality rate).
Efficiency of healthcare systems: 55th out of 55.
Freedom of the press: 181st out of 199.
“Life expectancy: 110 out of 183.”
Intentional homicide rate: 72nd out of 207 (the higher the position, the more homicides).
Infant mortality rate: 64th out of 193 (the higher the position, the fewer deaths).
16 years of work and such sad results.
Maybe it’s time to stop asking Putin about Crimea, Syria, Ulyukayev, kvass, and homeless animals, and finally ask the main question to the President of Russia: Vladimir Vladimirovich, are you sure that you are coping with your duties and is it not time for you to resign due to banal incompetence?
I am sincerely interested in what he would answer.
Translated by ChatGPT gpt-3.5-turbo/42 on 2024-04-20 at 14:30
