[Andrew_nenakhov]

You repeat this mantra 'Control of information is a magical thing', but it doesn't become true just because you repeat it. USSR controlled the information far more tightly, yet, nobody believed the government and laughed at them -- I'm old enough to remember that. See, propaganda has a hard time competing with an empty fridge and empty stomach, and in the end, empty stomach prevails. People see quite clearly that living in Russia becomes harder every day, and of course they link it to the unchangeable leadership of the country. After 25 years, people are simply tired of Putin, so any claims that he has 80% approval rating are simply laughable.

Regarding your other point, no, 'Non-whites' are not really discriminated. In fact, Russians themselves are the most underrepresented ethnic group in all levels of power in Russia -- and it always has been that way. It was so in Russian Empire, in Soviet Union, and stays true in Putin's Russia as well. What you're referring to is the cargo-cult practice by some ppl who try to mimic modern Western political tactics. Many have noticed that claimed victimhood is beneficial in the modern-day West, so they try to emulate that by pretending to be a victim of some oppression -- that's where your stories originate from.

[throwaway290]

> USSR controlled the information far more tightly

Not at the end. Also back then US had USAID

> Regarding your other point, no, 'Non-whites' are not really discriminated

I think you are not qualified to say that. Talk to more yakuts who live in the "center". I'm not basing my words on nothing.

> well. What you're referring to is the cargo-cult practice by some ppl who try to mimic modern Western political tactics

No I don't. This is based on real life data. you are sheltered from it. Good for you.

[Andrew_nenakhov]

> Not at the end. Also back then US had USAID

1960s and 1970s are the end to you, really? USAID, really? You have already proven that you have a very remote understanding of Russia/USSR, please stop trying to bring this point even further.

> I think you are not qualified to say that.

I actually am.

> Talk to more yakuts who live in the "center".

By pure chance, I do have such contacts, they laugh at this decolonization crap. Also by chance, I knew Russians who lived in Yakutia in 1990s, and they did tell me stories of discrimination from the locals. Same as stories of discrimination of Russians in Kazakhstan, Baltic republics, etc -- both in soviet and post-soviet times.