Our Window to Russia: Russian Imperialism: Past, Present and Responsibility

Russian imperialism is not a new contemporary phenomenon. But in recent years its forms, its rhetoric and its instruments have changed significantly – especially in the post-Soviet space. At the same time, the question increasingly arises as to whether this term “post-Soviet space” itself carries with it a survival of imperial thinking.

The podcast is dedicated to the question of what Russian imperialism meant historically and how it works today. It will be discussed how imperial structures have shaped the Caucasus, Central Asia, the Baltic states and large parts of Eastern Europe – politically, culturally and socially. It becomes clear that the current war against Ukraine cannot be viewed in isolation, but is part of a long history of military expansion, internal colonization and systematic repression of responsibility.

Is a guest Sergej LebedevRussian writer in exile in Germany. In his novels he deals intensively with the Stalin era, with repressed histories of violence and with opposition voices in Russia. His books are published in German translation by Fischer Verlag. Also a guest Anastasia Tikhomirovaeditor of the Timejournalist and cultural scientist. Her work focuses on Russian imperialism, colonialism and the politics of memory.

Police violence in Russia remains unpunished

A central topic of the conversation is the recurring impunity of state violence in Russia. Lebedev describes it as a structural problem: “In Russia we have been observing a repetition of cycles of impunity for decades. Putin became a war criminal in 1999 – with the start of the second war against Chechnya and the targeted use of military force against the civilian population. Nevertheless, it has never been a central demand of the Russian opposition to hold the government accountable for these crimes – for the worst of all crimes,” says Lebedev. Corruption was discussed – but the blood shed was often ignored.

Anastasia Tikhomirova takes up this analysis and extends it to the present. It poses the uncomfortable question about the collective responsibility of Russian citizens in connection with the war against Ukraine. What does responsibility mean beyond individual guilt? And what role does the Russian diaspora and the opposition in exile play in this?

Eastern Europe is one of the main focuses of the taz Panter Foundationwhich looks at places where access to information is becoming increasingly difficult – Russia and Belarus are among them. On the last day of the month, a new podcast episode of “Our Window to Russia/Belarus” appears in the “Free Speech” podcast format taz Panter Foundation.