Four Corners: Feb 28

Monday’s Four Corners is “Russia vs Russia”, a report from Euro broadcaster Arte.

With nations on the brink of war, the story looks at Putin’s aggressive power play in the region.

“Each time we have backed down from the West, they have aggressively imposed their economic, cultural models and their moral values on us… that will never happen again, that ship has sailed.” Putin political ally

In Ukraine, a serious escalation of the military and diplomatic crisis is taking place with Russian forces moving in as so-called “peacekeepers”. President Vladimir Putin has gone on the attack, taking aim at western nations, accusing them of threatening the Russian state and raising grievances dating back to the Cold War. Stoking the fires of this Russian nationalist sentiment is part of the Putin playbook.

“Putin’s regime needs legitimacy. No one believes the elections are legitimate anymore, no one sees economic growth, and his popularity is plummeting. He needed national unity in order to get the Russian people to come together around one idea.” Exiled economist

With growing dissent inside Russia, President Putin has sought to paint his opponents as tools of the West.

“There is a small percentage of young people who never knew the Soviet Union, and were brought up at a time when the Russian national idea had been abandoned. Our great mistake is that we have allowed this generation of 20 to 30-year-olds to grow up mixing Western values with their Russian culture.” Putin parliamentary ally

The regime has engaged in a ruthless campaign to shut down and lock up political opponents and activists.

“There is a team of professional killers that serve the state. They poisoned me twice.” Opposition activist

On Monday, in this timely film, the activists who have risked everything are speaking out about the abusive political climate in Russia.

“We were characterised as horrible people, and after, I received threats from people who wanted to shoot me, burn me, hang me.” Protestor

Many are ordinary citizens paying a heavy price for their political views.

“I’m a qualified engineer in the space industry. I used to work in a research institute, but I was forced to resign on the grounds that I was a political activist.”

High ranking political allies of President Putin say the protest movement gets what it deserves.

“They often find themselves tangled up in the justice system. If they are victims of anything, it’s not of Putin’s regime as they say, but of their own stupidity.” Putin political ally

Despite the dangers, members of the opposition movement say they will not be silenced.

“I don’t care if they follow me, if they listen in on me…We know the reality of this country, and who we are dealing with.” Opposition activist

Monday 28th February at 8.30pm on ABC.