The phenomenon, referred to as an "epidemic" of snitching, is seemingly encouraged by the country's leadership amidst the ongoing aggression in Ukraine.
Instances of Russian citizens facing punishment for seemingly benign actions, such as praising Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, wearing anti-war symbols, or even listening to the Ukrainian national anthem, are on the rise. These reports are being made by individuals' neighbors, co-passengers on public transport, and random passersby, according to the WSJ.
Anthropologist Aleksandra Archipova, who has been researching this trend, indicates that the number of such denunciations runs into the thousands. She links this surge in reporting to President Vladimir Putin's March 2022 call for a national "self-cleansing" to rid the country of "scum and traitors."
One of the cases highlighted involves Kamila Murashova, a 40-year-old nurse, who was fined 30,000 rubles for "discrediting the Russian armed forces." This punishment came after a fellow train passenger reported her for having anti-war pins on her backpack.
The WSJ reported that social media platforms are filled with even more striking examples. These include an elderly woman reported for planting yellow and blue flowers, and a young girl wearing ribbons in the Ukrainian national colors. Another case involves a pensioner fined for complimenting Zelensky's appearance.
(jh)
Source: PAP, The Wall Street Journal
