Ilya Remeslo, Mar 17 2026Five reasons why I stopped supporting Vladimir Putin.
Someone had to say it.
1. The war in Ukraine. Launched as a “police operation,” the war has already claimed at least 1-2 million lives. In 2014, I supported the annexation of Crimea precisely because it was bloodless. Back then, we all thought Putin was the unifier of Russian lands. And here's where we've ended up - meat grinders, luring conscripts with deception, and much more, as any participant in the special military operation will confirm.
A completely dead-end war, enormous losses - it could go on for another 5-10 years. Are you ready for that? No one is calling for a war against Russia. But right now, the war is being waged solely for the sake of Putin's ego; we, ordinary citizens, gain nothing from it, only lose.
2. Enormous damage to Russia's economy and the well-being of its citizens. Sanctions, destroyed infrastructure, the loss of trading partners. Even according to official statistics, this amounts to trillions of dollars - money we could have used to build cities, schools, children's hospitals, and completely overhaul the housing and utilities sector.
But what's being built are mostly palaces for the President and his friends. Even before the war, there were problems with the economy - in the richest country, tens of millions of people are poor. The authorities have gone so far off the rails that they're taking people's pets away, as happened recently in Novosibirsk.
3. The Suppression of Internet and Media Freedom. Ironically, in 2017, I was the one who asked Putin a question at the ONF media forum about the future of the Internet in Russia. Putin replied that we would not follow China's path - and he lied. Putin himself does not use the internet, which is shameful for a head of state.
We see that mobile internet does not work even in Russia's major cities. All Western social networks and messaging apps are blocked. Telegram is 80% blocked, with a complete block planned for April 1. The system has gone so far off the rails that it's even stifling Telegram, which is used by participants in the Special Military Operation. At the same time, people are being herded into the multinational Kirienko-style messenger Max, depriving them of their rights to healthcare and education.
4. Putin's tenure in power. Putin is 74 years old; he has been in power since 1999, for over 26-27 years now. And by all accounts, he plans to remain on the throne for at least another 150 years. As we know, absolute power corrupts absolutely - and what if it's also endless? Even a morally impeccable person would go to the dogs in such a situation. And Putin wasn't always the way he is now; before 2003, it was hard to find fault with him - which is why many of us supported him back then. But everything has its limits. We need a new, modern President.
5. Putin doesn't respect his voters and doesn't want to listen to them. Just watch any recent “Direct Line” broadcast - it's one big circus! The President is frankly uninterested in domestic policy and voters’ problems.
He hasn't read Telegram channels in ages; he couldn't care less about our daily grievances. Give Putin endless wars (in which his children and relatives don't participate), not the internet and high salaries. I won't even mention the opposition - it simply doesn't exist. Putin himself has been saying for all these 26 years how important criticism of the government and the opposition are.
But name even one lawmaker or public figure who criticizes Putin? There aren't any, and those who tried - they've either been labeled foreign agents, are abroad, or are six feet under. Putin fears participating in debates and fair elections - because then it would immediately become clear that the emperor has no clothes.
Conclusion: Vladimir Putin is not a legitimate president. Vladimir Putin must resign and be brought to trial as a war criminal and a thief.
https://t.me/ilya_remeslaw/11121
