On July 1 Russians voted in a referendum that gave a 76% approval to constitutional amendments that conferred Vladimir Putin the presidency practically for life. It wasn’t ‘direct democracy’ in action, but rather a blatant manipulation of the voters’ patriotic instincts.
From the start, the government-run campaign was rigged to guarantee public affirmation of Putin’s extended political longevity - a truly well-orchestrated scam. Other than paving the way for Putin to retain power virtually indefinitely (retiring at the age of 83), the referendum also dealt with protecting family value, the Russian language, pensions, animals (yes, ed.) the memory of Russian World War II casualties - all presented in a package that assured a confirming vote.
In fact it was invoking the heroics of WWII fallen Russians, both military and civilian, that was the focus of the pro-vote promotion. The message was simple – if you do not support something as nationalistically sacrosanct as our dead veterans, you are negating the sacrifice they made for mother Russia.
Recruited to get this narrative across were long-in-the-tooth prominent figures of the show business and media sectors – individuals who depended on government-sponsored gigs for most of their income. In general the younger members of the entertainment sector and internet celebrities avoided enjoining the fraudulent messaging, thus avoiding a distortion of their emerging image among a younger audience.
(Pikemalt Eesti Elu 10.07.2020 paber- ja PDF/digilehes)
