Interviewer: Tonight, we have a special guest, Sergei, a Russian national and outspoken critic of the current political climate in Russia. He is the founder and CTO of an International Information Technology Company and he is also a very good friend. Tonight we will discuss the present-day political situation in Russia, Vladimir Putin, the corruption & propaganda, the invasion of Ukraine, amongst other things. Sergei, thank you for joining us at The Light Magazine.

Sergei: Thank you for having me.

Interviewer: Firstly, on a positive note, tell me about your homeland. What do you love about Russia and its people?

Sergei: I grew up in Russia with my family and friends, and I have many fond memories from my youth. I enjoy Russian nature and art, and I love the snow. It’s a beautiful place to be.

Interviewer: I’ve always wanted to visit, but now doesn’t seem like the right time.

Sergei: It’s probably not.

Interviewer: Tell me, what motivates you to speak out against President Putin and his policies?

Sergei: Putin and his policies cause people to suffer, and that is simply not right. I believe it’s the responsibility of every conscientious individual to speak out against such wrongs.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about the corruption in Russia?

Sergei: Sure. Corruption in Russia is basically the basis for the government. All the government functions due to corruption. If you remove corruption from Russia, the government will just fall.

Interviewer: Can you tell me about freedom of speech in Russia?

Sergei: There is no freedom of speech in Russia anymore, especially after the invasion of Ukraine. Speaking against government policies or even calling it a war can lead to persecution, from losing your job to jail time.

Interviewer: Does that cause many Russian people who have issues with the government to stay quiet?

Sergei: Absolutely. People are afraid because they’ve seen what happens to other critics. Only a few dare to speak out. Think about it: someone can go to jail just for liking a post on Facebook, which is now banned in Russia as an extremist organization. It’s very dangerous to speak against government, government policy, or against the war, even with your friends. People can get killed for speaking out against Putin.

Interviewer: What are the main reasons for your opposition to the war in Ukraine?

Sergei: The war is illegal and wrong. This invasion should never have happened.  Innocent people are being killed. Civillians are being murdered. The only beneficiaries are those in power in Russia, as it helps them stay in control.

Bucha main street after Russian invasion of Ukraine. Source Wikimedia Commons.

Interviewer: Tell us about the propaganda. How does the Russian government control or influence the media?

Sergei: If you live in Russia and aren’t among the 10% who use VPNs or read English-language media, you’re constantly bombarded by lies from government-controlled media. These lies are outrageous, manipulating facts and hiding truths. Due to the lack of freedom of speech, independent news outlets and influencers are banned, detained, or persecuted. The only voice people hear is the government’s.

Interviewer: Do a great percentage of Russian people believe this propaganda, or can they see through it?

Sergei: Many Russians, especially adults who experienced the Soviet Union, intuitively understand that the government shouldn’t be trusted. However, without alternatives, they still believe some of the fake facts fed to them. Propaganda creates multiple conflicting stories to instill doubt, making it hard to discern the truth.

Interviewer: Can you tell me what the Russian Orthodox Church’s view of the war is with Ukraine?

Sergei: The Russian Orthodox Church is essentially a branch of the government, controlled by Putin and his regime. They receive benefits like financial help and the elimination of competitors. In return, they promote the war, even including it in daily prayers. Priests who refuse to read these prayers can be persecuted and removed from the Church.

Interviewer: Vladimir Putin won the recent presidential election. What can you say about that?

Sergei: There was no election; it was a political stunt. True elections require candidates who represent different groups and are allowed to run their campaigns. In Russia, there was no opposition to Putin because potential opponents were either barred or eliminated.

Interviewer: Can you tell our audience who Alexei Navalny was?

Alexei Navalny was a Russian opposition leader, lawyer, anti-corruption activist, and political prisoner. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Sergei: Alexei Navalny was a Russian opposition leader and a hero. He was an outspoken critic of Putin, the founder of the Anti-Corruption Fund, and the author of several investigations against high-level government corruption. He was sent to prison because of his stance against Putin and died a few months ago while detained.

Interviewer: Do you believe that Alexei Navalny was murdered directly because of his stance against Putin?

Sergei: In prison, Navalny suffered torture and was repeatedly isolated for minor infractions. This isolation, in such harsh conditions, amounted to torture. The government created unbearable conditions for him. No one could have survived this. Whether he was directly murdered or died because of these extreme conditions in prison, his blood is still on Putin’s hands.

Interviewer: How can the international community help bring freedom from oppression to the people of Russia?

Sergei: First, don’t shy away from Russian people. The fight is against the Russian government, not its people. Russians who speak out need to feel supported and not alone. For instance, it’s almost impossible for Russian citizens to open a bank account in the some countries simply because they are Russian. This doesn’t help in fighting Putin.

The world must understand that Putin’s war isn’t just against Ukraine; it’s against the civilized world. He won’t stop at Ukraine. There’s Poland, Moldova, and other countries next. Attempts to pacify Putin will only lead to more wars and bloodshed. The only way to stop Putin and ensure global safety is for him to lose militarily or politically.

Interviewer: Thank you for your time Sergei and your invaluable insight into the situation, a great privellage to speak with you tonight.

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The Light Magazine issues an important call to prayer for Russia and Ukraine. We pray for peace and the protection of all lives, towns, cities, and nations involved. We pray for freedom from oppression for the Russian people. We pray for a diplomatic solution and an end to the blood shed and violence. We know nothing is impossible with God, so we pray especially for Vladimir Putin. We ask God, You’d protect the nations from his regime, have mercy on him, bring him to repentance. Touch his heart, and save his soul through Jesus Christ Your Son. We pray, Abba Father, Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done in these nations. Stretch out your mighty hand Lord, we pray for your powerful, divine intervention. Have Your way, whatever it may be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

There is something happening with our technology that’s causing us to check our phones hundreds of times every day. Watch the attached 60 minutes report and I believe you will recognize the signs. Catch public transport or walk down a busy street and you will see people staring into their phones captivated by their screens. We are being “sucked in” to an addictive, computer generated reality that manipulates us to keep coming back for more. Brain hacking is very real.

Former Google product manager Tristan Harris has spoken out against big tech companies who are responsible for creating our phones, apps and social media saying that “there are long term consequences” & “the overuse of the technology is weakening our relationships with each other, & impacting our kid’s ability to focus”. Tristan Refers to cell phones being like “Slot machines” giving us exciting rewards which stimulate our brain chemistry to keep users engaged with the product for as long as possible.

It seems some tech companies are deliberately using mind manipulation techniques to keep us engaged. The longer of time we stay engaged to the technology, the more profit they gain from sales and advertising. Ramsey Brown, co-founder of dopamine labs, a computer programmer who studied neuroscience said, “You are guinea pigs in the box, pushing the button and sometimes getting the “likes” and they are doing this, to keep you in there” (in the app).

The church is not immune, so all Christians need to be cautious with the way we use our phones, apps and social media. It’s hard enough to follow Jesus in a world that’s full of distractions, so having our eyes focused on our phones as well makes it more challenging. I would also strongly urge parents to monitor your children’s phone usage as addiction can start early.

Proverbs 22:6 says to train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Romans 12:2 says do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

My prayer is that we all would use wisdom when using technology.

Bono On Jesus.  The Irish rocker’s answer to the ultimate question.

He has always been there, whether you care to look deeply into song lyrics and analyse the motives and hearts of current day pop stars, the person of Jesus Christ has always been a central theme in U2 Songs, and in Bono’s lyrics, life, philanthropy & service to humanity.

In this video interview we see his answer to the ultimate question: “Who is Jesus Christ to you?”

So, who is Jesus to you?