Ukraine's Democratic Paradise
No free speech? No problem!
Our government in the US and the media portray Ukraine as a shining example of democratic values. However, last week the Security Service of Ukraine proudly announced the arrests of 11 people with dissenting perspectives whose voices are now being silenced and suppressed in the name of "democracy." It's almost as if democracy has become a buzzword, used to manipulate and lull the public in order to justify the authoritarian government behavior.
The definition of democracy doesn't inherently include freedom of speech and press, and the term has been manipulated by governments and media to suit their agendas. The concept itself unveils inherent contradictions and complexities that force us to question whether the label "democracy" holds any real value at all. The media is used to emphasize the façade of elections and the illusion of choice as they suppress dissenting voices, labeling them as enemies of the state and using fear tactics to distort the public perception of reality to their advantage. When governments trample on civil liberties, they wave the flag of democracy to silence critics.
In a recent press release, the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) announced the arrest of 11 individuals from various regions in Ukraine for allegedly “spreading disinformation” through online platforms. Isn't freedom of expression supposedly a democratic value? What if the majority of of a population don’t want individuals with alternative views to have a voice? Would it then be ‘democratic’ to suppress their freedom of speech?
Let’s take a closer look at some of the cases the SSU highlighted. In Kyiv, a businessman referred to the crisis as an “internal civil conflict" rather than a war on Facebook. In Chernihiv, they silenced two propagandists for “sympathizing” with Russia's policies. And in Dnipropetrovsk, they cracked down on locals who criticized the Defense Forces. The SSU also detained an "enemy accomplice" in Kharkiv and two more "Internet agitators" in Kirovohrad for making videos supposedly justifying Russia’s ‘war crimes.’ It's interesting how those in power decide what constitutes a war crime and who gets to be labeled an ‘agitator.’
The Ukrainian investigations are currently underway and these individuals will face criminal proceedings for collaboration and expressing support for Russia. It's all in the name of preserving national security and upholding the government's version of the truth.
-The Shultz Report by M. Shultz