#RussianColonialism

A hashtag made viral by Maksym Eristavi, but what does it stand for?
Russia has been using the same tactics of intimidation, Russification, invasion, occupation and annexation for more than 100 years now. Crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, famines and even genocide are all important parts of Russia’s Colonial playbook – even until today.
Let’s take a closer look:

2022 Ukraine
The Invasion of Ukraine
Russia wants to punish Ukraine for leaving Russian Colonialism, creates fake "genocide" narratives, uses puppet statelets as a front for invasion. Invaders engage in mass war crimes, but blitzkrieg fails and they face unprecedented resistance from the population.SUPPORT UKRAINE
2015 Syria
The Russian Invasion of Syria
Syria is about to kick out a tyrant and get rid of a key Russian military base. Moscow sends troops to carpet bomb, gas and mass murder civilians - all to stop "imminent genocide". 600,000 killed, 7 million displaced.READ MORE
2014 Ukraine
The Annexation of Crimea
Ukraine kicks out the pro-Russian kleptocratic regime. The Kremlin decides to punish it, creates a disinformation narrative about ethnic strife, claims "neutrality" but sends troops to create breakaway statelets and annexes Crimea.READ MORE
2008 Georgia
The Russo-Georgian War
Georgia kicks out a pro-Russian kleptocratic regime and moves towards rejoining with Europe. The Kremlin decides to punish it. Moscow uses disinformation to fabricate claims about "imminent genocide", invades and occupies 20% of the territory.READ MORE
1999-2000 Chechnya
The Second Chechen War
Putin orders military, police and security forces to enter the breakaway region of Chechnya. Russian forces besiege and completely destroy the Chechen capital Grozny and establish direct rule over Chechnya in May 2000. Between 5,000 and 8,000 civilians were killed.READ MORE
1994-96 Chechnya
The First Chechen War
Chechnya escapes Russian Colonialism. Moscow ousts the Chechen government and seizes the capital of Grozny. It attempts to seize control of the mountainous area of Chechnya, but faces heavy resistance from Chechen guerrillas. The demoralised forces withdraw.READ MORE
1992 Georgia
The Tbilisi War
Georgia escapes Russian Colonialism. Moscow punishes it by fuelling ethnic strife & a civil war. The Kremlin claims "neutrality" but keeps sending weapons and money to support breakaway regions. Georgia ends up broken, with a pro-Russian kleptocratic regime.READ MORE
1991 Estonia
The Singing Revolution
Estonia escapes Russian Colonialism. Moscow sends tanks to drag it back. Estonians mount barricades and peacefully confront invaders. The demoralised Russians withdraw.READ MORE
1990-92 Moldova
The Moldo-Russian War
Moldova escapes Russian Colonialism. Moscow punishes it by fuelling ethnic strife, uses it as a pretext for annexing 10% of the country, and creating the Russian-control statelet of Transnistria.READ MORE
1990-91 Latvia
The Barricades
Latvia escapes Russian Colonialism. Moscow orchestrates bombings, stokes ethnic hatred, fuels fear and hysteria through disinformation. Citizens build barricades, meet Kremlin kill squads mostly unarmed. 6 killed. The demoralized Russians withdraw.READ MORE
1990-91 Lithuania
The January Events
Lithuania escapes Russian Colonialism. Moscow established an economic blockade, uses disinformation to further ethnic strife, sends tanks to roll over peaceful protesters. 15 killed, but Lithuania withstands. The demoralized Russians withdraw.READ MORE
1990 Azerbaijan
Black January
Azerbaijan tires to escape Russian Colonialism. Moscow fuels ethnic hatred, uses it as an excuse to send tanks & slaughter independence supporters. 170 die in the January massacre. Instead of demoralizing, it turbo-charges the push for independence.READ MORE
1989 Georgia
The April 9 Tragedy
Georgia tries to escape Russian Colonialism. Moscow sends troops to mass murder a peaceful pro-independence uprising in Tbilisi. 19 were killed. Instead of demoralising, it turbo-charges the push for independence.READ MORE
1986 Kazakhstan
The Jeltoqsan

Kazakhstan tries to escape Russian Colonialism, the Jeltoqsan pro-democracy uprising becomes the country's own Tiananmen moment. Moscow dispatches kill squats: hundreds of protesters executed, but they inspire anti-colonial fighters across the empire.

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1968 Czechoslovakia
The Prague Spring
Czechs and Slovaks try to escape Russian Colonialism. Moscow uses a facade collective security pact to invade. 137 slaughtered, the uprising is crushed.

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1956 Hungary
The Hungarian Uprising
Hungary tries to escape Russian Colonialism, students launch a popular pro-democracy uprising. Moscow uses a facade collective security pact to invade. Thousands were slaughtered, the uprising crushed.READ MORE
1953 East Germany
The East German Uprising
East Germany tries to escape Russian Colonialism, millions show up for pro-democracy rallies. Moscow uses a formal help request from a puppet regime to send tanks, kill hundreds and crush the uprising.READ MORE
1940 Romania
The Invasion of Romania
Moscow makes a Russian Colonialism deal with Hitler, lies it wants "to protect itself", invades Romania and annexes 15% of Romanian territory.READ MORE
1940 The Baltics
The Invasion of the Baltic States
Moscow makes a Russian Colonialism deal with Hitler, lies it wants ‘to protect itself’, bullies Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania into accepting Russian military bases and uses them to invade. Over 179,000 deported, tens of thousands die in ethnic cleansing.READ MORE
1940 Finland
The Terijoki Government
Moscow wants to punish Finland for escaping Russian Colonialism. It creates a puppet statelet on Finnish lands occupied earlier, promises to "protect it from genocide", uses as a front for an invasion of Finland.READ MORE
1939 Finland
The Winter War
Moscow lies saying it wants to protect itself from security threats inside Finland & invades it as part of a secret Russian Colonialism deal with Hitler to carve up Europe. Amid heavy losses the Kremlin settled for 11% of Finland. Over 400,000 were slaughtered.READ MORE
1939 Poland
The Invasion of Poland
Moscow fabricates "ethnic conflicts" and invades Poland to "protect minorities" — a facade for a secret Russian Colonialism deal with Hitler to divide Europe. Around 200,000 were slaughtered in the German-Russian invasion.READ MORE