Nobel laureate Dmitry Muratov believes that Putin cannot claim victory in Ukraine. He says that no matter how much time passes, this war cannot be called a victory. Muratov expressed this opinion in an interview about the conflict in Ukraine, reports infohub.kz.
According to Muratov, Putin cannot win because two Slavic nations are destroying each other. He says that no matter how the war ends, it cannot be considered a victory. Muratov believes that Ukraine can be destroyed, but not conquered. He warns that continued escalation could lead to the use of nuclear weapons.
When asked whether Putin might use nuclear weapons, Muratov said that no one knows, and that experts' opinions are no better than astrology. He noted that discussions about using nuclear weapons have taken place on state television, and at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum, some speakers supported the idea.
Muratov also commented on Putin's grip on power. He said he does not believe in a split among the elite, that the country is run by Putin, and that they are afraid of him. He also criticized the hypocrisy of Western countries, which talk about human rights but continue to trade oil and gas.
According to Muratov, at least 1,500 people are now in prison in Russia for speaking out against current state policy. He says this is three times more than during the harshest days of the KGB in the USSR. He also recalled the fate of four journalists accused of links to opposition politician Alexei Navalny, as well as anti-war musician Pavel Kushnir, who died in custody after a hunger strike.
Muratov said that despite pressure on himself, he tries to focus on political prisoners. He asks the world to pay attention to this issue. He also said that people in Moscow support them, but only whisper their support.