The indignation of the Russian opposition over the mere suggestion of decolonizing Russia ironically mirrors Putin's own declarations about the need for a new European security architecture.
While Putin clamors for a redrawn geopolitical map, reminiscent of Soviet-era dominance, the opposition clings to its imperialist roots. The Russian opposition cannot even entertain the thought of dismantling their empire, preferring instead to preserve the Russian state as a “prison of nations.” And, of course, there is the ever-present nuclear threat, which they regard as the ultimate bargaining chip in Russia’s foreign policy.
But Putin's idea of European security extends far beyond Ukraine. His vision, as frighteningly echoed by commentators on Russian state television, includes not only reclaiming Ukraine and the Baltic states but restoring the entirety of the Warsaw Pact. Some even openly fantasize about marching Russian troops all the way to Lisbon. This dream of dominance exposes the dangerous imperialist core that still festers in Russia today.
Thus, the debate surrounding Russia's decolonization must be understood in two dimensions: internal and external.
Internally, the Russian empire has long suppressed and enslaved its numerous ethnic minorities. The ongoing exploitation and marginalization of the peoples within Russia’s borders are hallmarks of a colonial structure that has not changed since the czarist era. Calls for decolonization have emerged from forums, think tanks, and political bodies, most notably from the U.S. Helsinki Commission.
They emphasize decolonization as a “moral and strategic imperative,” underscoring the need to restore sovereignty, preserve cultural diversity, and redistribute resources fairly across Russia’s vast expanse.
The Free Nations of Post-Russia forum has also garnered attention for advocating the dismantling of Russia’s colonial structure, with particular focus on regions like Chechnya, Tuva, and other republics that have been forcibly silenced for centuries. These discussions have sent shockwaves through the Kremlin, which views them as existential threats to Russia’s territorial integrity. The fear of separatist movements and the dissolution of Russia as a federation speaks to the deep anxieties simmering within the Russian establishment.
Externally, decolonization is not just a regional issue, but a matter of European and global security. As long as the Russian empire continues to exist - armed with a vast nuclear arsenal inherited from the Soviet Union - the safety of Europe hangs in the balance. The rise of another megalomaniac in Moscow could spell disaster for the European Union and beyond.
Moreover, Russia under Putin has deliberately sought to dismantle international law and erode global institutions. Take, for example, Russia’s efforts to undermine the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for Putin, aided by allies like Mongolia. These actions show how Putin’s Russia is actively torpedoing the international legal order, hoping to return the world to a darker era of unchecked imperial ambition.
In light of these internal and external challenges, decolonization of Russia is not only a moral necessity, it is a strategic imperative. For global stability, and for the survival of numerous oppressed peoples within Russia's borders, the dismantling of this empire is inevitable.
Glory to Ukraine!
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