Modern Russia as an Ideological "Anti-World": Historian Oleh Cheslavskyi on the "Russian Myth"

Modern Russia is not a classic autocracy but an ideological "anti-world" built on the denial of individual freedom. This statement was made by historian and analyst Oleh Cheslavskyi during a broadcast with political scientist Yuriy Romanenko while presenting his book, "The Russian Myth."

"We must dive deeper into history to understand why this myth is so resilient. Russian statehood was built not on the principles of law, but on the principles of Horde despotism, where the ruler is God's representative on earth. This is a crucial point that many in the West fail to grasp. They try to measure Russia using categories of democracy or autocracy, but the nature of power there is entirely different," the historian explained.

Cheslavskyi emphasizes that the roots of current Russian statehood lie not in European legal traditions, but in Eastern management models. He notes that this represents a continuity of autocracy, where the Russian Orthodox Church (ROC) serves as the primary ideological department of the system.

"They have sacralized power as such. For an average Russian raised in this paradigm, rebelling against the Tsar is not just a political act; it is a sin against God. Putin sensed this and began actively using religious rhetoric to legitimize his actions," he noted.

The analyst pointed out a paradox: Russia actively utilizes Western technologies and financial instruments while simultaneously rejecting the values that made them possible. He described this as a "cargo cult" where the state creates simulacra—courts, parliaments, and elections—that serve only as non-functional decorations because they lack individual liberty and the rule of law.

"They have learned to use the tools of democracy to destroy it. This is what they are now trying to export to the West—chaos under the guise of free speech. They claim to have their 'own path' and a 'special civilization,' but this civilization is built on the negation of the human being as a subject," Cheslavskyi remarked.

According to the expert, a turning point occurred around 2011-2012 during the Bolotnaya protests. Putin reportedly realized that even a surrogate liberal model threatened his personal power, leading to a sharp pivot toward "traditional values" (skrepy), archaism, and the search for internal and external enemies to unite society through fear.

Cheslavskyi explained that Ukraine became the Kremlin's primary target specifically because it offers a civilizational alternative. Yuriy Romanenko observed that the existence of a free Ukraine serves as a constant reminder to Russians of their own lack of freedom.

"Ukraine became the main target because we represent a different Rus'. We demonstrate that it is possible to be Slavic and have shared roots while choosing an entirely different path—the path of freedom and European integration. Our success automatically nullifies the entire Russian myth. To them, we are a mirror they are afraid to look into," Cheslavskyi concluded.