Thread by @olga_chyzh

People ask me everyday what they can do to help #StopPutin, so here are some ideas.

#StandWithUkraine

This war is taking place on two battlegrounds—physical and informational. Most of us cannot do much to help win the physical war, but each of us can do a lot to help win the informational war.

In is admittedly difficult to make inferences from surveys in authoritarian regimes, but according to one estimate, only about 14% of Russian people know what is actually going on. These 14% use VPNs to access independent media, travel abroad, and have friends/family abroad.

The rest of Russians—86% fall into two categories: the “apolitical”—those who do not have the slightest idea of what is happening—and the monsters—those who know but still support the regime.

The monsters have no conscience and cannot be reached, but the “apolitical” groups is not small and can be reasoned with.

The “apoliticals” choose to stay uninformed, because they find it too costly to seek out independent information. What you don’t know cannot be used against you, VPNs cost $$$ (and you need a Visa card to pay for one, which is not even an option anymore).

From the perspective of an average Russian, there is not much they can do to influence their government: protesters are routinely arrested, beaten up, fined, and may even be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail.

On balance, it makes sense for an average Russian to stay out of politics and go about their daily life. It’s definitely safer that way.

Reaching these “apoliticals” is the West's best shot for changing Russian regime from the inside. Because these are the people who service and protect the current regime.

Putin and his entourage employ tens of thousands of these “apolitical” people to cook and clean for them, drive them around, decorate their palaces, and guarantee their physical safety.

The regime depends on these people for its day-to-day operation and survival. If these people chose to open their eyes and learn the truth, if even a small number of them turned against their employers, the regime would find itself in a very precarious position.

Imagine being surrounded by people who think you are a monster. Imagine eating a meal prepared by a chef who hates you or getting into a car when you cannot trust the driver.

The public as a whole cannot overthrow the Russian regime. But if a small number of these "apolitical" regime service-people are reached, they can certainly make the life of the Russian political elite pretty intolerable.

Now how can we reach the people who do not want to listen? It is not easy, but also not impossible. Research shows, for example, that people are more likely to listen when information comes from someone they respect and look up to, such as celebrities.

I am surprised by how few celebrities have taken a stance on Russia’s invasion. I know of very few instances of celebrities, Western or Russian, using their platforms to share the information with the Russian people.

I am talking about more than just posting a “NO WAR” banner on your Instagram, but using your influence to help validate and amplify the truth about Putin's war to people who look up to you. (I know Schwarzenegger did--and it's nice--but he was also in government.)

So here is something everyone can do:
1. Call on your favorite band/movie star for help. My favorite band @dcfc is very progressive on a lot of issues, but they are yet to make a statement;
2. Call on your favorite VPN provider to wave their fees for people in Russia @expressvpn