Today, Financial Times published article, which claims that “Russians back hardline policies.” It reffers to concrete polls taken by various Russian poll agencies. The main idea is that people of Russia have been united and they have supported two main leaders (Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin) and their policies.

The conclusion seems to be normal for stable and prosperous democratic regime. But there is something abnormal in that public opinion: Russians are not interested what kind of image leaves their country in abroad. In other words, they don’t care about the attitude of EU, US and the others to Kremlin. What’s more, Moscow based “Vtsiom” poll agency’s director, Mr. Valerij Fedorov, said that majority of Russians now do not consider confrontation with the west to be a threat to internal stability of state. He added that this view resembled the novel 1984 written by George Orwell, informs FT.

Let me remind some key facts about 1984. It is about totalitarian rule “Angsoc” in Oceania, one of three world’s superstates in 1984. The government is called Big Brother and it is more just than a virtual body. It becomes involved in everyone’s life and monitors people via telescreens. Moreover, Oceania is in permanent war with two other superpowers: Eurasia and Eastasia.

There are three main slogans of that totality:

• war is peace,
• freedom is slavery,
• ignorance is strength.

Now the question is: Are there some similarities between Oceania and today’s Russia? I am convinced there are more ones. Let’s look at them closer:

War is peace! In former soviet era, there was one joke about the soviet empire: With whom does USSR share common borders? With whichever it wants. Situation in Georgia looks quite similar. Russia declared that it is able to provide successful military operations close to its territory. In addition, its inhabitants support this kind of policy. Some 59 percent of them believe current tough foreign policy is “effective,” FT informs. Other 82 percent believe Russia should try to become the most powerful state all over the world. Keeping the military power on mind brings the peace into souls of people of Russia. Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin show that the country is strong enough and this fact brings heavenly peace into hearts of their voters.

Freedom is slavery! Deviation from political mainstream causes problems. Mrs. Anna Politkovskaya  or Mr. Alexander Litvinenko could speak much about this. There is just one barrier – both are dead. On the other hand, to be “dead alive” suits the purpose of current Kremlin’s establishment as well. There are witnesses of societal elimination like that. A few examples: Mr. Mikhail Khodorkovski, former successful businessman, has been in prison since 2004. Mr. Gerry Kasparov, the pride of Russian chess, has no influence as a politician and he was forced to give up his candidacy before the most recent presidential election. The period of 90s is connected with Mr. President Boris Jeltsin. Despite the fact that he was not ideal and his policy turned country into economic and societal chaos more times, he stood for democracy as much as Russian conditions allowed him. At that time, the price for freedom was low economic performance and the freedom represented economic slavery. Mr. Medvedev and Mr. Putin know it and they often remind it.

Ignorance is strength! Roman Abramovich is that businessman who knows this is true. He is one of so-called oligarchs, the group of a few fabulous rich persons that have close relations with political leadership and live in mutual symbiosis with it. Abramovich thanks ignorance of political rule for being successful. No other person, but he was that man who travelled all around the world beside former president Mr. Putin and talked about trade issues in the name of Russia. He participated in negotiations of many economic deals with foreign governments and firms as well. He has never cared about political issues and Mr. Putin “adopted” him as “a son.” Mr. President granted him many state orders and allowed his company to be dominant in implementing foreign trades.

We could find many other similarities between Orwell’s novel and Russian daily reality. United Russia is not just like the other parties. It has become the part of state; it has created monopoly on power. This party, not the other ones, took auspices for creating register of human resources for the purposes of state administration. United Russia is not only virtual political force; it has real influence on people’s lives. To be the member of it means you have additional identity; you are part of centre of power, you are part of symbol of Russia. It doesn’t matter that state doesn’t allow private media to be completely free; as supporter of United Russia you know that only state-owned media provide fresh and correct information.

Russia is not Orwell’s Oceania, but I am afraid that 1984 has important place in personal libraries of current leaders of Russia. The political rule there seems to be strongly inspired by Big Brother’s approach. Man can object that 1984 is the picture of totality like business as usual. This kind of perception might not be sufficient; 1984 is the picture of “elegant” regime that does not subordinate people by physical force, but it changes their minds. Establishment of Russia knows this principle and it acts according it.