• marmulak@lemmy.ml
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          2 years ago

          There are good people from Russia, but Russia can and does make people bad. It’s a country where severe levels of bigotry, racism, homophobia, antisemitism, and other similar things are normalized. I live in the former USSR and people here who are more Russianized develop a superiority complex where they look down on everyone else. I’ve continuously been told by them, that they think the US is an awful country because it’s full of black people and run by gays and Jews. I’ll never get used to it.

          I’d have to know the person first before judging them personally, but if you’re asking me to just blindly choose to accept either a Russian or Ugandan immigrant, I’ll choose the Ugandan.

          • guojing@lemmy.ml
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            2 years ago

            By that logic, people from United States should have been banned from visiting other countries decades ago.

            But the logic doesnt make any sense. If people can leave their country, it will allow them to know different perspectives, and show that improvements in their own country are possible.

        • NinmiOP
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          2 years ago

          I think it’s about time the Russians start taking some responsibility for their leader’s actions. It’s been 6 months now. They’re welcome back in Europe once they stop killing fellow Europeans.

            • alyaza [they/she]@beehaw.orgM
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              2 years ago

              yeah i would be careful with the phrasing “once they stop killing fellow Europeans”–it is not ordinary russian citizens doing the killings, and even if it may be correct that they tacitly or actively support the government doing such killings the same charge can be put against pretty much any existing government. (there are also other factors like the high level of propaganda and repression russian dissidents face for speaking out, which incentivizes people who truly oppose these actions to not openly do so. many people were arrested in the early days of the war doing this.)

              • NinmiOP
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                2 years ago

                It’s a fair point and I should be more careful with my phrasing. I hope it won’t detract from the other points I’ve made.

          • marmulak@lemmy.ml
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            2 years ago

            On that note, Putin’s approval rating is said to be very high. I don’t know if it’s accurate though, but Russia certainly does have its right-wing nationalists and people who believe the propaganda.

            • alyaza [they/she]@beehaw.orgM
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              2 years ago

              by all accounts that i’m aware of the approval rating putin has is authentic, although i’m sure some of his approval can be explained by his political longevity and political propaganda reinforcing his influence.

  • NinmiOP
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    2 years ago

    Hoping Finland will follow suit ASAP.

    • marmulak@lemmy.ml
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      2 years ago

      What would you say are the benefits of this? Surely Russians fleeing Russia are not the ones responsible for the war on Ukraine

      • NinmiOP
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        2 years ago

        As stated in the article, people leaving for humanitarian reasons are exempt from this.

        More than any clear benefits, it’s bizarre that Russia has attacked Europe in essence, yet its citizen are travelling across Europe like nothing is happening. Finland is one of these hubs for such travel and it needs to stop until Russia stops its agression.

      • alyaza [they/she]@beehaw.orgM
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        2 years ago

        it seems they have designed carve-outs for this purpose, although ymmv

        Exceptions to the rule include:

        • Russian embassy employees and their family members working in Estonia;
        • Employees directly involved in the transportation of goods and passengers;
        • Those who have the right to freedom of movement under EU law;
        • People visiting close relatives;
        • People entering for humanitarian reasons.

        personally i don’t see why you need to pass a law like this but, i suppose i’m not estonian

        • marmulak@lemmy.ml
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          2 years ago

          Also I am not Estonian.

          Personally I can imagine different cases. There are Russians fleeing who strongly oppose Putin and his war. Even just normal people who would like to get away from sanctions, or can’t toerlate life in a country like Russia in general. I don’t have an issue with such people, but then there are possibly also wealthy/corrupt Russians who are good with Putin but just want to enjoy themselves in Europe while normal Russians suffer under sanctions. I would not want to let those people travel.