Russian expats, anti-authoritarian journalists, and co-authors Andrei Soldatov and Irina Borogan join Rick this week to share their heroic story of fleeing Russia in order to give the rest of the world a picture of how people within the country reacted to the war in Chechnya (and now the invasion of Ukraine), how the death of journalism paved a path for state-run misinformation channels, and what the future looks like, structurally, once Putin eventually dies in the future. The militaristic system that Putin shaped is primed for yet another dictator to step into power, and although Russians remain hopeful to one day be able to return their government back to the people, this realistically won't happen for many generations...until the country is finally repaired. Their book 'Our Dear Friends in Moscow' describes a "broken generation" in Russia, and how their friendships back home broke apart over the Putin's actions in Ukraine and the Russian state's condemnation of the West. Coming from a real life encounter with authoritarianism, Andrei and Irina warn us about how it became that way and where we are on that trajectory.

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You can find Irina Borogan @irinaborogan on X, and Andrei Soldatov @AndreiSoldatov on X. Also, please check out Irina & Andrei's newest book 'Our Dear Friends in Moscow' wherever fine books are sold!

Follow Rick Wilson at @TheRickWilson on X and @therickwilson.bsky.social on Bluesky, and subscribe to his Substack at therickwilson.substack.com. 

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