Supplier Nastya Krasilnikova according to which misogyny is written into the ideology of the Russian regime. As an example, he cites the 2017 law change that reduced the penalties for domestic violence. Krasilnikova had to move from Russia after investigating suspected sexual crimes by the elite.
What kind of situation do you answer these questions from?
– I am in Israel. I rent a studio here. My husband and I are journalists in an independent media. I investigate crimes against women. I’m also a blogger, and in some circles I’m popular. When the war started, I got a lot of hate and threats from other Russians. The threats that my son and I should be raped felt real. I had an uncomfortable feeling in Russia for years. I left Moscow after the war started. I moved to Israel last October.
The men are now going to war in Russia. What does it mean for Russian women?
– For some, it can mean relief, because the state pays families well. The money that soldiers get is much more than what many people usually earn. That amount can change things. It is also one of the reasons why many accept war.
Life also changes for many in such a way that women take care of the family alone. It creates pressure. However, it is not completely foreign to Russian women, because men are usually not very committed to taking care of children and parents. Others, on the other hand, lose a close person. We know many will die.
Soldiers’ wives also talk on social media chat services about how the men have changed and are in pain. Men cannot deal with their pain, so many drink and become violent in everyday life. Those returning from war often have symptoms of post-traumatic stress. In Russia, the matter is solved with a drink, which is not a medicine but can make the situation worse.
How does the war affect the violence faced by Russian women at home?
– There are no statistics on violence at home. This problem does not interest anyone in Russia. Only activists collect information about it. It is also really difficult to investigate because the state is against investigation. However, we know that as a result of the war, violence in homes is on the rise. Crisis centers receive a lot of calls.
You also have to understand that some of those who are violent towards their family members are away from home. In some places, the number of cases may also decrease when women are free from their husbands.
What kind of position do women have in Russian society at the moment?
– The state says that women’s most important tasks in life are having children and getting married. Restriction of women’s rights is common everywhere. In Russia, it is perhaps more violent and painful than elsewhere for women. Not everyone is limited or stopped by anti-feminism. There are those who succeed.
In Russia, women are a minority in the political administration, and there are many reasons for this. There are no women in the administration that I would vote for. When Putin dies or flees, that may change.
How could the status of women change in Russia?
– Russian society is oppressed, and women are oppressed even more. Even so, things happen at the grassroots level, and not everything is dictated from above. People are already aware of women’s rights and what domestic violence is. I hope women could decide for themselves what kind of life they want. For example, there is a lot of discussion about restricting abortions. There are laws in Russia that prevent discrimination in the workplace, but many managers and employers do not know about them. I’m sure that Russia could have a female president and women could make up half of the administration quickly.
Everything can change when Russian society is no longer shackled as it has been shackled for several years.
You have also talked about how the Russian military uses sexual violence as a weapon. Why are soldiers allowed to do that?
– People become very violent when they are forced to kill. Raping is one way to be violent towards an enemy. They consider Ukrainian women to be enemies to whom you can do anything.
Sexual violence is a weapon in all wars. The Russian military has not invented it. According to experts, sexual violence is a way to scare people, make them victims. It is known about rape that it is not desire, but the use of power and a hate crime. In my opinion, hatred towards women is also part of the ideology of the Russian regime everywhere. Part of it is that those at war become animalistic and extremely cruel.
What is your story, why did you leave Russia?
– People like me are not welcome in Russia. The administration doesn’t like bloggers and feminists like me. After the war started, everything felt violent, and the threat felt real. I also don’t want to live in a country that commits such a crime [hyökkäyksen Ukrainaan]. I don’t want to pay taxes there and be a part of it. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to obtain Israeli citizenship. I am not returning to Russia in the near future. That would be dangerous for me.
What do you think is happening in Russia?
– I’m not a clairvoyant, I have no idea.
In this series of stories, we call Russians and look for answers to what is happening to representatives of various professions, civil society, journalists and activists in Russia.