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  "path": "/2026/03/putins-stalinism-still-less-frightening.html",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-26T12:58:00.000Z",
  "site": "https://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com",
  "tags": [
    "t.me/v_pastukhov/1853#",
    "echofm.online/opinions/pereselenie-stalinskogo-duha-v-putinskie-zakony"
  ],
  "textContent": "Paul Goble\n\nStaunton, Mar. 21 – What we are now watching in Moscow is something suggested by the Hindu religion, Vladimir Pastukhov says, “the transmigration of the Stalinist spirit into Putin-era laws.” So far, that development has been less frightening than repulsive; but it is entirely possible the situation will change for the worse.\n\nThe latest sign that this is going on is “particularly striking,” the London-based Russian analyst says, and takes the form of draft legislation authorizing the Russian president to use armed force abroad if a Russian citizen is arrested there (t.me/v_pastukhov/1853# reposted at echofm.online/opinions/pereselenie-stalinskogo-duha-v-putinskie-zakony).\n\nThis measure serves as a means to legitimize Putin’s right to wage war against the entire world. That said, he cannot physically reach the *entire* world; otherwise, Russia would have been at war with America for the past twelve years over the Magnitsky Act.  But it is clearly intended to prepare for subversive activities against Europe.\n\nThe timing of this step is “perfect,” Pastukhov says. Europe is holding firm in its support against the Russian invasion “while it retains the option to simply remain on the sidelines (the unwise scenario) or intensively prepare for future wars (the wise scenario),” neither of which “suits Moscow.”\n\nWhat the Kremlin leader will do, the analyst says, is to “seek to destabilize the situation, to attempt to leapfrog over Ukraine to ‘strike’ at Europe, both literally and figuratively.” Indeed, “unless he manages to engineer a ‘rest’ with the help of Trump …  he likely will try to ‘pounce’ on Europe before the latter can succeed in ‘smothering’ him with the Ukrainian cushion.”\n\nThe latest draft bill before the Duma, a truly “paltry and laughable” action thus represents the clearest possible sign that Putin is “clearly preparing for just such a leap,” Pastukhov concludes.",
  "title": "Putin’s Stalinism Still Less Frightening than Repulsive But That May Soon Change, Pastukhov Says",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-26T12:58:23.018Z"
}