Lilia Shevtsova: The problem of Russia is not only in Putin

The problem of Russian society is a system of personal power which has been functioning for centuries, said Lilia Shevtsova, Senior Fellow of Brookings Institution (USA), during the 8th Kyiv Security Forum organized by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation.

“When I look at the Russian president, I see a man who got lost in the corridors of the Kremlin, a man who is not always aware of the consequences of his actions,” – said the scholar.

“In Russia there is a much more serious problem – a system of personal power that traces back to millenary history. Many social groups think with outdated stereotypes that dodder to the cemetery and do not want to be buried,” – she added.

Lilia Shevtsova believes that Ukraine has become a victim of this system, “a system that represents a geopolitical and civilizational threat”. 

For your information: 

The annual international event ‘Kyiv Security Forum’, established by the Arseniy Yatsenyuk Open Ukraine Foundation in 2007 is a platform to discuss the most pressing issues concerning the security in Europe and the Black Sea region. The Forum is aimed at promoting security cooperation between the European Union and the Black Sea Region, raising awareness of the development of security among key players and strengthening the role of independent and non-governmental actors in solving security problems in Europe.