Young Reporter: My Biggest Fear- by Orisa Thandi 

Phobia. Defined by the dictionary as ‘an extreme or irrational fear/ aversion to something’, there are thousands of things to be afraid of. Some phobias make complete sense to me, such as claustrophobia (fear of confined places), or arachnophobia (fear of spiders). However, recently I have only had one phobia on my mind: irrational as it may sound, by the end of this article you may agree with me. I am terrified of Russia.

You may be wondering what has Russia has done to scare me so much. As an independent country, Russia holds some of the most beautiful sights in the world, such as Saint Basil’s Cathedral, and the Winter Palace- not to mention Moscow’s Kremlin (The most politically influential place in the whole of the country).  There is also a rich sense of traditional culture and heritage, which has developed from years of intricate European history, which contrasts with the young, modernized countries of the west (such as America).

So, why should I be afraid of this country? One name: Putin. After the highs and lows he had in 2014, he has grown incredibly popular in Russia, but on the contrary, has a smaller following in other places in the world. Reasons for this include his decision to annex Crimea from Ukraine, which expanded Russia’s territory- something that has not been done since the split of the Soviet Union. To make international relations worse, it was thought that MH17 was shot down by the Russian Militia, which caused hundreds of deaths.

This has inspired a new kind of Russia, in the eyes of the Russian Youths. On Reggie Yate’s Extreme Russia, I saw many young people between the ages of 18 to 20, who wanted to ‘defend the motherland’ and almost worshiped Putin. From designer dresses at a top Russian fashion show, to wall hangings in an office, Putin’s face appeared everywhere. Is this form of worship healthy, or is Putin being hailed as the ‘God’ of Russia?

But this isn't nearly as bad as something else that Putin has done. After watching Reggie Yate’s Extreme Russia, I found out that Vladimir Putin had approved a bunch of Anti-Gay laws, which included the prevention of Homosexual propaganda. Although he denied the bill was Anti-Gay, the law clearly states that Homosexual propaganda is against the law, which means anyone promoting Gay rights (even by holding hands with members of the same sex) could be sent to prison, and fined up to £70 worth of Rubbles.

And it doesn't stop there- news of this law has fueled numerous hate crimes all across Russia. One group, who describe their acts as ‘Safaris’ seek out Gay men online, and then film them being publicly humiliated or tortured, until they admit they are ‘perverts’. The LGBT community are constantly harassesd on the streets of Russia, and life is difficult for them. Many modern LGBT Russians are moving out of the country, as they ‘violate’ the law each day with the relationships that they are in.

In conclusion, it is not the separate laws, or acts of Putin that have scared me so much. It is the potential for a neo-Nazi, Nationalist Russia who are intent on spreading their ideas (and pointing their weapons) at the world. Putin has successfully molded the next Generation of Russia to his own ideas and beliefs- and who is to say that we aren't next?