Comment by lostmsu
5 years ago
There are multiple ways to not pay Russian taxes that go towards war effort against Ukraine besides starving to death.
Protesting the war is one of them. Leaving is another.
Being complicit and dying are not the only two options.
An average Russian can't just pack up bags and leave willy-nilly. Few countries will issue a visa for anything other than tourism or short-term business. If one has skills that are in demand (say, IT), it's easier - but most people don't have those skills.
I fail to see how protesting the war is a "way to not pay Russian taxes". Unless you specifically mean refusing to pay taxes to protest the war, which would go about as well in Russia as it would in US. Well, except that, once you get arrested, the cops are likely to "entertain" themselves by e.g. putting a gas mask on you and squeezing the hose. Or shoving a bottle into your anus. Or just beating you with rubber batons until you pass out.
The protesting issue you describe is a tragedy of commons. Mass denial of global services to Russian people is exactly the incentive for them to overcome it.
> There are multiple ways to not pay Russian taxes that go towards war effort against Ukraine besides starving to death. Protesting the war is one of them.
Do stores refund your VAT if you have a protest sign or something?
I feel insulted by your attempt to play dumb. Protesting is a way to stop the money you already paid from going towards the war.
Protests in Russia are not a way to stop the government from doing anything. Haven't been for over a decade.
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Russia tax income is less than $20B. But income from selling gas/oil is $80B, plus about same from other types of resource export. So if we talk about not paying taxes it's the Europe who buys that gas should stop buying it, that would make much bigger effect.
Not being EU citizen, I am in no position to tell them to stop, though personally I definitely would.