By Paul Goble
One of the most odious features of
Soviet times is now making a horrific comeback in Russian-occupied Crimea—“snitching”
or denouncing others to the authorities in the hopes of currying favor with the
latter or of gaining specific benefits such as the apartment of those against
whom the denunciations are directed. As officials clearly intend, Crimean
commentator Andrey Kirillov says, this trend is leading to the atomization of
society and the spread of fear. Thus, the spread of denunciations is making the
population less likely to resist and easier to control (krymr.com, July 23; unian.net, July 24).
According to Kirillov, such
denunciations have become “a mass phenomenon” in Crimea after only a few months
of Russian occupation. A few people may be snitching because they believe that
they have discovered problems and “wish to restore order.” But most of those in Crimea who are taking
this step appear to be driven by a desire to curry favor with the authorities and
win benefits for themselves at the expense of those they denounce.
He suggests that those engaged in such
activities think like “children of the USSR” and assume that because the new
powers that be have so many enemies, they can exploit the situation by turning
them in. If this judgment is correct, it suggests the perception of the
population is that the Russian occupation officials are anything but
legitimate.
Kirillov says that in Crimea since the
beginning of the Russian occupation, “bosses have begun to report on their
subordinates, and subordinates on their bosses, the employees of one office on
those of another,” including among government officials. Businesses hope to
gain contracts, employees hope to oust bosses, and government employees hope to
promote themselves in the eyes of the occupying authorities.
Moreover, he continues, “journalists
are denouncing other journalists who have remained in Crimea, doctors are
denouncing doctors, school directors their staffs,” and so on and on. Recently, he says, “an especially terrible
kind” of denunciation has made an appearance—neighbors denouncing neighbors in
the hopes of obtaining their property.
Fortunately, this form has not yet assumed the proportions of the
others, but there is little reason to think that it will not continue to grow
as long as the occupation lasts.