Konstantin Kisin

Hysteria about Russian interference is becoming a joke

The murder of Russian defector and fierce Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko was a radioactive wake-up call to many in the West about the nature of the Russian regime. Eight years later, the annexation of Crimea and subsequent invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2014 were also rightly condemned around the world. It's safe to say these events – and the ongoing allegations of Russian meddling in western democracies – have made it an interesting time to be a Russian in this country. Yet while this topic has been a rich vein of material for a comedian, the extent of hysteria about Russia’s involvement in every aspect of our daily lives is now getting beyond satire. We’re told the Russians were responsible for Brexit. As I have said before, if we Russians were responsible for Brexit, Brexit would be done.

Konstantin Kisin

Brexit and the death of the British sense of fair play

Konstantin Kisin

Brexit and the death of the British sense of fair play

As an immigrant Remain voter, I am starting to worry about my fellow members of the metropolitan elite. Some of those whose cause I share dutifully attend protest marches, attack people whose political views they don’t share and talk cheerfully about the rise of fascism. The madness of this supposedly liberal cause is in plain sight, yet it continues to thrive, boosted supposedly by Remain’s performance in the EU elections. We were told by some that Remain won the election in which a six-week old Brexit Party captured first place, a third of the popular vote and 40 per cent of seats. It rather reminded me of how we do elections in Russia: first you vote and then someone comes along and explains who actually won.

Konstantin Kisin

How ‘right wing’ became the smear for those we disagree with

Konstantin Kisin

How ‘right wing’ became the smear for those we disagree with

Until recently, the rules on political labelling were clear. If you voted Labour, supported Remain and expressed how much you cared about refugees on Facebook, you were left wing and therefore a good person. If you voted Tory, supported Leave or failed to signal your virtue on social media with the required frequency, you were right wing and therefore bad. Today, however, this system for dividing society into good and evil is crumbling under the weight of its own oversimplifications. It turns out that plenty of traditional Labour voters supported Leave, while many Tories went for Remain. The emergent Brexit Party has a broad range of candidates from both sides of the political spectrum. How complicating and how frustrating.

Wednesday

Hysteria about Russian interference is becoming a joke

Hysteria about Russian interference is becoming a joke

Friday

Brexit and the death of the British sense of fair play

Brexit and the death of the British sense of fair play

Sunday

How ‘right wing’ became the smear for those we disagree with

How ‘right wing’ became the smear for those we disagree with