Today? If there isn't a "mass mobilization" (military draft) that they're subject to and they can afford it, yes

Posted on September 18, 2026 at 11:47:28 PM by brick

In the Russian Empire movement was restrained. They used an internal passport system ("propiska"), partially to keep track of people and partially to force serfs to stay on the estates they "belonged to." Most people couldn't just go wherever they wanted without state permission. The USSR got rid of those in 1917....then reimplemented an even sterner internal passport system under Stalin in the early 1930s. Most Soviet citizens couldn't just move somewhere internally and couldn't legally leave the USSR.

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Any thoughts on the country of Russia and/or Russians?* - By Poster P September 18, 2026 at 10:23:29 PM
- forever grateful for sergei, igor, pavel, vladimir, slava (2), and well of course….. anna.** - By kal September 19, 2026 at 02:28:32 AM
- They paid for Don Jrs extravagant wedding!* - By Cincywolve September 18, 2026 at 10:52:52 PM
  - It is so fuggin' incredible that this gets so little attention* - By ajs September 18, 2026 at 10:54:00 PM
- As a country they have inferiority complex about being behind the west and instead of catching up claim they are some sort of special holy alternative value system that they are better at but can’t define and when they do try (community, spirituality, destiny) they are worse at those things too* - By harbaughdyssey September 18, 2026 at 10:51:49 PM
  - Lol. They also have a vigorous internal debate about whether to be a "Western-facing" society, with progress, rule of law, rationality, economic development, etc; or alternatively to be a "Eurasian society" - By brick September 18, 2026 at 11:29:02 PM
    - That was certainly an interesting video. - By GoBrew September 19, 2026 at 11:04:59 AM
- Very much like the US - 65% great people, 35% fascists - and the fascists run the country* - By syrfan September 18, 2026 at 10:49:24 PM
  - might be a lower % of fascists in Russia, although they have had to live with it longer, so might be more against it* - By ajs September 18, 2026 at 10:53:00 PM
- I used to work with a young Russian woman. She was very kind and super smart. Never asked her about politics but I always wondered what Russians in general thought about the situation.* - By WOK September 18, 2026 at 10:43:05 PM
- love the people, hate the government* - By ajs September 18, 2026 at 10:26:37 PM
  - Eh. There are plenty of decent Russians, but not very many of them live in Russia - By brick September 18, 2026 at 11:08:33 PM
    - legit question-can Russians freely leave Russia if they so choose?* - By ajs September 18, 2026 at 11:37:39 PM
      - Today? If there isn't a "mass mobilization" (military draft) that they're subject to and they can afford it, yes - By brick September 18, 2026 at 11:47:28 PM
        
        yes I meant today. thanks* - By ajs September 18, 2026 at 11:49:23 PM

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Today? If there isn't a "mass mobilization" (military draft) that they're subject to and they can afford it, yes