Well, the EU was quick to copy this. The Swiss Jaques Baud was slapped with the same measures. I saw only one youtube video of him and in my memory he was well outspoken and considerate - but definitely not mainstream but also not a conspiracy nut.
I simply think it is not right to basically destroy the life of someone without even a court judgement that he did something illegal. He definitely does not fall in the category of hate speech or trying to stir uproar. I think free speech is important for a living democracy. And that includes people with opposing views.
This is the guy who has whole heartededly swallowed the Russian propaganda to the extent that its coming back out the other end (Either because hes a dangerous idiot or for money, you choose)?
Thinks the British were responsible for the Bucha massacre?
An ex-colonel spouting propaganda from Europes current greatest threat to peace feels like it deserves to get treated on a different level:
I think too many people forget that for the Swiss neutrality doesn't mean the same thing as it does for say the Irish, Swiss Neutrality is about exploiting both sides, and I hope to god someone important remembers that this time round.
this is just ridiculous anti free speech. just because he assumes a point of view that is mostly disagreed with doesn't make it a target for censoring. it's not a slippery slope, it's the straight path to 1984. dangerous idiots should be allowed to speak. and regarding money there is not a single hint he received any, and he lives in a country that is pretty well policed and not corrupt.
As someone who considers the Ukrainians an ally, and therefore the Russians an enemy for starting a war of aggression, I'd say its safe to view someone using their position to espouse Russian propaganda an enemy agent, and Im begruded to think an ex-colonel with intelligence experience believes these easily debunkable theories because hes stupid.
Europe is currently at war, some people just haven't realised it yet apparently.
Im not even going to touch on the swiss further, for only the truly incorruptible would colloborate with Nazis.
> for only the truly incorruptible would colloborate with Nazis
As I'd assume from your comments you consider yourself truly incorruptible. So does that mean collaboration with the Nazis is acceptable for you? Which actually would be a Russian demand to eradicate nazism in Ukraine?
Are you European? Then let me ask you why don't you join the war if you think the Ukrainians are an ally? Ally against what? Russia conquering the rest of Europe? Germany being next?
I am a friend of the Ukrainians, I have Ukrainian friends and I don't want them to die. I am not a friend of the Ukrainian government nor of people who think this war should continue nor of people who force others to participate in a war they don't want to participate in. The truth is that most Ukrainians don't want to participate in this war. Why not let them decide freely if they want to join the army? Why so many left Ukraine while it was possible? Why are so many soldiers deserting? Why do people get shot at the borders trying to leave Ukraine?
If you are so afraid of Russia, then go there yourself and fight. Why are you still posting on HN? Give those that don't want to die the freedom to not do so. Go yourself and fight yourself. As long as it is others dying for you, your convictions your words are cheapest of cheap.
Always remember: those who are keen to continue a war are not the ones who have to continue fighting it. I can't eat as much as I want to vomit if I see exile Ukrainians demonstrating to continue the war. Why don't they return but let those die that didn't have the means to escape?
You assume incorrectly, it was a response to the previous comments claim that Switzerland was not corrupt, which is a laughable claim at best.
You've then proceeded to make a whole host of other assumptions about me rather than engage with any of the points, so I'm not really going to engage with any of them other than also agreeing that the war should end, and should have ended a long time ago. But do I think Ukraine should cede territory to Russia to end the war? Why embolden the beast? We've tried appeasement many times before, it always plays out the same way.
War is not the answer, but Ukraine didnt pick this fight. Im frankly embarrassed by the state of support most european nations have shown them. Not all support needs to be about violence, but far too many of us were too slow to implement too little sanctions on the aggressor.
Anyways the minutia of the ukraine / russia conflict is largely off-topic. The real point is that Russia are the aggressor in Europe right now, and so a european ex-colonel with lots of experience in the intelligence services spouting russian propaganda every occassion they get is probably a collaborator, so I dont see it as anymore unreasonable for the EU to sanction them than say the Russian oligarchs.
> You've then proceeded to make a whole host of other assumptions about me rather than engage with any of the points.
I beg your pardon! You said Europeans are at war currently -please don't deny it, it is up there- and being myself European and not being aware of it, I wondered why you are not participating in it then but rather have other people die for your convictions?
So how did I not engage with your points and how is that an assumption? You just stated it!
If you think I didn't engage, then please ask me questions! I asked 9 questions and you didn't bother to answer one of them. Until then I continue to believe that the most fervent supporters of war are those that wont ever participate in them.
Whenever I hear "Ukraine" I personally hear the "fascist, corrupt leadership with golden toilets to sh*t in" and the suffering population who has to endure it. And I know plenty of Ukrainians and am friends with them.
I simply think it is not right to basically destroy the life of someone without even a court judgement that he did something illegal. He definitely does not fall in the category of hate speech or trying to stir uproar. I think free speech is important for a living democracy. And that includes people with opposing views.