Yatsko, Viatcheslav: Specific Features of Russian National Character The article discusses some specific features characteristic of Russian people. Specific Features of Russian National Character Who are Russians? The aim of this essay is to assess some beliefs about Russian national character widespread among Western audience and supported by Western mass media. While doing it I will use three operators: "true", "false", and "doubtful" substantiated by appropriate argumentation. From this viewpoint the Tatars, the Bashkirs, are Russians; the Byelorussians, the Ukrainians living in the East regions of their countries are Russians; peoples living in the Caucasus are not Russians, to say nothing of Central Asian nations. The Byelorussians and the Ukrainians living in Western regions of their countries are not Russians. This viewpoint provides convincing explanation for recent events in the Ukraine: they were determined by essential differences between two ethnical groups. One group is the Ukrainians living in Eastern regions, who are Russians by their nature, and the other group are the Ukrainians living in Western regions of the Ukraine, who are non-Russians. That is why the overwhelming majority of Russians, living in Russia, supports the leader of East Ukraine and holds a strong negative attitude to the leader of West Ukraine. And East Ukrainians will be always longing for Russia. | |
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