970: What’s the Real Danger From Russia?

Brian Nichols  0:00  
Music. Instead of focusing on winning arguments, we're teaching the basic fundamentals of sales and marketing and how we can use them to win in the world of politics, teaching you how to meet people where they're at on the issues they care about. Welcome to The Brian Nichols Show. Well, hey there, folks. Brian Nichols here on another fun filled episode. Guest of The Brian Nichols Show. I am, as always, your humble host, joining from our lovely cardio miracle Studios here in eastern Indiana. The Brian Nichols Show is powered Yes, by the best heart health supplement in the world. Cardio miracle. If you want to learn more how to lower your blood pressure, lower your resting heart rate, while improving your pump at the gym, stick around. We're gonna talk about that more later in today's episode. But first, we're skipping over to Eastern Europe once again, because, as the world is still on fire, it's important to understand how that fire started. So joining us here today is Lika K Lika, welcome to Brian Nichols. Show how you doing? Hi.

Speaker 1  0:53  
I'm good. Thanks for inviting me. How are you I'm doing well.

Brian Nichols  0:57  
We we had a little chat before I hit the record button, I said, Lika, I'm not even going to try to pronounce your last name, because I'm just going to be honest with myself, I know I'm going to butcher it. So Lika, share us your actual name, not Lika k and then also, just tell us a little bit the story of your background, growing up in Eastern Europe. Yeah,

Speaker 1  1:14  
of course. First of all, thank you so much again for inviting me. My name is Lika COVID, showyza. I know it's a tough one, quite a long one as well. I'm a political writer from Georgia and a fellow at young voices. I'm currently finishing my master's degree in European Studies in the University in Sweden, and yeah, growing up in Eastern Europe, or specifically in Georgia, has definitely been a wonderful but at the same time, of course, challenging experience, especially now in regards that our government is drifting more into the authoritarian drift and regime in general. So especially now, of course, I don't live there currently, but of course, it's still heartbreaking to see everything that's happening now. Lika,

Brian Nichols  1:55  
you mentioned Georgia. You're not talking about Atlanta, Georgia. You're talking about Georgia, the country over in Europe, that's right, formerly part of the old Soviet Union. Now you're your own country, and obviously we've seen, you know where we are today with Ukrainian and Russian conflict. A lot of what's happening over there today is echoes of what's happened 1015, 2030, years ago and beyond. So before we dig into where we are today, do us a favor just kind of set the stage here of what was life like in the the, I guess, the pre current world order we see today, back when you had the Soviet Union. And how do we fast forward to where we are today, where, despite being your own individual country, starting to have more of those Soviet style type of persuasions, what are your thoughts there?

Speaker 1  2:41  
Of course, it's definitely a bit of hurricane time. I would say the transformation and transition period from the Soviet Union has been a very difficult one. It's different for me, because I wasn't raised in Soviet Union. I was already in the free country. But of course, you always see this cultural significance and the similarities that so much reflect today's also today's generation, especially see understanding that my parents and the older generation went through this hurricane time, which even explaining it sometimes feel like telling a horror movie, especially after the collapse of 17 years when all of these rules people had just collapsed and there there were no institutions and no police, no order, nothing, basically. So people really live through this hurricane time, especially after ever since my childhood, I was eight. In 2008 we had a war, and it's the one of the heartbreaking thing is that, of course, everyone talks about war in Ukraine and what is happening today, and it's horrible, but everyone forgets that we experienced the same thing in 2008 and our territory was occupied as well. And it was one of the most difficult five days, especially in the recent history, that my country experienced, and we still face the consequences today, especially now, when we have adequate of the Russian law existing today, and also our government, who rigged the election and stayed in the power for over than more than 12 years at this point, and it's very heartbreaking to see the country that was one of the leader in the region, who was doing all the democratic changes, doing our best to achieve the European Union membership, NATO membership and become a developed country, and now we are so far back, basically at the same place where we were in 90s period or early 20th so it's actually very heartbreaking to say it right now,

Brian Nichols  4:31  
very interesting. Lika do us a favor and just help address the question I know we we often get asked quite a bit here looking at the Russian Ukrainian conflict. I'm wondering if this, you know, same church, different pew kind of thing, where it applies to Georgia. But there is an argument saying, Listen, you look at the Ukrainian conflict, half of Ukraine, which more in the border lands of Russia. They're much more, actually, in tune with the the Russian the Russian culture. They're much more ethnically Russian. Uh, they don't want to be part of this, you know, quote, unquote, New World Order. They don't want to join NATO. They don't want to join the EU. They want to be culturally Russian, I guess, is the argument, is there merit in that type of an argument, not just from the Ukrainian perspective, but let's look at Georgia, for example. Is there an argument that that makes sense saying, hey, a lot of the folks here, even though we're promoting this pro democratic, pro democracy mentality, the people actually living here tend to want to be more ethnically, culturally, what they have been for generations at this point.

Speaker 1  5:35  
Well, there's very simple reason in both cases are in Georgia and Ukraine, that no even though, of course, Ukrainians and Russians share a lot of similarities. For example, where their language comes from, the same family, but then it's a very big insult to tell Ukrainian you are the same. And also, the narrative Russia is trying to portray is completely false, because even from the historical perspective, it was Kyiv Skyros, it was not Russian Ukrainian. They the kevskarus basically means that Russia kind of poor, forwarded afterwards. So the big the saying as things like, We are the same, and basically we have to create this whole unity which already exists back in the days. And we saw the consequences of it is completely unrealistic, irrelevant and also offensive. And also, there have been a lot of surveys back in Georgia as well that just showcase that, yes, we want European future. We want to be in EU. We want to be NATO members. And that's why, over 200 days, there have been non stop products, and people go with that, to that protest, with the mentality that they know that they might exit their houses and most likely they won't come back, because they would be imprisoned, or they would get a huge fine, or sometimes even worse. And I unfortunately mean what I'm saying, it's very big mindset to have that you want this very normal lifestyle. We don't want to be in front of the parliament protesting very normal things like fair elections, fair media, non governmental organizations are having a simple institutions. This not what we want, and what whatever is Russia is portraying is horrible, because basically the every country, they intervened with or during the Soviet Union. They never develop it. It's just, for example, they occupy one of the best regions in Georgia, which also called in other languages. And this they occupied it during 19th, 19th and it is as destroyed as it was after the war, they never develop. They don't do anything good in the countries they invade. And also saying that we are the same people, and your country just should not exist, and you should be in alliance and under our governance, is very offensive. And most there, of course, might be 10% that's also very big percentage, I would say, elderly people who lived in Soviet Union, and for some weird reasons, they really enjoyed it, not having freedom or not being able to express themselves. They might still want to idolize that period, but especially when I look at my parents generation, especially my generation, we don't want that. We just want very normal lifestyle like the European countries are having, for example. Well, let's

Brian Nichols  8:27  
compare and contrast Georgia with some other European countries. And how about, you know, countries that were also former parts of the Soviet bloc. You look at countries like Poland, for example, right now, Poland, I had back in the show a guess where we were talking about how Poland is, quote, unquote, leading by example. They're being the right type of ally the United States should look to partner with because, excuse me, Poland is actually going through and they're building up their military. They're establishing a very strong nationalist base, and they're leading by example. So I guess comparing and contrasting Lika with Georgia and Poland, what are some things you think Georgia can learn from Poland? If anything?

Speaker 1  9:04  
Well, I would say our past is not that similar. Poland, of course, had so socialistic past, but we were core members of the Soviet Union, so it's, of course, different, and geographically speaking, there more to the west. Our geographical location is very challenging with Russia having us without having Russia on our border. But I would say, of course, Poland is on a great path currently, since they also changed the government. And I think one of the great lessons we can learn is that their the opposition, one of the reasons why they wanted they have this United opposition, and Poland is actually moving forward with a great path, is that the opposition united and they acted as the one force. And I think that that is the unity we are lacking today in Georgia, even though our opposition is, of course, trying, and they are. They are moving in this very hurricane times and very challenging period. But I would say this unity is what is missing. Compared to Poland, because that was the key reason why they won the elections, and they gained so much favor from the people because they voted for them.

Brian Nichols  10:08  
What do you think from a cultural standpoint is missing right now with where Georgia is and where it should be? It because, obviously there is a sentiment of some folks that they want to go back towards this, this Soviet Union Russian mentality. So this show, we focus on sales and marketing, right, the art of persuasion and messaging. And I guess I look at this as being one of those really big battles, and we don't need to look no further than in our own country. Here in America, we saw this very much take place over the past calendar year, where the predominant culture in America, which was much more of this left wing mentality, it really got a slap in the face of reality, right? You watched as the cultural narratives, they started to crumble. The younger generation started saying, nah, this is goofball. And in a very, very short time, we saw how the culture fundamentally flipped. I guess I'm asking what's missing from Georgia. Why are we not seeing that type of reaction? And if you know we're not seeing that, what could we see from a sales messaging persuasion standpoint, leak on your perspective, right? That would actually move the needle towards a more like culturally pro Georgian sentiment? Yeah,

Speaker 1  11:21  
of course, I completely get it. That's a very normal question from especially European countries to ask, why don't you just change the government? Why don't you have a the new elections? That's very simple, right? It's a normal people's will to if you don't like it, it's majority. You should have this opportunity. Unfortunately, when you're from post Soviet block. And you're not big you are not a member of the big union, such as European Union, even NATO, for example, which has this whole set of rules you have to follow. You basically have nowhere to go in order to protest it other than your countries. So for example, when our elections were rigor last time, especially this time and many other legal, legal battles that we are fighting correctly, such as our government incorporating Russian law, our only way is to protest it on the streets, to demonstrate to our government that we are not fine with that we don't want that. We don't want that future. But even then, they face the they never COVID to the negotiations with us, there are only responses by force or imprisoning people or giving them fines, and today, so many young people are imprisoned for just defending their country and defending their very normal the rules that should just be there, and it's very frustrating. But of course, Georgia now should be, in my opinion, and maybe it's very optimistic thinking, but definitely a member of at least European Union, because we are Europe, and we want to be a member of something bigger, something that has its own set of rules. And in case, if you don't follow, there will be consequences, because as it from now, our government doesn't really have those consequences. Of course, there are some fines that foreign governments, for example, Germany, France, they impose it on them. But unfortunately, unless it's really, really deeply affects them, unless, for example, either European Union or even us gives them some slap in the face, to put it like that. Unfortunately, there is no checks and balances system that will make them stop. What

Brian Nichols  13:24  
would be the fundamental benefit of joining NATO or the United or not united, sorry, not the United Nations, the EU? I was confusing all my acronyms, no, so the United Nations is not what I'm talking about. The EU or NATO. What would be that, that tangible benefit for Georgia, in your perspective,

Speaker 1  13:42  
the safety, for example, when you are a member of NATO, you're kind of you're, of course, guaranteed that Russia won't invade you, because they have the fifth article. That means that if one of the members invaded, the whole organization goes after you. So that's one of the reasons. For example, when there is a war in between Russia and Ukraine, they do its best to never affect the borders, for example, with the NATO member countries, because they know the consequences to where it would lead. It's basically the Third World War we will go into. That's one of the core reasons why I want to be the member of the NATO and we had a chance a couple of years ago, but unfortunately, Germany and France blocked this. Otherwise we would that. And that's one of the other reasons why the war in 2008 started Russia will go to any extent to regain the power, to regain the control of the former Soviet blocs. And one of the sad part that, for example, the European Union in general doesn't understand that whatever is happening now in Georgia and Ukraine is just a warning. It's just a pre sequel to what will happen afterwards, because Russia has no stop, and we've already experienced it. And of course, many experts say that Soviet Union will never be created again. There is no way, but Russia is already doing it, and by occupying small regions of either Georgia or Ukraine, they are. Regaining those powers. And one of the core reasons why we want to join those unions, of course, with European Union, your economical situation depends on them, and you have to work your way up to be on the same stand as the European Union countries. That's economical, improved situation, which now in Georgia is very bad, and, of course, political safety, which both unions kind of guarantee you, especially NATO.

Brian Nichols  15:28  
Let me ask a not tough question, but I guess a contextual question, because you mentioned France and Germany saying, nah, we don't want you guys in NATO back last time. Right? You're approaching it from a Georgian self interest? Is it fair to say that France, Germany, and all the other countries, or just folks in general who are not in favor with the idea of Georgia, Ukraine, name your country here, joining NATO or the EU? Is it fair to say that they're also making that argument, also based in their self interest? And back to your point, it feels like, you know, we're just a hop skip and a jump away from world war three, right? And nobody wants to go into a world where we are literally fighting, you know, with with just the most horrible weapons you can imagine right now in the 21st century. So as much as it is a Georgian self interest, which I hear, is it not fair to argue that it's also in those other countries you know their best interest to say, Listen Georgia, we hear you. We get you. We can't help them, right? Because we're now, we're putting ourselves in a in a more dangerous, worse off spot. Is that a fair argument in your perspective?

Speaker 1  16:33  
Well, of course, if I was a, for example, a normal German citizen, of course I would come up with that type of argument. Because why would I have an additional headache just because you have a small country in in Europe? But there is a big contra argument, because whatever is, as I said, whatever is happening in Georgia or Ukraine right now, it's like a warning. You don't, you don't need tanks to lose your freedom. It can happen slowly through laws. And that targets civil society, free media, non governmental organizations, and so on and so on. And one of the reasons why we're experiencing a whole scale war between Russia and Ukraine is because of this ignorance policy. Both of the countries have been claiming it out loud that we have this very aggressive neighbor who is trying, tries its best to regain full control on Georgia and Ukraine. And one of the reasons that this situation today exists is that those countries just speak from their own perspective, but at the same time you're part of this huge union, you also have former Soviet countries such as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, for example. And if Russia, in very unfortunate future, regains control of Georgia and Ukraine, it will go under after its former members. And that's already comes in contrast with the European Union and NATO as well. It's not only our war. That's what those countries should understand. We are not only fighting for our freedom. It's the general understanding of freedom, but especially today, when they are like big conflicts going on all over the world, you need some peace. You have to have some leading countries who, when they say their statements that we're very worried about the situation in Georgia, you have to have some active mechanism. It doesn't have to be power. It just have to be sanctions, but it has to be very distinct, very strict ones to showcase Russia that it cannot do whatever it wants to. Of course, with Ukrainian situation, we know that, for example, Germany also cut dice with the natural gas and so on, and that's great, but those countries depended on Russia so much that it took them a literal war to start to stop that. And that's already a very sad situation, because you have to look at the big, bigger picture, not only what you want for your country, because if the Soviet Union in a very I don't want to imagine such future. Create is created again. That's a huge threat to the whole world, and we already lived through that. I think so i

Brian Nichols  19:12  
and I'm not, I'm not diminishing the argument. It's a huge threat for the world. But I do hear this argument a lot from my friends. I would say more in the Neo conservative right, they will, in one argument, say that Russia is, you know, they're the biggest bully in the world. You know, they're the next leading threat behind China. And then I hear other, you know, in that the same folks, in the same breath say, also, Russia is nothing more than a gas station, you know, out in in Northern Europe and Northern Asia, and they don't really have much of an economy. As a matter of fact, if you were to rank the Russian economy right next to the United States, I think there's like, a handful of states that actually have a higher GDP than Russia does, right? So I guess I'm having trouble putting those two arguments together. That Russia is the next, you know, the next superpower threat we. Have to be concerned with behind China, and then the fact that they are a gas station out in the middle of Europe. So help me, I guess, rectify those two contrasting camps. Is Russia actually a threat, not just to the the former Soviet countries that we mentioned here today, including Georgia, but to the world? And if so, then help me understand that their economy and their their you know, the what Russia produces, beyond bombs and bullets, actually is going to put them on a stage, from an economic standpoint, where they can hold their own on a global stage.

Speaker 1  20:32  
No, I definitely agree, especially with the ongoing situation. Their economical situation got very worse, especially after the Western countries, including us, all of them, to kind of their companies and many initiatives they had in the country that was keeping their economy going. And there are a lot of Russians, I would say maybe 40% who fled the country, because living there is very uncomfortable and almost impossible at this point, since the prices went up and the living situation goes down and down, but at the same time, when you are that, I would say, desperate, you will go to any extent. And even though Ukraine is having help from most European countries, US, and they have the best working machines to protect itself from Russia, it's still this war is still going on. This country still makes it worse. Of course, it's the the situation is horrible there, because they're basically making their all of their citizens, to go to the war by force. But it's still happening. Russia cannot be defeated yet, and unfortunately, it also has very interesting partners, as you mentioned, for example, China. So there also, there is also a big possibility that those countries, for example, China and also and Russia, collaborate together for the bigger cause they're also that also might not happen. But at the same time, Russia also has bigger partner countries, for example, such as Belarus and there he the Russia has control over Chechnya, and also they are trying to do its best with Georgia. And if they regain control of the Georgia, one of the core arguments for the West is that they will have a direct access to the west. Because one of the reasons why either us or European Union invested so much in this country is that you have an access to the sea, and you have the direct access to the Russia. So we are kind of the bridge between the two, like quarterly in the middle of Asia and Russia, Asia and Europe. So that's one of the reasons why those countries invested, especially us, I would say, so much money into Georgia, and now basically all of this is going to the drain. So yes, Russia is a huge threat, and unless it's very hard for other countries to see, unless you experience it on yourself, and I've seen it, I've protested against it, and I'm sure it can only get worse at this point. Lika K

Brian Nichols  22:59  
unfortunately, we are hard pressed for time, which means we are going to go ahead and start to wrap things up. I want to go ahead and turn things over to you first for our final thoughts today. So Lika, bring us home. What would you like the call to action to be for the audience today as they listen to you know that the breakdown of what's taking place in Georgia? How can we help all that and more?

Speaker 1  23:20  
Well, that's definitely a tough question, but definitely it's very nice to see that so many people know what is happening in Georgia and appreciate it. They always, always say that they are so proud of Georgian people for going against their government and Russian influence in general. But it would be very nice from the government to see some very decisive stuff, very concrete measures, what they can do. They can do to show support to the people and also kind of limits the power of the government, some type of mechanism, some type of the strict, very strict mechanism, to make them do redo the elections for us, to change the government, and finally, have someone we actually elected that would be the best way out. But of course, it's a very long game, and I'm very, very much proud of my people, because I think they're doing amazing job. It's just we do need help, because those products cannot go forever, and as we are happy to hear the statements there, we're very worried. We're stressed what is happening in Georgia. We need very strict measures against the government to help us regain our democratic freedom. Lika K

Brian Nichols  24:36  
It's time to go ahead and let folks know where they can. Go ahead and follow you. So that being said, social media links. Where's the best folks place for folks to reach out? Definitely

Speaker 1  24:45  
on LinkedIn, I would say that's where I all of my articles are, and that's the easiest platform. I would say, perfect

Brian Nichols  24:51  
Lika. I really appreciate you coming on the show today. Definitely, you know a story that I think more folks need to hear. So with that being said, I include all those links in the show. Notes. And folks, if you want to go ahead and connect with Lika, please do so if you do tell her you heard her over here on The Brian Nichols Show. And with that being said, Folks, if you got some value from today's episode, which I know you did, please head over to your favorite platform that you like to share content and give today's episode a share when you do tag yours truly at B Nichols liberty, you can find me on Facebook, on Twitter and over on Instagram. As for The Brian Nichols Show itself, find us on your favorite podcasting or video platforms for video, Rumble, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook, we are airing the show live on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Currently, at 9pm Eastern, got lots of exciting stuff, by the way, behind the scenes, I don't know, maybe joining a different network coming up here really soon. Gonna be doing some more live content. I'm really excited. I hope you all get ready to roar. And other than that, if you wanna go ahead and check out The Brian Nichols Show on the go. Head over to your favorite podcasting platforms like Apple podcast, Spotify, YouTube, music, wherever it is you get your podcasting content. Hit, subscribe to The Brian Nichols Show. And, of course, hit download all unplayed episodes. That's the only place you can find all 900 and like what 65 other episodes we have here of the show. So one more time. Brian Nichols show.com is where you can go ahead and find the main website. Also, please support the sponsors who support us, including our phenomenal studio sponsor, cardio miracle. Use code TBN s at checkout for 15% off Lika. Any final thoughts, let me wrap things up

Speaker 1  26:22  
today. Can thank you so much for having me here. It was lovely to be able to share more things about Georgia and also discuss my article. And it was a pleasure

Brian Nichols  26:32  
absolutely well. Lika, thank you for joining us with that being said. Brian Nichols, signing off here on The Brian Nichols Show. We'll see you next time you.

Transcribed by https://otter.ai