A political cartoon recently released by the British BBC has attracted the attention of many people in the international community. The cartoon depicts Yanaev wearing a crown and holding a scepter in front of a cage, and the people in the cage are all his former opponents and enemies. The name of the cartoon is "The New Tsar of the East?", and a big question mark is used at the end, which is meant to satirize Yanaev for using anti-corruption to crack down on dissidents.
The spoofing of the country's top leader caused indignation among the Soviet people, especially after Yanayev cracked down on those bureaucrats and regained the love of the people. Although the image of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union did not change much, the vast majority of people began to gradually identify with the top leader, and Yanayev's image building propaganda was also very successful, thanks to Yakovlev not continuing to play the role of the Soviet Union's pig teammate.
Yanayev certainly didn't care about the BBC's irony. In fact, he had also thought about what it would be like if he wore a crown on his head and was admired by thousands of people. Of course, as a staunch communist, this idea only existed in his mind. However, he still indicated that the Central Daily News should publish an article to refute the BBC's political cartoons.
"As a 'mouthpiece' dedicated to promoting democracy and freedom, the BBC has made an indelible contribution to the sharing of world equality. In their propaganda, Ngo Dinh Diem and Park Chung-hee were representatives of democracy and prosperity, and Pavillie and Batista were symbols of the free world. Of course, these free world representatives fostered by the Americans were eventually killed by bullets or exiled outside the countries they controlled. However, a top leader who is committed to improving people's livelihood, combating corruption, and building a society ruled by law is criticized as a dictator and brutal. I really want to know how the BBC's double standards define democracy and freedom. 'Freedom, how many crimes have been committed by your hands', of course the BBC will also be blind and ignore this sentence from French revolutionary Madame Roland. Because they are dogs loyal to political parties, not people who really speak for the people."
This article caused an uproar in public opinion. It was the first time that the BBC was slapped in the face so directly, so everyone was looking forward to the BBC's rebuttal, but the latter remained silent, as if it had nothing to say and deliberately avoided the topic.
Of course, Yanayev would not argue with these fast-moving Western journalists. In his opinion, it is foolish to humbly accept the opinions of journalists who disagree with the president. He does not believe that these unscrupulous mouthpieces who have no scientific knowledge can be expected to speak fair words. Journalists? They just selectively let you know the so-called truth.
And there was something more important in Yanayev's mind. The September political purge in Moscow was finally coming to an end. As the political turmoil gradually stabilized, a group of people in the Soviet Union's high-level political circles who stood on the wrong side were exiled to the ice and snow of Siberia to be with polar bears. Another group of people were not so lucky. They were sentenced to death for the huge amount of corruption. And they were the ones who were personally recommended by Yanayev.
"Chernovelkin, former Minister of the Gas Industry, was sentenced to death and deprived of political rights for life."
"Medezhinsky, former deputy minister of the metallurgical industry, was sentenced to death and deprived of political rights for life."
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These high-ranking officials who were supposed to become Russian oligarchs in the future ruined their political careers because of Yanaev's accidental time travel. Perhaps they had resentment towards Yanaev deep in their hearts, but when they thought of this man's iron-blooded methods and the fact that he controlled the KGB, the largest terrorist organization in the Soviet Union, everyone would wisely shut up.
The gears of the state violence machine turned and crushed the democratization process that Gorbachev had accumulated over the years into pieces in just one month, and then the steel tracks crushed it hard, letting everyone know that the Soviet Union does not need your disgusting and hypocritical democracy, nor does it need your strange and twisted values in the West. Yanayev has a more terrible weapon of rule than them.
legal system.
So there are countless officials sent to the "Communist gallows" in the past few days. They will be sent to the execution platform after the first and second trials of the court. Those who look ashen seem to have known their fate long ago. The whole process of the verdict remains in a state of empty shells with their souls stripped away. Some people still hold a glimmer of fantasy and appeal against the verdict, but the result is often that the original verdict is upheld. And those who have luckily escaped the gallows will also receive a minimum of ten years in prison.
In the past few days, there have been countless high-ranking officials sent to the execution grounds. Just like the Great Purge decades ago, many people were killed by bullets without much opportunity to defend themselves. Yanayev provided them with a chance to defend themselves, but he just let you make your speech and I still maintain the original verdict. I gave you a chance to speak, but I also have the right to judge.
Shevardnadze looked at the black-and-white portraits of his old friends who used to sit and laugh together in the newspaper. He clenched his hands palely. His lips turned pale as he thought of what Yanaev said to him before he left. He felt the most instinctive fear in his heart.
"To be honest, Shevardnadze, I have a kind of sympathetic affection for you. You are indeed a good person, but you have chosen the wrong path. If you can stop after resigning from the position of Soviet Foreign Minister, I will forgive you. But if you still want to fight back, I'm sorry, we in the Ministry of Internal Affairs cannot guarantee the safety of you and your family."
Yanaev's words were already very clear, but Shevardnadze relied on his previous status to continue stirring up trouble in the political arena. He wanted to unite with the remaining democrats to oppose Yanaev's dictatorship, but within a few days of the meeting, most of those people became black and white portraits in the photos.
"You win, Yanaev. From my political allies to friends, and even my family, is this how you want to force me to surrender? It's really despicable but effective. You don't want to do it yourself, so you force me to commit suicide. You are really good at it." Shevardnadze opened the drawer of the desk, took out a Makarov pistol from it, and said to himself while stuffing bullets into the magazine, "There is nothing more painful than watching the important people around you die one by one, Yanaev, are you warning me that the next one will be my family? Your method of torturing people is indeed novel, and I will let you get what you want once. Maybe only when I die, you will be willing to let go of the people around me."
Resolute Shevardnadze put the gun barrel into his mouth, closed his eyes, and silently said, "Goodbye, everyone, but the great cause of freedom will not stop here."
Then his index finger on the trigger slowly bent down.