Putin: Redrawing borders, rewriting history | The Listening Post

As news of Russia's invasion of Ukraine floods the airwaves, and with the prospect of a wider conflict brewing in Eastern Europe between Russia and the NATO alliance, we are dispensing with our usual format.

00:00 Intro
00:28 Putin's war in Ukraine
02:56 The misinformation coming out of Moscow
05:05 Russia: National myths and rewriting history
15:53 India emboldening anti-Muslim messaging
25:40 End note

On our radar:
Richard Gizbert starts with a roundup of the global narratives competing for air time in the days running up to the Russian invasion, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s media moment. Producer Johanna Hoes then takes us through Russia’s side of the story, highlighting some examples of misinformation coming out of Moscow.

Russia: National myths and rewriting history
The conflict currently playing out in Ukraine involves former Cold War adversaries and competing versions of history. This week, before invading Ukraine, the Russian president questioned the very idea of the country's statehood. The Listening Post’s Tariq Nafi reports from Moscow on a new historical discourse that emphasises Russia’s history as a great power and mythologises the country’s past.

Contributors:
Nikita Petrov  - Historian & member, Memorial
Yevgenia Albats - Journalist & editor-in-chief, The New Times
Mikhail Myagkov - Scientific director, the Russian Military-Historical Society

India: The emboldening of anti-Muslim messaging
One political leader who may be grateful that the eyes of the news world are trained on Ukraine would be India’s Narendra Modi. With elections either under way or looming in some key states, Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) keeps playing its Hindu nationalist, anti-Muslim card.

Contributors:
Rana Ayyub - Global opinions columnist, The Washington Post & author, Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover Up
Aakar Patel - Author, Price of the Modi Years
Fatima Khan -  Reporter, The Quint

[theanonymous]

" the war will end, the leader will shake their hands. The old woman will keep waiting for her martyred son. That girl will wait for her beloved husband. And those children will wait for their heroic father. I don't know who sold our homeland. But i know who paid the price."

- Mahmoud Darwish

[luckypeacock]

I love Al Jazeera, but ever since U.S. threw the "we'll import gas for EU from Qatar" line, you changed your tone slightly. Just like DW did after being banned in Russia...

[bittersweet]

There are a ton of parallels with the west when it comes to airbrushing out the inconveniences and promoting blind patriotism. I laughed when the phrase "our values are under attack" was used by Russia, because the UK uses that one all the time. Goes to show, they're playing by the same play book. There aren't any good guys. We seem to have left values at the door after WW2 and are pursuing an incredibly individualistic, utilitarian nihilism that excludes morality or values as inconveniences or at best uses faux morality as a mere tool for legitimising.

[hazlinabdulhamid]

Warrior does not die on the homebed. Warrior die on the battlefield..✌️😊✌️🇺🇦

[MSMS-ugzu]

Both stories, from Russia and India, are so compelling and riveting. I am so moved by AJ's commitment to true journalism! I am literally moved by this!!! Sorry I am not paying a penny to watch this!!

[Andi_CM]

were israel apartheid killing palestinian childrens and womens for many many years are NATO act like this ? dont you feel very very bad now ? its karma

[bryanrobinson]

Al JAZEERA HAVE SOLD THEY SOUL TO THE DEVIL AND THE WEST!

[scottadams]

why isn't there any footage of the Western and NATO military buildup???

[transcrobesproject]

I really love Al Jazeera, I really do, but could someone point me to AJ coverage of alleged human rights abuses in Qatar, or anything that criticises the Qatari government? If they claim to be independent and objective, I would love to see some of that coverage also.

[andreasarahdsilva]

The kind of journalism the world needs! Kudos Al jazeera and The listening post

[emmahardesty]

Eerie, sad, stomach-turning, wretched. Power must be the worst thing humans have come up with.

[shamshadsyed]

Where was US Judiciary on Guantanamo bay

[mamacryright]

NATO Media is working hard fighting the battle in Ukraine crisis, so it's not betrayal after all

[TMBpk]

If the United States can do it, why not other countries?

[jadeandmax]

“ Russia has a Right to defend itself “ 🙏🏼

[MrMissfrida]

He didn' say "Ulraine don't have the right to exist" ??? Where did he say that in the speach???

[Noone-rtpw]

It'd be something if Afghanistan launched a Jihad against Russia as payback for the invasion in the 90's. Kremlin wouldn't even consider Afghanistan, but a Jihad might prove successful. It'd seem like an opportune time, where Chechnya might have past memories.

[fatimakulsum]

Rana Ayub thanks for being Vocal about truth

[BoqPrecision]

Presenter needs to get rid of his obvious Canadian accent and go for a more neutral one if he wants a wider audience.

[akashakash-]

Very disappointing journalism...definitely one sided and partial....not a thorough
sneaky and on you!