Russia's Growing Trend of Shameful Videos: Apologize Publicly

A recent trend in Russia involves the release of apology videos, which are used to humiliate and intimidate individuals who criticize the war in Ukraine or go against the Kremlin's official ideology. Initially popularized in 2015 in Chechnya, these videos have now spread to other regions, including the North Caucasus, and are often released by the police. The videos feature individuals expressing remorse for various offenses, such as criticizing local leaders or defacing pro-war graffiti. There have been allegations that these videos are recorded under duress, with individuals claiming they were coerced or even physically abused by the police. Such apology videos are also being used in Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine to shame war critics. Russian social anthropologist Aleksandra Arkhipova describes these videos as "rituals of guilt and shame" that serve as extrajudicial punishment. She believes that this trend reflects a paternalistic culture, where the president is seen as an authoritative father figure and dissenters are expected to apologize to him. Critics of these apology videos, including Arkhipova herself, have faced pressure and scrutiny from Russian authorities.