from the Walter Cronkite school
of journalism.
Judy: Since the invasion of
Ukraine, the Kremlin has further
stifled what further freedoms
Russians have to criticize the
government.
Describing the war in Ukraine as
war can lead to 15 years in
prison.
Russia recently forced
international organizations to
close their operations in the
country.
Nick takes a deeper look at the
oppression of dissent.
Correspondent: Behind a new iron
curtain, Vladimir Putin seems
determined.
There appears to be no ironing.
She was detained by officers in
riot gear.
This man arrested for holding up
a blank piece of paper.
On Sunday, police detain
Constantine Goldman, or special
military operation at peace.
One of Russia's remaining
newspapers was attacked with red
paint.
The invasion, police arrested
more than 15,000 people for
criticizing work.
They detain prominent opposition
who has long opposed Putin and
accuses the Kremlin of poisoning
him twice.
We interviewed him and his wife
after recovering from the second
attack.
>> I felt life slowly going out.
And I remember that distinct
feeling.
This is it.
This is the end.
I'm going to die.
>> It is terrifying.
I'm not going to lie to you.
But I want him to continue to do
what he thinks is important.
What he thinks is right.
Correspondent: The west has
punished prudent and cut off
access to American technology.
But on a Tuesday visit to a
space center in Russia's far
east, he claimed the sanctions
also create Russian unity.
>> They wanted very much that
everything that is happening
would impact domestic political
processes in Russia.
They always make that kind of
mistake.
Without understanding that when
faced with difficult conditions,
Russian people always unite.
Correspondent: Putin has built
up reserves and destroy the
opposition, citing critical
media.
They are driven by imperial
dreams and revenge.
>> Putin has two in insecurity.
His risk appetite has grown as
his grip of Russia has
tightened.
His circle of advisors has
narrowed.
And in that small circle, no one
has questioned his judgment or
stubborn mystical belief that
his destiny is to restore
Russia's sphere of influence.
Correspondent: To talk about
Putin's restriction on free
speech, I'm joined by chairman
of the renewed democracy
initiative that promotes
democracy in the U.S. And
abroad.
Welcome to the newshour.
Since the invasion, Putin's
popularity has grown to 81%.
You think that is an accurate
reflection of Russian opinion?
>> I don't know.
Nobody knows.
The pole means you make a phone
call to someone who most likely
will not be happy to answer.
So I bet you probably 90%
immediately hang up and the
immediate 10% whatever they
think is safe.
There is a genetic memory for
people born and raised in a
country controlled by the kgb.
Putin has a ruthless
dictatorship.
I doubt we will hear what they
think being asked by a stranger.
Correspondent: It is illegal for
them to criticize Putin even
when a pollster calls.
15,000 detentions as we talked
about.
National organizations, media
outlets that used to be open
have now been closed.
How unprecedented is this
crackdown?
>> I don't think he has much of
a choice because they have to
hide.
He failed to take over Kyiv in
three or four days and hold the
military parade.
And now, there are mounting
losses.
20,000 Russian soldiers killed
in action.
I would say four times this
amount is wounded.
And Russian flagship with the
black sea, he has to hide the
truth.
He desperately wants to win the
war and he doesn't want Russians
to receive objective
information.
That's what he's trying to close
every hole in the information
space that he can.
Correspondent: Russians are not
receiving that truth that you
just mentioned.
Russian TV says that the west or
Ukraine started this war.
They say there are no civilian
casualties.
Electing a volley -- alexei's
organization are trying to get
that truth into Russia.
How do you think the truth can
be delivered to Russians inside
of Russia?
>> I wish it can be done but
it's not easy.
Basically block one app after
the other.
Propaganda is an important
weapon.
He increased the spending on
military and security apparatus
by 20% at the beginning of the
war.
And he added billions of dollars
for the propaganda machine.
So far, propaganda is the number
one weapon Putin has been using
to protect his power.
That's why agree with the
analysis that investing in
propaganda can help to offset
Putin's poisonous influence.
Correspondent: We just heard
bill burns, the director of
central intelligence and former
ambassador to Moscow saying that
hubris and isolation led to
Putin's decision to invade.
What do you think led to the
decision to invade?
>> I would add to this list
impunity.
Two decades of impunity and no
consequences.
Vladimir Putin has a long record
of war crimes.
In the list is simply too long.
And I think he believed it would
go away with this invasion of
Ukraine the same way he got away
with the annexation of crimea
and the carpet bombing of
American cities -- carpet
bombing of Syria.
The will of free people, the
Ukrainians are fighting like
hell and inflicting heavy
damages.
We understand that we have to
help them.
Correspondent: The U.S.
Estimates more than 200,000
Russians have left the country
since the beginning of this war.
What is the impact of that brain
drain?
>> I think the number is much
bigger.
I think the number might be
closer to one million.
Everybody is trying to leave.
It is the best the country can
offer.
We had a brain drain before the
war.
If you look at the numbers from
Putin's return to power in 2012,
the numbers kept growing.
And we had more than half a
million leaving.
Now these numbers could be
staggering.
That means Russia will be a
pariah and will be pushed back
to the stone age.
With Ukraine winning the war and
Putin crumbling as a result of
that, we hope we can come back
and rebuild our country.
Correspondent: On the flip side,
students have turned in their
own teachers for questioning the
war.
In the 45 seconds we have left,
is Putin right?
Are there Russians that are
rallying around the flag?
>> For sure.
25% to 30% are rallying.
20% are against the war in 50%
are in the middle.
That is normal.
You always have people that by
this propaganda.
Correspondent: Gary, thank you
very much.