By open, they mean fewer results censored. The west censors more results overall than Russia, kind of like how more UK citizens are arrested for speech crimes than Russians, or kind of like how abortion is more legal in Russia than it is in half of the USA.

Which isn't to say Russia is a bastion of free speech, it's not, you still can't go hold an LGBTQIA2s+ pride parade or publicly march demanding you be given the right to hold the parade in the future without being thrown in prison, but they're a poor case study for authoritarianism when the west is rapidly turning more authoritarian than Russia is, while Russia hasn't really changed much in that regard in the last quarter century or so.

▲ gfdvgfffv 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

“Practical freedom” is a very important measure of freedom. If you are generally more free to do what you want, how much does it matter that you live in a dictatorship? If I live in a democracy with 10,000 laws I can’t meaningful affect with 1 vote, am I free?

▲ NicuCalcea 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Get off it, Russia is arresting people for a single web search: https://zona.media/news/2025/12/10/glukhikh

If you think the West is becoming more authoritarian than Russia, you're either misinformed or lying.

▲ user205738 2 days ago | parent [-]

When did a 3,000₽ ($37) fine for searching for nazi symbols turn into an arrest? Your source doesn't say anything about this.

▲ NicuCalcea 2 days ago | parent [-]

> Sergei Glukhikh, 20, was arrested in September under a law that had come into force earlier that month, and which raised concerns about expanded surveillance and potential abuse by law enforcement.

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/12/10/first-russian-fine...

Hope that clarifies it for you.

▲ user205738 2 days ago | parent [-]

The Moscow Times has the same relationship to Moscow as the RFA has to Chinese news. This is a propaganda mouthpiece, thepurpose the purpose of which is to engage in cherrypicking, finding isolated cases and making a big deal out of a molehill.

If it's also going to be against Russia, it would be great.

>"found Glukhikh guilty and imposed a fine of 3,000 rubles ($38)."

"Glukhikh, who did not attend his sentencing hearing, has denied his guilt."

And also:

"FSB officer noticed Glukhikh searching for extremist content while riding next to him on the bus"

  That is, an employee of the services saw a search for a banned organization engaged in the murder of Russians and the Russian-speaking population of Ukraine and reported it. 

  You must admit that this is not the same as just looking for information on Yandex.

  And the parental comment refers specifically to the Yandex search, and not to isolated cases when an FSB agent suddenly stands behind you.

 Keep in mind that millions of Russians search for information about VPN and the rest every day, openly discuss it on social networks and do not receive any punishment for it.

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NicuCalcea 2 days ago | parent [-]

I'm sure you're experienced enough at using Yandex/Rambler/whatever to find other sources. What are those, btw? Соловьёв Live?

> You must admit that this is not the same as just looking for information on Yandex.

I must do no such thing. The other week I searched for the fascist Ivan Ilyin because I wanted to see what kind of ideas Putin built his ideology on. I've also read about the Russian Nazi paramilitary unit Rusich Group, responsible for the murder of Ukrainians. I've googled Maria Lvova-Belova, wanted by the International Criminal Court for kidnapping children. Do you think I should have been arrested for those?

I'm happy you guys can still search for VPNs, enjoy it while you can. Truly the pinnacle of democracy.

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anonym29 2 days ago | parent [-]

Isn't the comment you're responding to using the source that you provided?

	▲	NicuCalcea 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Yes, and? I'm perfectly fine with discussing it based on The Moscow Times article, it's the other commenter who disregarded it for being "against Russia" (I wish!). Since there are other sources that have reported on this, I suggested they search the runet for an officially-sanctioned outlet if that's what they prefer.