'Fight Poverty, Not America': Russian Octogenarian Puts Up Anti-War Posters

Vyacheslav Kolokoltsev, an 81-year-old retired geologist, lives in the village of Gorneshno in Russia's Novgorod region. He hangs posters outside his house against the war in Ukraine and denouncing Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Originally published at - www.rferl.org/a/russia-octoge...
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[@live_free_or_perish]

A very wise old man. Respect.

[@sirdiealot53]

I've been thinking lately...wouldn't very old citizens be most likely to rebel against the kremlin? They dont have much to lose, they'll be dead soon anyway

[@-Deena.]

My thoughts 100%

[@RaduB.]

"They are doing and saying bad things." True words!

[@geoff9759]

A sane voice crying in the wilderness.

[@volgantifriebus9549]

The smartest man in Russia

[@poplar6658]

A real wise and patriotic Russian man

[@vivious_]

a patriotic russian man would probably be fighting alongside putin, sad truth

[@poplar6658]

@@vivious_ Putin is sending his own people as cannon fodder, i believe a true patriotic Russian man will not support that

[@tibik.8407]

@@vivious_ No, a patriotic man fights for his country, not for his president. Do not belive in russian propaganda.

[@Symmetry77]

Respect for everyone not afraid to speak up

[@elisabethperrin8604]

Unfortunately they are not numerous.

[@ralphdavis9670]

We oldsters are not so afraid. Long live Novalny.

[@Thelostgoldhunters]

@@elisabethperrin8604 more than you think, I live there...

[@barbiincognito13]

@@elisabethperrin8604 all those that have been arrested would disagree

[@generalisofficial]

@@ralphdavis9670 He's also an imperialist, only difference is wanting more democracy within the russian federation

[@isihernandez9752]

This gentelman has all my respect. The herd of many other Russians who either agree with Putin or just docilely settle for what they get, don't. This 81 years old man has alone more balls than those thousands of mobilized or fleed young people in their country, and is way, way wiser. He should be taken as an example, but he's mocked instead... Russia being Russia, I guess...

[@imaginemetoo]

That man is a Real Russian 💙💛 Not a ruzzian ! Keep safe Hero! Truth hurts tyrants and their mob! Integrity in the face of Tyranny ! Bravo 💙💛

[@edcpike]

I pray he and his family stay safe from harm.

[@daanveld2887]

Slava to the old man respect tho him slava slava ukrnia

[@synappticuser7296]

A good, honest, brave, Russian man, just wanting to live his life in peace with his family. Putin has a lot to learn from him!

[@karolanoble2858]

I am within ten years in age of this gentleman. If I ever make it to Russia I'd love to sit down for tea and conversation with him and his wife. I pray one day things will change so his son and granddaughter can come home ~ 🕊

[@dgr8flav]

He won't sit with you for tea. Vodka, maybe,

[@AA-cf4es]

@@dgr8flav oh fuck you. Stop dehumanising normal Russians.

[@sharonharris9782]

@@dgr8flav what kind of ridiculous comment is this?

[@kalya3ed8761]

@@sharonharris9782 stereotypes, but even if he had them, there was no reason to try trolling an elder, may be respect is not a thing in the west anymore.

[@kikikays2423]

@@sharonharris9782 exactly! Not necessary to insult and stereotypes the culture. Military & officers have a bad influence on the intake of vodka. Stay strong and be compassionate for the dear sweet wise gentleman and his family. ❤

[@mastermariner490]

There is still hope for Russia,but first Putin needs to go

[@kikikays2423]

Master Mariner Note: add all of the Kremlins and FSB; those have to go!

[@mastermariner490]

@@kikikays2423 Yes the oligarch mafia as well

[@phat80]

Russia is sold to China. So it has no future, only as a Chinese colony.

[@mastermariner490]

@@phat80 That could also be an alternate future for Russia,indeed

[@barryoverson4988]

i am with him god bless him amen

[@CLanzetta1970-]

With age comes wisdom……What a great man…..! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@josimpson7999]

Try telling that to Putin.

[@ellasmommy9278]

Total respect for this man who's not afraid to speak out.

[@Ray-ml6iy]

God bless this man for speaking the truth without fear. Please continue to protect him God.

[@jamesrjohanniii774]

I fell bad for this man..He knows the situation is horrible and understand's and agrees with why his whole family has to move away. Never knowing if he will see them again. I wish more Russian youth and young adults acted this way. Something tells me if he was 30yrs younger. He's be doing alot more. I wish him luck. I applaud his bravery.

[@alkazeicer9616]

smart people in russia treated as handicap

[@MrKim-kv2vv]

What a great report! This retiree has seen Russia go through many changes, my respect for standing up to hid values 👍🏻 🙋🏼

[@urbanimage]

A sensible and brave man.

[@jf7243]

What a wise, brave old man. Nay, very very old man, for the average life expectancy for Russian men is 67. He must have cared for himself well and stayed away from too much vodka and tobacco.

[@allannakhle8555]

I have nothing but respect for this man

[@Tmb1112]

If only there were more like him in Mordor.

[@Onionbaron]

There wouldn't have to be if less less people wouldn't believe in Mordor...

[@coyot2103]

I’m pretty sure there is more of them, but even 30% of the whole population wouldn’t change the system....

[@Tmb1112]

@@Onionbaron learn English before you come to debate.

[@kikikays2423]

@@Tmb1112 be nice. He's doing his best

[@jarekkish5515]

Putin is stemming the tide of American Orcs.

[@296jacqi]

Wow. Brave and wise man. Thank you for posting.

[@jonathanrisher8541]

Why isn't he president of Russia?

[@robertnortan87]

Consider your country's presidents and tell me how possibly would Russia get one that would be wise and not corrupt ?

[@jonathanrisher8541]

@@robertnortan87 revolution? Desperation? Assassination? More corruption? Idk

[@voncarlowitz3506]

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you oldtimer! 🎄🎅💗⚡⚡✝️👍

[@vietnamesebeauties]

We, Vietnam university KZbin team, pray for this wise old man's longevity, good health and joy at his home 🙏🙏

[@alkazeicer9616]

nice to see that there is hope when listening to someone wise

[@virtuehearts]

He seems wise & has seen alot.

[@joeperkowski]

Seems like a wise and intelligent man - way smarter than Putin

[@lordiari7110]

Great man! Respect from UK

[@blaynsaw1990]

This is literally like watching the fall of an empire in real time, it’s such a crazy thing to live in a time where it’s happening. When I was growing up in the 90s and 2000s I thought Russia was a fascinating place that I would have loved to visit, now it seems like the worlds biggest zombie pen. I wish this man all the best.

[@Soraab25]

✌🏻Hands off to you Uncle 💪🏻your heart is a pure gold and you are a straight forward man, no lies no back biting only talks straight forwardly. SLAVA UKRAINIAN 💙💛

[@JayJay-sv6mt]

This mans playing with fire but at 81 hes lived his life

[@rosumihaela8421]

God bless this man

[@patrickwalsh2884]

The only thing I want as an American, that Russia has, is a year-long tourist trip around the country. I belive Americans have no interest in taking from Russia. Peace serves all, war servers the masters.

[@ZhovtoBlakytniy]

And all the youth want to leave russia. America takes them by just being a better place to live and the youth try to get there by any means, just to have a chance.

[@8-Tryzub-8]

An interview never to be seen in Russia

[@slowmorbius8805]

🤣🤣🤣 You know that we have internet right?)

[@bigdada018]

Blessings, peace and luck from California to Ukraine 🙏✌🍀💛💙

[@Onionbaron]

Благодарность!

[@lyn.267]

God bless Grandpa. You're the real heroes against war.

[@Libb-oleffub]

What a relief, finally a brave Russian who dare to open his mouth , and listen to his heart and having brains.

[@rochelleb973]

🙏❤️

[@magnussvantesson594]

Respect!

[@delpinsky]

Great man! Wise man with a deep heart. Much respect for him. A man like this elder, would be much more respected around the world, than that piece of crap of Putler.

[@martinwettmark1203]

Brave man!

[@Faith_Hope_Guy]

Russia needs smart people back. Therefore Putin must go!

[@davidfraser9365]

All I say to him is “Hello, my name is David, how are you doing”

[@krish_4872]

The wildest part of all of this is they aren’t even fighting America head on… imagine a non-nuclear conflict between the two

[@live_free_or_perish]

America could crush Russia in a non-nuclear war. But why would they? War is a lose-lose proposition.

[@krish_4872]

@@live_free_or_perish I guess my point is you don’t have to be fighting American soldiers to lose to the United States

[@pablodelsegundo9502]

I'm impressed with his penmanship and kerning.

[@vanyac6448]

Respect to this man. He opposes this war and roots his opposition in very real material needs of ordinary Russians, which is gonna be essential for building a grass-roots democracy. And I agree with his statement that his son made the right choice by leaving with his family and only coming back when things get better. People may shit on this son and others who flee for not staying and fighting, but truth is, if you're of military age in Russia, fleeing is the only way to be sure of depriving Putin of using you as a pawn in his war. Open mass-demonstrations are not gonna work any time soon because the the only time they do work in an authoritarian regime are (1) when authoritarianism hasn't been fully entrenched (example: Ukraine in 2013-2014) and (2) when the regime makes a mistake or shows weakness that substantially undermines their ability to maintain control (example: Iran and China in 2022), and Russia is neither of those cases.

[@jj8526]

Brave man...!

[@lunkis3233]

Respect too this senior.

[@howierfs5471]

A good old wise man. People just want to live in peace and freedom.

[@cheebacheeobusiness3893]

He's lucky that he is elder and lives in rural area... other wise he would be imprisoned already - because he has thoughts 🤣👌 #StopRussia #RestrictRussianVisas #MoreSanctionsOnRussia #MoreSanctionsOnIran #ItSanctionsOnRussia #SupportUkraine #DonateUkraine 🙏🇺🇦💖🥇SLAVA UKRAINI!👏🇫🇮🇨🇭 🥇💖🇺🇦 Heroic Sava🥇💖🇺🇦

[@birgitfenzl3376]

Respect.

[@DanOKC]

A wise man this one is......

[@Jyshrii]

What a beautiful man. It reminds me of the man who keeps painting his store yellow and blue and putting up posters like these as well. Last I knew he, too, was not arrested. When it's in a remote place, a small village, it is less of a threat to the Russian war machine. May these heroes live to see a better Russia, with someone like Navalny leading a re-structured government that can not easily become a dictatorship. Glory to Ukraine!

[@josimpson7999]

A very brave and thoroughly decent man. I hope his stand against Putin and the war doesn’t see him imprisoned.

[@hardwareful]

He played the USSR game and won. No wonder he can survive in its current-day reincarnation.

[@annied4084]

Salute to a lucid elderly person. He and many don't deserve that regime.

[@theresa1305]

Be safe brave man!

[@davidburke75116]

Interesting man, not afraid to speak his mind, I think he’s figured out Putin, I’d like to hear more from him and his life!

[@migsvensurfing6310]

Good man.

[@chrishall5141]

I wouldn’t want to be the one who okayed this being uploaded on any airwaves. I don’t think I could live with myself if I had done that. Thumbs up to the gentleman.

[@francoisbouvier7861]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I can only hope I'm as wise and brave some odd 15 years from now. God Bless

[@paintballusa1658]

Very good advise to Putin.

[@ZoomZoomMX3]

Only way it'll change is if they all hold up sign like him. Sadly the bravest, then ones who held them initially are the first beaten down in a beaten down state, place, religion take your pick maybe online live voting with open streamed information provided for weeks to the public to or not to look into along with the reputations

[@paddington1670]

Heroic actions come in all sizes.

[@robertnortan87]

Fight corruption, criminals, the whole gang !

[@steves7013]

Listen to wise old men they know 🇬🇧🙏

[@jigold22571]

A Saint💫🔆🌟❣️🔥🙏

[@Grek1574]

Дякую дiду!

[@akasa000]

For once someone inside Russia has the guts to acknowledge the reality of his nation and address the underlying problems of the Russian state.

[@joelgaas858]

Huge respect to you grandpa....🥰🥰🥰😙🥰🥰🥰 Be safe grandpa from putin demons army

[@jrc8466]

Brave. Foolish, but brave. He's out in the sticks living in a small village so there's not much harm he could do to the regime. If he was doing the same thing in Moscow or some other large city, he would immediately be tossed into prison.

[@mikehoncho7252]

It's too bad all the people that have left or mobilized didn't speak up. Much respect for the wise old man

[@monmixer]

Wisdom, God Bless you Sir

[@meh23p]

Respect. May Russia know freedom one day.

[@susansmith9263]

What a heartwarming interview with a very wise old man. He understands fighting Alexei Navalny and America is a distraction. Too bad his son left and isn't there when his father may need him most, but young people want freedom, not repression. Hope those policemen didn't "disappear" after allowing the old man to protest with anti Putin placards.😳

[@JamesLaserpimpWalsh]

At least somebody over there hasn't lost his mind. They have lost their ability to think critically in that country. They gave it away like trusting fools and now they are paying for that mistake. With the lifeblood of their children. Their future.

[@namastezen3300]

The elderly owe it to young people to make the changes to insure a life worth living, good man. I loved to hear the approval he got from some people.

[@JETWTF]

Respect and pity for him. He has the right mindset and his heart is in the right place. Respect. Seeing the condition of his home... I have seen third world shacks that were better though they didn't have the honeyed pine walls. Pity. He does live in a typical home outside the cities in Russia, the country really is third world under the shown first/second world cities.

[@ilirllukaci5345]

Now they are saying AND doing the wrong things. Hopefully this will lead to their demise.

[@Conn30Mtenor]

"The only thing necessary for evil to triumph in the world is that good men do nothing. " - Edmund Burke

[@ace18music32]

After this video he will most likely be arrested.

[@HKim0072]

This man seems very well educated. Likely, very well read.

[@cawag98]

Respect for the this man. I can protest and be against war outside of Putin's Imperia Zlii, but it takes real heroism to stand up for what's right inside the dictator's empire.

[@maxhugen]

Sure hope no harm comes to that old chap. Not many with the courage to stand up in Russia - knowing that they could easily end up in jail, or worse. 🇦🇺

[@tazboy1934]

GOAT

[@kathleenmann7311]

WAGE PEACE. ☮️✌️🕊️

[@what8562]

It's heartbreaking. The crushing poverty of the RF beyond the major centers is heartbreaking.

[@Asa...S]

It's people like this who should be presidents.

[@rafaelparra5709]

This is the attitude that russians must have, and for sure their country might be different. A better place.

[@safe-keeper1042]

Here's hoping he doesn't get defenestrated for speaking out.

[@dagreatstoney.5869]

A brave Man

[@profefabianaaguero8464]

♥️

[@RamonaRayTodosSantosBCS]

Many years!

[@icedem1]

He is actually one of the few Russians I have watched that makes any real sense. All that money wasted on selfish ambition when you could have raised the living conditions in the whole a Russia. So many live in very humble or even harsh conditions. What’s a country if not for those who live in it.

[@TJ-hd5ym]

One of his balls is brass