From the desk of Roland Rocchiccioli – 13 March

I have, over the years, spent a total of months in the old USSR, and what is now the Russian Federation. It was before the fall of communism, and it was fascinating, rivetingly so.

ANYONE who has been fortunate enough to spend time in that extraordinary country – so vast that as the sun is setting in the west the dawn of the next day is already breaking in the east – will know that the majority of the Russian people are no different from the rest of us. They have the same hopes and aspirations. They, too, want to live their lives in peace and prosperity; to see their children and their grandchildren enjoying fulfilling and meaningful lives.

We must not forget the ruling regime – and according to the Kremlin the Russian Federation is a controlled democracy – is not necessarily representative of its people. For the most part, they have little, or no say in how their country is governed.

According to the current 1993 Russian constitution, the President is not a part of the government which exercises executive power; however, the President appoints the Prime Minister, who then chooses his ministers.

Political corruption is rife. Opposing the Russian President can lead to dire, if not fatal, consequences. Putin has been accused of assassinating his most strident critics on both Russian and foreign soil. Protests in Russia are violently suppressed, and opponents of Putin are routinely arrested and jailed. Lengthy prison sentences are not unusual.

While there would seem to be some call for systemic political change, it remains a Russian conundrum that so many continue to allow themselves to be manipulated by so few, and for so long.  It has been argued the Slavic soul is best satisfied when it is dictated by a strong leader, however tyrannical; consequently, their long and often bloody history has shown them to be impotent to decide their own destiny.

We must never forget the war against Ukraine is not a war of the Russian people. It is a manifestation of the madness of one delusional man, determined to restore the Soviet Union to what he believes is its former glory, and its rightful place at the high table in the tide of world events.

Vladimir Putin, a former KGB operative – described the collapse of communism and the break-up of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics as the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the 20th century.  An inculcated megalomaniac, and typically despotic, he will say and do anything to achieve that end.

Neither history, nor the court of public opinion, will remember Mr Putin kindly.

A call for help!

I have been trying, without success, to find a copy of the sheet music for the World War One song, Men of The AIF, and made famous by the Australian bass baritone, Peter Dawson.

If you have a dog-eared copy in your piano stool, please, put me out of my misery!

Roland can be contacted via [email protected].