It doesn’t start with them kidnapping you, nor does it begin with being cast into exile. Before the ballot boxes are stuffed, it begins with subtle government hints. They introduce convoluted rules and use the law to exact retribution. They weave fake narratives and wage financial attacks. The fragility of democracy and the rule of law is something Americans might underestimate. For instance, Russia began its censorship by banning writers. At the time, I thought, “Well, I’m not an author, so I’m safe.” Then they went after teachers, and I reassured myself that this didn’t concern me either because I wasn’t in education. But that was a grave miscalculation because, eventually, they came for me too.
The first red flag should have been back in 2001 when the independent channel NTV was taken over. I recall arriving at work to be greeted by the news that our access to offices was conditional upon pledging loyalty to the new managers at NTV. This sparked anger and frustration among us, leading to a protest rally. But the weather was cold, and with plenty of independent channels still operating, the urgency faded, and we went on with our lives.
Similar patterns appeared elsewhere. My uncle, who recently served as Singapore’s prime minister, often used police investigations and prosecutions to neutralize his political opponents. There were known cases of malicious prosecutions against opposition leaders. In Nicaragua, the Sandinista dictatorship viewed nonprofits, including mine, as threats due to our pro-democracy activities. Similarly, Hungary began by shutting down gender studies programs, a precursor to restricting academic freedoms. When persecuting someone as an enemy of the state seemed too overt, they would fabricate other charges. Claims were made against us over incomplete financial reports, voiding our chance to appeal.
I once posted a private comment on Facebook, only for the Singapore government to pursue a criminal case against me. “The Attorney General’s Chambers is urging the high court to impose a fine of at least $15,000 on Li Shengwu…” The government’s steps were gradual yet unfathomable at first. However, retrospect reveals how evident this trajectory was, with subtle speeches and stray half-sentences signaling the change. Phrases like “We need to revitalize our churches, families, universities” were brushed off as benign until 2020, when Hungary’s government forced my university out of the country.
Vladimir Putin is known to lay legal groundwork before progressing. “Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed two contentious security bills into law.” He subsequently acts with little opposition. He tests the societal response with minor actions — shutting down one TV channel, then possibly one newspaper or radio station. Our nonprofit was among the first casualties under the Ortega regime — we’re now among over 3,500 nonprofits targeted so far.
I became a foreign agent through my television channel and myself personally. In Hungary, I found myself blacklisted in academia, unable to seek employment. I was labeled a terrorist financier, advised to leave immediately. Fleeing the country was my only option. As I departed, I witnessed Russia shutting down its last independent TV channel, TV Rain, with staff bidding farewell.
In a democratic society, it’s hard to imagine a government shutting down a university with impunity. “I will fire the radical-left accreditors who’ve let our colleges fall under control of Marxist lunatics” is rhetoric that shocks but is becoming relevant. Right now, Russia suffers from the absence of independent media and freedom of speech. There was a time when my uncle appointed his personal lawyer as attorney general. “Trump has chosen his attorney general pick – Pam Bondi was on his impeachment trial team.” Reflecting, I wish I had heeded these authoritarian signals sooner, but the economy’s success was a convenient distraction.
As a sociologist, I regret my inaction. The inclination to ignore alarming developments stems from not wanting to confront them. It’s crucial to protect your financial assets by moving them abroad and avoiding physical office locations because they will seize everything. Choosing to fight is the better path. It’s imperative to resist because any unlawful injustice becomes your concern. Never rely on others to act as your checks and balances.
