Summary
Andrei Kotov, a Russian travel agency director accused of organizing LGBTQ+ tours, died in pre-trial detention in Moscow.
Authorities claim his death was a suicide, but rights groups highlight previous reports of beatings and abuse during his arrest.
Kotov was charged with “extremist activities” after Russia banned the LGBTQ+ movement as extremist in 2023, intensifying its crackdown on LGBTQ+ rights.
He denied organizing specific LGBTQ+ events, calling them ordinary tours.
His death has raised concerns about the treatment of detainees and the broader suppression of dissent in Russia.
Because “ACAB” is not a viable approach. Even in a society where all the oligarchs and their lackeys are serving multi-decade prison terms, you still need a police institution.
And framing this as a “competition” inherently whitewashes the crimes of the russian police.
You misunderstand ACAB in the same way your buddies understand “all lives matter”
Why do you assume I or my buddies have any opinion on “all lives matter”. I am not from the US.
I am talking about practical, real world matters. A good police institution, one that is loyal to society and not to oligarchs/crooks is something to strive for. Meaningless, self-indulgent polemics such as “ACAB” (if you can even call this a polemic) is not the way to go.
Then you might be forgivable for not understanding what ACAB means; but not so if you refuse to accept that people who look like me in my country are generally aware that having to involve the police for anything can be just as dangerous as it was for the poor person in op’s post.
Where did I say I don’t recognize the brutality and the dysfunction of the US police?
So what do I not understand about ACAB?
I am not talking about US internal polemics. I am saying that a concept such as “ACAB” is not fundamentally not viable. You need a police force. One that takes the side of the people when things get tough.