A vaccine against fear: how to learn to say "no" to illegal claims of power

In her publication, civic activist Irina Yatsenko gives simple and practical advice on how to behave with government officials so as not to enter into a deal with her conscience:

Friends are writing to me here that employers have begun to demand screenshots confirming registration in the electronic voting system.

I don’t want to think now about how the authorities will use this data for falsification - to be honest, it’s not very interesting. I want to write about something else.

There is an American film starring Jim Carrey, Always Say Yes. In the film, the protagonist, in order to get out of his comfort zone, has to agree to any offers. So, it seems to me that in order to get out of our comfort zone, we need to stop resigningly agreeing with any nonsense and learn to say “no”. Well, or at least start asking questions.

“Dear policeman, do you need my passport? But why? Have I broken something? No, I won't give it to you, because I don't have it with me. Why not? Because there is no law obliging me to carry my passport with you everywhere. "

“No, dear security guard at the mall, I do not agree with you taking my temperature. Why? Because you are not a nurse, and my state of health is a medical secret that I have the right to disclose only to a medical professional. No, even during a pandemic, I will not allow anyone who is not lazy to climb up to me with a thermometer. Sorry, but I didn't find myself in the trash heap".

“No, dear chief, I will not tell you for whom and in what form I intend to vote in the elections to the State Duma. Simply because no. Because voting in the Duma is not a matter of my job duties, and it does not concern you".

Fearfully? Try it at least once. Get out of your comfort zone, detach yourself from the desire to please or the fear of judgment. You might be surprised, but most people - even your boss - will take your refusal calmly. No, you will not be kicked out of the mall if you politely refuse to take your temperature. And you will not be fired for refusing to show a screenshot of registration in electronic voting. All these fears are only in your head.

...with the police it is more difficult, but you can find justice for it, if you know your rights and behave calmly.

Someone might say: what's the problem? Give this passport to the policeman - is it difficult for you? Or: the boss is not to blame, they are demanding from him, so do not run up, send him this screenshot, he will not lose anything from you.

In my opinion, there are two problems. The first is psychological. If you uncomplainingly agree with any illegal demand, you become hostages of the illegal system you have created. Your boss knows that it is illegal for him to ask for a screenshot of registration in the e-voting system. The boss, when he asks you to provide these data, is himself afraid that you will complain about him to the labor inspectorate or the prosecutor's office for arbitrariness. But you are afraid that your boss will fire you or somehow punish you in some other way, so you agree to his illegal demand. But the boss will not be able to punish you because of the refusal to provide this data, but he knows that you are afraid of the consequences, and, despite his own fear, asks you with an illegal request. This system rests solely on your fear. But this system will collapse on its own if you start to refuse.

The second problem is legal. The voting process is intimate. Nobody can force you to vote, nobody can forbid you to vote. Coercion to vote is a criminal offense that falls under the definition of Article 141 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. And if also with the use of official position, then with an aggravating circumstance. You can vote as you like, for anyone. No law obliges you to tell anyone who or in what form you will vote. Just calmly tell your boss that you refuse to disclose what form you will vote in. Let him write that in his report. He will get nothing for it. But you can also defend your active suffrage.

And, of course, no one bothers you, after registering in the electronic voting system, to withdraw your application (this can be done before zero hours on September 13) and go to vote in person at the polling station from September 17 to September 19. But first, at least try to say “no” in response to an illegal demand. I think the result will surprise you.

PS Elections in Russia are the only safe way of protest available to everyone today. Agitate. Vote. Watch.