Innumerable. He’s a dictator. Russia isn’t a democracy or republic. He kills journalists, dissidents, and businessmen. But that doesn’t make Zelensky’s actions acceptable. What about the human rights of Ukrainians? Where’s the HRF for the young (and now also quite old) men who are being sent to the abattoir against their will by Zelensky? Where’s the democracy in Ukraine? Elections? Free press? Is the HRF calling for peace or decrying any of that?

We already had this exchange last year Alex, or do you not remember? I tried so hard to keep that thread civil, despite the rude interjectors, because I respected you for your work on the World Bank and IMF.

But you chose to act in bad faith, abuse Straw Mans, gaslight, cherry pick, and ultimately block me. It was the most disturbing experience of my life, not just because of your glaring double standards for Zelensky and Putin, but how you used manipulative tactics in ways that were wildly incongruous with your consistently dignified behavior that I’ve seen on numerous podcasts. All over this one particular issue. I’m confident that I tripped over something, I just don’t know exactly what.

The simplest and most likely explanation is that your employer, Garry Kasparov the chairman of the HRF, has set the tone for the HRF: no significant criticism of Ukraine and Zelensky is allowed. Diversion tactics are to be deployed to always bring the conversation back to how bad Putin is.

Obviously, you already denied this claim that Karsparov won’t allow you to speak freely or logically about Ukraine. Even if you won’t admit it, I understand your predicament and feel sorry for you that your speech is constrained in this way. Maybe you think the tradeoff is worth it for you, so you can work on Bitcoin initiatives with the HRF and continue to expose the World Bank and IMF, all of which is work that I admire and applaud. I could respect that choice.

Moving forward, the more important thread now is: does you being compromised on Ukraine imply that any other aspects of your work are also compromised? Will your relationship with Kasparov’s HRF create new double standards and inconsistencies on Bitcoin, especially as Bitcoin becomes more geopolitically relevant?

I’d love to be proven wrong and there’s a simple way to do that: post an article or note about Zelensky’s dictatorial efforts, like seizing the bank accounts of those who try to avoid conscription. There’s a free Bitcoin tie in for you.

I’d sleep much easier at night knowing that such a prominent Bitcoiner is not compromised and is able to speak freely.