Dugin to Sobchak: State must inspire terror, internet must be earned

Russian far-right ideologist Alexander Dugin outlined his authoritarian worldview in an interview with journalist Ksenia Sobchak, calling for a 'war state', internet rationing by season, and describing Putin as a 'sacred ruler'. Dugin also argued that elections are 'a show' and that repression serves as an elite rotation mechanism.

Russian ultra-nationalist philosopher [Alexander Dugin](/politicians/alexander-dugin) gave a revealing interview to journalist [Ksenia Sobchak](/politicians/ksenia-sobchak), laying out a starkly authoritarian vision for Russia's future. Among his most striking claims: the state should inspire terror, the internet should be rationed like a reward, and [Vladimir Putin](/politicians/vladimir-putin) is a «genuine sacred ruler» — the embodiment of Russia's historical destiny.

## Internet as seasonal privilege

Dugin proposed a novel approach to information control, suggesting internet access should be distributed in portions «for good behaviour» and must be «earned». He welcomed the throttling of Telegram, saying people «returned to normal life» as a result. In a particularly unusual proposal, he suggested a seasonal internet shutdown: «When the weather is good, from spring to autumn — we switch it off; when it's cold, in winter — we switch it on.» According to Dugin, bans and restrictions «free up forces for what matters most and help protect against evil».

## War as a way of life

Despite claiming that Russians are «not a warlike people at all» and that soldiers in the trenches «live peaceful and tender lives», Dugin argued that Russia must build what he called a «war state» to defend against any challenge. He framed a responsible attitude toward war as «the path to peace», suggesting Russia should not fear conflict but institutionalise readiness for it.

## Elections, repression and sacred power

Dugin dismissed democratic elections as «a show that gives nothing», arguing that the same people — or worse — always come to power through them. Repression, in his view, is a legitimate «mechanism for rotating elites». On Putin, Dugin was reverential: «Putin is a mystery, a genuine sacred ruler,» he said, adding that every ruler should have his own philosopher. He described the Russian president as «the quintessence of our historical path».

The interview has drawn attention as a stark articulation of the ideological underpinnings that critics say inform the Kremlin's increasingly repressive domestic policies. Dugin, who has long been seen as a spiritual godfather of Russian imperial nationalism, remains an influential — if controversial — figure in Russian political thought.