Are you saying that there is no critics agaisnt the Russian governement in Russia or on Russian social media?

I'm saying the few are being reduced through various methods. There are several examples, are you unfamiliar with freedom of press issues there?

Some of the more recent examples would be the ATR station in Crimea and the pressure on critical independent broadcasters like Dozhd. Ive seen stories about musicians being harassed with bureaucratic obstacles, shows cancelled as well. This isn't a good thing IMO.

https://rsf.org/index2014/en-index2014.php

There's also the cliche but serious question of the dangers to journalists critical of the Kremlin.

https://cpj.org/killed/europe/russia/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_journalists_killed_in_Russia

I can only compare my experience and other nations public/social criticism of government. There is often broad discussion on government problems, policy, corruption, direction, mistakes, darker motives, etc. There simply doesn't seem to be anything similar in any meaningful level in Russian media, social media, and certainly not here.

You should expect that there will be a minority.

Why would I expect that?

And if it were such a minority, why would the government exert so much influence to reduce independent or critical outlets? People only want to hear the governments side of the story? These both seem odd. No one wants to question what they are told? Blind trust, simple as that? Do as you are told, and like it?

I'm highly critical of western media and recognize it for what it is, the difference is that there really are much broader sources of perspectives to choose from here. Fox news is essentially anti anything the president does, 24X7, and its the most popular news channel. Nato government and anti president here is almost a national pastime. There are huge number of dissenting independent sources in the west. Of course corporate media has an agenda and is often (usually) in unison with a narrative, but that is not the same as quelling as many sources as possible, especially when critical.

High rating approval president rather they are in the west or outside have barely any critics.

This simply isn't true from my experience, and here's examples to point out why.

These are a few presidents with high approval ratings, especially high when considering its the US where fiercely opposing views, controversy, and bitter politics are common.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_approval_rating

GW Bush 90% Bill Clinton 73% HW Bush 89% Jimmy Carter 75%

These presidents are amongst the most lampooned, criticized, polarizing, ridiculed, and generally controversial in popular media.

This contradicts the concept that a leader who is popular has barely any critics.

Also compare these highs to the lows of the same president. Depending on policy, action, direction, they can wildly fluctuate.

You do know that /r/Russia is almost focus on on foreign policy and has barely 14 000 subscribers and that a minority only are Russians from Russia.

I do understand, thats why I said Russians or pro Russian posters. Do you have suggestions where to view the self/government/national critical or introspective opinions in significant numbers? We can see many examples here for self/national/government criticism, there's almost endless choices where to view national and government criticism in the west. Its routine here in conversation, pop culture, news, entertainment, personal interactions, etc.

And wich serious issues are pressing in Russia right now? the only thing I can think is corruption but the governement is still widely criticised by leading newspapers like Nezavisimaya Gazeta and Novaya Gazeta.

Maybe we have different perspectives, but as I mentioned, freedom of press seems like a big issue IMO. Very unusual deaths of opposition is disturbing, regardless of who is responsible. Obviously, this isn't garden variety corruption like in the US. Its much more dangerous in Russia. The list of journalists I posted includes many of unknown or mundane causes, but it also includes some real questionable deaths numbering into the hundreds. This isn't normal, and shouldn't be whitewashed, denied, ignored. Of course the question of Litvinenko is on people's mind, as it should be. Regardless of who killed him, it speaks to the issues I'm referring to. Same sentiment for Nemtsov.

The issue of economic malaise, regardless of sanctions should be of concern, the lack of diversity has been an issue for a very long time, yet it doesn't seem to be of concern. Relying so much on gas and oil just seems like something that should be much more prominent in national discussion. Look at the constant media coverage of US infrastructure, national debt, military spending, NSA, etc. Its the elephant in the room here, like Russia's stunted economic development through reliance on oil exports. Why isn't there constant media coverage on why Russia still depends primarily on oil exports, and why its been this way for so long? Why isn't anyone concerned with the nationalism being conjured to the levels it is now? Why isn't anyone concerned with only having one real option for media? Why isn't everyone laughing at the bravado president/fighter pilot/tiger catcher/judo master/hitman with a gun/shirtless great outdoorsman/baller image Putin careful manages?

I think the nationalistic fervor being whipped up by the media should be of concern. If you say there's propaganda on both sides, we'll agree. What we won't agree on is the scale and impact. The US doesn't have widely publicized people calling for blood, nuclear exchanges, that Russia is out to exterminate the US. It doesn't have media coverage about Russian flags used as doormats, or missiles paraded down the street with Putin's name on it. It doesn't have bike groups waving dictators on flags with the divisive history that Stalin has. It doesn't have constant existential crisis stories blamed on everyone else, especially Russia. The nationalism that seems to be generated looks engineered. This doesn't exist in anything remotely the same in the US. Of course Russia isn't portrayed kindly, but there is a difference. Callie vilified if it makes people happy, I'll agree with the sentiment and disagree with the description. People here sincerely don't generally give a crap about what Russia is doing, yet Russian government is doing everything it can to portray the imminent doom and death at the hands of the US any day now unless drastic measures are taken. Its wildly overblown. Yes, we are geopolitical foes, as many countries are, and act and exert influence in ways and measures equal to capacity. I think you'd agree with that. The victimhood complex is manipulated a bit too much by the Russian government.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/russias-anti-us-sentiment-now-is-even-worse-than-it-was-in-soviet-union/2015/03/08/b7d534c4-c357-11e4-a188-8e4971d37a8d_story.html http://www.vox.com/2015/2/9/8005833/russia-anti-american http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/jun/29/anti-americanism-rampant-fringe-conspiracy-theorie/?page=all http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/why-russia-is-no-1-in-anti-americanism/493260.html

And is engaging right now on a corruption crackdown the previous campaign under Medevedev Russia's position in the Corruption Perception Index improved by 11 places.

I've read the headlines, but remain skeptical. It appears like police here. They are investigating corruption and wrong doing as well..... Alos, there were two options in that story. From what I am following, it appears Putin is going with the big capital project concept instead. Look at all the "announcement of new project" announcements in the last few months. Moon bases, cargo planes that are essentially a daft concept, space stations, intercontinental highways, bridges, military spending spree, and more than I can remember now.

Now there is are a new campaign under Putin

I don't want to sound too rude or snarky, but anti corruption campaign by Putin? WTF? This appears to be lip service at best. Do you seriously believe that coming from him? He'll clean it all up except for himself? How will that work?

But I agree, corruption seems to be on a scary level.

Its quite possible for a community of individuals to engage in individually rationnal behaviour, but wich when considered collectivelly can be irrational to the outside world.

I can understand this idea, I just said that Russians and Russian supporters often seem to be quite offended at the way they are widely perceived. I explained why they may be perceived the way they are. Also, it comes with the territory. Russia would like to be perceived as a super power. Anything more than great power status also comes with some pretty stiff scrutiny, resentment, hatred, criticism, etc. The US is a lightning rod of criticism from many directions. Do you think people are so personally offended by it? I can tell you that they broadly are less concerned with what they perceive as geopolitical opponents, specifically China and Russia. Sure, they may feel bad the French were rude to them while on vacation, but they generally don't care what Russians think of them.