In Russia, the graves of the Wagnerites are being dug up. Wreaths, crosses piled up in a garbage heap. A surviving member of the mercenary force is crying, “People, what are you doing? My friends died for you! Please, people, don’t do it!” But nobody cares.
It’s really funny. Wagnerites thought they were dying for their country but you can’t do that if there is no country. Honoring the fallen soldiers is a nation-state tradition. If there is no nation, and instead you get rapidly changing, endlessly mutable arrangements and re-arrangements, you will be written out of the fluid story very fast. Your cross will be broken, your death will be mocked, your military awards revoked, and your memory spat at.
Until yesterday, Wagnerites were celebrated, idolized and worshipped in Russia. And then everybody moved on, including their families.
Clarissa's Blog 