The Estonian Politician: Marko Mihkelson

Send us Fan MailIn this powerful episode of Dictators v Democrats: Why We Fight, We speak with Estonian MP and Chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marko Mihkelson for an unflinching conversation about Russia’s imperial legacy, the modern authoritarian playbook, and what it takes to defend democracy today.Drawing on decades of experience as a journalist and politician, Mihkelson shares eyewitness insights from the First Chechen War, the Kremlin’s early efforts to dismantle democracy, and how the West has enabled Moscow’s aggression through appeasement and inaction.We explore:The roots of Russian imperialism and its resurgence under PutinThe formation of a new authoritarian axis: Russia, China, Iran, North KoreaHow democracies are losing the information warWhy disinformation is the autocrats’ sharpest weaponEstonia’s leadership in cybersecurity and digital democracyWhat the West must do to ensure Ukraine’s victoryThe dangers of Western political amnesia and moral hesitationThe generational fight for liberty, and what it means to resistMihkelson argues that defeating Russia in Ukraine is essential to securing a future for free societies and sends a clear message to dictators everywhere: You will not succeed. You will be defeated.Highlights00:03 – Witnessing the death of Russian democracy05:30 – Interviewing Chechen president Dzhokhar Dudayev on the frontline10:00 – The authoritarian alliance and the long war against democracy19:00 – How Russia uses disinformation as a weapon of war24:30 – Estonia’s cybersecurity response and the future of digital defence33:00 – Why the West must stop appeasing Russia42:00 – The risk of World War III if Ukraine is not supported53:00 – What a post-imperial Russia could look like1:00:00 – Marko’s personal journey: from Soviet occupation to Estonian freedom1:10:00 – A message to young democrats — and to the autocrats themselvesLet me know what you think in the comments below!Enjoy!This work is entirely self funded, if you enjoy it please consider supporting me with a small donation or becoming a paid subscriber on my SubStack, Patreon or Buy Me A Coffee. Every little helps me continue to tell these vital stories.Support my work:https://buymeacoffee.com/tamullispatreon.com/DictatorsvDemocratsDiscord: https://discord.gg/qnYb8K9aThankyou and remember:Democracy is Non-NegotiableSupport the show