Gonzalo Lira is a self-promoter and probably a narcissist. He's also, therefore (on either count), a dufus.
His YT videos over the past 18 months have been little more than him repeating well known anti-Ukraine talking points. He never said anything that many others had not already said. His only credential was that he was in Kharkiv and could, in theory, provide some "on the ground" information, which is why he gained a following, almost all of whom are likely Westerners (mostly English speakers) who identify with a Westerner in Ukraine. Certainly, few if any Ukrainians were watching his videos because a) most of them don't speak English b) there are far more useful channels in Ukrainian.
Gonzalo was initially arrested by the SBU, probably on a point of principle rather than any significant threat he posed: an arrogant American living in Ukraine making videos trashing Ukraine and the govt. during war time. WHAT DID HE EXPECT?? The SBU just wanted rid of him, which is why when he was released the first time, they gave him all of his documents etc. the message being "LEAVE". But being a dufus and attention seeker, he didn't because he thought his new-found credibility from being arrested would gain him more followers.
Which it did.
So he kept making videos and... surprise! they arrested him again, and this time, sought to drive the message home with a longer stay in prison and (possibly) some roughing up (although I don't take anything he says at face value). Again, this time when released, he was given all his documents, the message AGAIN being "get the hell out of here". He may or may not have earnestly tried to do that, but he was certainly going to post a video about whatever he was doing to get more followers.
Btw, imagine you're trying to escape from a country. You get close to the border checkpoint, but before trying to cross, you stop for at least an hour to make 3 videos that you stream to social media, telling everyone (possibly including the people who just released you) what you're going to do.
Anyway, the whole thing is ridiculous and suggests Gonzalo is a self-absorbed narcissist who cares little for his young children and that he preferred to stay in Ukraine and thumb his nose at the regime rather than care for his family properly.
He now finds himself in the ridiculous self-created situation of having made videos denouncing the Ukrainian govt. as a corrupt undemocratic regime during war time, and then that same regime arrested him, twice. His response is to complain about the lack of democracy and freedom of speech in the undemocratic regime he was denouncing.
Maybe soon he'll pop up in N. Korea and stand in the square in Pyongyang and denounce Kim Jong Un and then, when thrown in a prison, complain about the fact that there is no freedom of speech in N. Korea.
Here's Gonzalo, as he imagines himself (or as he'd like you to imagine him), at the Ukrainian border.
His YT videos over the past 18 months have been little more than him repeating well known anti-Ukraine talking points. He never said anything that many others had not already said. His only credential was that he was in Kharkiv and could, in theory, provide some "on the ground" information, which is why he gained a following, almost all of whom are likely Westerners (mostly English speakers) who identify with a Westerner in Ukraine. Certainly, few if any Ukrainians were watching his videos because a) most of them don't speak English b) there are far more useful channels in Ukrainian.
Gonzalo was initially arrested by the SBU, probably on a point of principle rather than any significant threat he posed: an arrogant American living in Ukraine making videos trashing Ukraine and the govt. during war time. WHAT DID HE EXPECT?? The SBU just wanted rid of him, which is why when he was released the first time, they gave him all of his documents etc. the message being "LEAVE". But being a dufus and attention seeker, he didn't because he thought his new-found credibility from being arrested would gain him more followers.
Which it did.
So he kept making videos and... surprise! they arrested him again, and this time, sought to drive the message home with a longer stay in prison and (possibly) some roughing up (although I don't take anything he says at face value). Again, this time when released, he was given all his documents, the message AGAIN being "get the hell out of here". He may or may not have earnestly tried to do that, but he was certainly going to post a video about whatever he was doing to get more followers.
Btw, imagine you're trying to escape from a country. You get close to the border checkpoint, but before trying to cross, you stop for at least an hour to make 3 videos that you stream to social media, telling everyone (possibly including the people who just released you) what you're going to do.
Anyway, the whole thing is ridiculous and suggests Gonzalo is a self-absorbed narcissist who cares little for his young children and that he preferred to stay in Ukraine and thumb his nose at the regime rather than care for his family properly.
He now finds himself in the ridiculous self-created situation of having made videos denouncing the Ukrainian govt. as a corrupt undemocratic regime during war time, and then that same regime arrested him, twice. His response is to complain about the lack of democracy and freedom of speech in the undemocratic regime he was denouncing.
Maybe soon he'll pop up in N. Korea and stand in the square in Pyongyang and denounce Kim Jong Un and then, when thrown in a prison, complain about the fact that there is no freedom of speech in N. Korea.
Here's Gonzalo, as he imagines himself (or as he'd like you to imagine him), at the Ukrainian border.
Last edited:
