Russia isn’t pro free speech, they’re pro internal US conflict.

And my-oh-my the political leverage is colossal

I'll take that bet. The U.S. will not block it.

one dime it is.

Free speech, so long as it agrees with the Putin government.

Otherwise you will likely end up poisoned like Navalny or happen to fall off a balcony like so many Russian journalists.

The irony

It's pretty amusing. To quote an (in)famous xkcd. The private companies told the Right they were assholes and showed them the door. And now Russia is stretching out a hand and saying: you are welcome in my house.

And of course the Left is upset. The Right were supposed to become friendless losers with imaginary friends[0]! Not befriend other people! That's cheating!

[0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=25817605

The rights new friends seem to have a tenancy to poison their political opponents with nerve agents.