If you follow my posts, you know that on my Mom's side, I trace
Ifyoufollowmyposts,youknowthatonmy,ItracemyfamilylinefromKyiv.HermaidennameisUkrainian(Ivanenko),andtothisdaywehavemanyrelativeslivinginUkraine.That'swhythistragicconflictispersonal.SomepeoplewonderedifTelegramissomehowlesssecureforUkrainians,becauseIoncelivedinRussia.LetmetellthesepeoplehowmycareerinRussiaended.NineyearsagoIwastheCEOofVK,whichwasthelargestsocialnetworkinRussiaandUkraine.In2013,theRussiansecurityagency,FSB,thatIprovidethemtheprivatedataoftheUkrainianusersofVKwhowereprotestingagainstapro-RussianPresident.Irefusedtocomplywiththesedemands,becauseitwouldhavemeantabetrayalofourUkrainianusers.Afterthat,IwasfiredfromthecompanyIfoundedandwasforcedtoleaveRussia.Ilostmycompanyandmyhome,butwoulddoitagain–withouthesitation.IsmilewithpridewhenIreadfromApril2014,whichshowsthescannedordersfromtheFSBandmytrademarkresponsetothem–adoginahoodie.WhenIdefiedtheirdemands,thestakeswerehighformepersonally.IwasstilllivinginRussia,andmyteamandmyoldcompanywerealsobasedinthatcountry.Manyyearshavepassedsincethen.Manythingschanged:InolongerliveinRussia,nolongerhaveanycompaniesoremployeesthere.Butonethingremainsthesame–Istandforourusersnomatterwhat.Theirrighttoprivacyissacred.Now–morethanever.
