If you come from Eastern Europe and are asked to define politics, you might immediately associate it with corruption, oligarchism, criminality, and high-level fraud. I come from Moldova, and I can tell you, as a matter of fact, that politics has been a pain in the *** since the early 2000s.

In this part of the world, we face two main issues that impact everything—corruption and geopolitics. When politicians are busy exploiting national resources for their own businesses—or turning the state itself into their business—your country loses credibility in the eyes of investors, international support becomes costly, the economic situation deteriorates, and all that remains for the people is the hope of better opportunities abroad.

In 2019, the international media buzzed about ‘the comedian who could be president,’ referring to Mr. Volodymyr Zelensky, now the current president of Ukraine. Back then, he was entering the presidential elections without a political background. However, he possessed two qualities his political opponents lacked—popularity among the people and their trust.

Zelensky rose to fame after starring in the leading role of the hit comedy series Servant of the People (2015). The Ukrainian political satire tells the story of Vasily Petrovych Goloborodko, a high-school history teacher in his thirties who is unexpectedly elected President of Ukraine after a viral video, filmed by one of his students, captures him delivering a profane rant against government corruption.

A year ago, I discovered Servant of the People on Netflix and decided to watch it. Although it is a comedy, as an Eastern European, I found it painful to watch. Like many others, I know firsthand how the issues depicted in the episodes have affected—and continue to affect—life in our region.

“[…] Then we wonder why our politicians make the same mistakes when they enter the halls of power? Because they are great mathematicians! All they know is to divide and subtract. That’s all! […] And who is there to vote for? It’s always the lesser of two assholes and it’s been this way for 25 years. You know what else? Nothing will change again. You know why? Because you, my dad, me, we’ll once again vote for another shitstick!”

— Vasily Petrovych Goloborodko

When Russia began its infamous full-scale invasion of Ukraine, many believed that Zelensky would flee the country. He became Putin’s target No. 1, and his family—target No. 2. But Zelensky declined the U.S. offer to evacuate, famously saying, “I need ammunition, not a ride,” in a video he personally filmed in Kyiv two days after the war began.

It has been almost three years since February 24, 2022, the day the war broke out. Yet Zelensky has never ceased to fulfill his duties as president and continues to inspire millions of Ukrainians fighting the enemy.

Image credits: Rotten Tomatoes