“I’m Not Interested in Politics”: How War, Government Decisions, and International Conflicts Can Reach Your Wallet

“I’m Not Interested in Politics”: How War, Government Decisions, and International Conflicts Can Reach Your Wallet The phrase “I’m not interested in politics” is often used as an attempt to draw a line between personal life and affairs of state. People work, build businesses, raise children, pay their bills, and simply want to be left alone. But there is one problem: you may not be interested in politics, yet political decisions can still affect your life. The story of Turkmen entrepreneurs who lost goods stored at Wildberries warehouses in Russia is a striking example of how quickly geopolitical events can turn into very real financial losses for ordinary people. Far From the War — Close to Its Consequences On July 25, 2026, Turkmen.news reported that goods belonging to Turkmen entrepreneurs were among the merchandise destroyed as a result of attacks on Wildberries warehouses in various regions of Russia. The publication described the experiences of at least two entrepreneurs — Berdy Begmenov and Shasenem Kulova. According to Turkmen.news, Begmenov said that he had lost stock stored at warehouses that had already been attacked and was unable to remove his goods from other warehouses because the Wildberries inventory management system had technically blocked this option. Kulova, who purchases goods in Russia for customers in Turkmenistan, said that the situation had not significantly affected her deliveries and that she would fulfill her orders in full and on time. However, a small portion of her own merchandise was destroyed by fire. Behind these simple statements are very real financial losses. The cost of purchasing goods, transportation, dealings with suppliers, invested capital, and obligations to customers — all of this can disappear within hours because of an event with which the entrepreneur personally has nothing to do. “But I’m Just Running a Business” This is precisely where we can see why the position “politics has nothing to do with me” does not always work. Imagine an ordinary entrepreneur. They do not attend demonstrations. They do not belong to a political party. They do not discuss international relations. They do not follow political news. They simply buy and sell goods. But their merchandise is stored in a country involved in a war. That means the security of their business can suddenly depend on circumstances far beyond their shop or company: war, sanctions, government decisions, military logistics, the actions of armed forces, international relations, legislation, and the policies of major corporations. Turkmen.news reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine’s responsibility for the attacks, explaining that Russia had used the warehouses “to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment.” As a result, the ordinary merchandise of an entrepreneur can suddenly find itself caught within the realities of a major international conflict. The entrepreneur may never have been interested in sanctions, war, or foreign policy. But all of those things have now become relevant to their business. Politics Is Not Just About Presidents In authoritarian societies, the word “politics” is often understood exclusively as a struggle for power — opposition movements, presidents, elections, and protests. That definition is far too narrow. Politics also includes decisions that determine: where you can work; what documents you can obtain; whether you are allowed to leave the country; what taxes you pay; whether your property is protected; whether you receive compensation after an emergency; which country is safe for storing your goods; which states are subject to sanctions; how well your business is protected; and whether an independent court will defend you when your rights are violated. That is why civic and political literacy is not only necessary for activists or politicians. It is necessary for entrepreneurs. For migrants. For workers. For mothers. For students. For pensioners. Today Your Goods Burn. Tomorrow the Law Changes. The Wildberries warehouse case is particularly illustrative for another reason. Turkmen.news reported that questions arose over compensation for sellers following the attacks. According to the publication, Wildberries announced support for affected sellers, while disputes also emerged regarding contractual terms and which circumstances should qualify for compensation. At this point, we move from international politics to law. An entrepreneur needs to understand not only where it is more profitable to sell, but also: What does the contract actually say? Who bears the risk if the goods are destroyed? What qualifies as force majeure? Which laws apply? What insurance mechanisms are available? Can compensation be obtained through the courts? How independent are those courts? What risks are created by war or international tensions? This, too, is part of civic literacy. The Most Dangerous Mistake Is Thinking That Mind­ing Your Own Business Is Enough Everyone has the right not to engage professionally in politics and not to become an activist. But completely refusing to understand what is happening around you means voluntarily giving up one of the tools that can help protect you. Taking an interest in public affairs does not mean arguing about presidents every day. It means asking questions: What is happening in the country where my money is invested? What risks does my business face? What laws are being adopted? What rights do I have? Who makes decisions that affect my family? What is happening to the economy? Which international developments could change my life tomorrow? And most importantly: What can I do today to reduce those risks? This Lesson Is Particularly Important for Citizens of Turkmenistan For decades, Turkmenistan has maintained a system in which citizens are effectively encouraged to stay away from public and state affairs. But civic passivity does not protect people from the consequences of government decisions. You can ignore migration policy — until you encounter problems obtaining a passport or leaving the country. You can ignore economic policy — until prices, exchange rates, or business opportunities change. You can ignore foreign policy — until your goods, employment, or income become connected to a country facing sanctions or involved in an armed conflict. You can ignore human rights — until a violation affects you or your family personally. Rights and freedoms are particularly easy to lose when society begins to regard them as someone else’s problem. This Is Not a Call to Become a Politician. It Is a Call to Understand the World Around You. No one is required to become a politician. But citizens should understand who makes decisions on their behalf and how those decisions affect their lives. The story of Turkmen entrepreneurs working through Wildberries demonstrates this almost literally. A person may live thousands of kilometres away from the front line. They may be concerned exclusively with trade. They may never have written a single political post. Yet one day, an international conflict can reach them in the form of a burned warehouse, destroyed merchandise, disrupted deliveries, and one very practical question: Who will compensate me for my losses? That is why saying: > “I’m not interested in politics” does not mean: > “Politics does not affect me.” These are two completely different things. You may not be interested in politics. But politics, economics, laws, and government decisions may one day become very interested in you — in your business, your wallet, and your children’s future. Being informed is not a declaration of political affiliation. It is one of the ways to protect yourself, your rights, and your future. Source: Turkmen.news, “Turkmen Businesspeople Lose Goods Following Attacks on Wildberries Warehouses in Russia,” July 25, 2026: https://turkmen.news/2026/07/25/turkmenskie-biznesmeny-poteryali-tovar-v-rezultate-atak-na-sklady-wildberries-v-rossii/