Hey, thanks for commenting and for the appreciation!
Well, they could prevent voting because they control the consulates and embassies, and the electoral system too. In fact, the only reason the opposition leadership got access to the actual ballots was because they have a LOT of dissent within their own ranks and couldn't hold military officials from leaking this information through unmonitored channels.
As for why they'd annul passports and engage in other intimidation tactics, this is just what tyrannies do. There doesn't need to be a logic behind it except keeping people on edge, uncertain and afraid. Pretty much every leader in a regime like this is a sadist. From a psychological standpoint, they're also terribly afraid, they're beset by the very machinations of terror that they've created, and can't trust anyone, so that's what they project unto the public.
Sure, that'd be great. I don't use Discord, though. No matter how I've tried, I never been able to get into that app. We could talk over WhatsApp or Telegram if you use them. Let me know!
Yeah, I'm sure you're right. It's a fool's errand, looking for logic in tyrannies.
That's great about the interview! Let's chat on Telegram, maybe? I'm @honeydue9 over there. B&W profile pic. Hope we find each other. And thanks!