Russian chess champion and political activist Garry Kasparov has a chilling warning for Americans: While you’re distracted by the bully in the White House, democratic institutions are being ripped apart.

Kasparov said he sees some of the same tactics he witnessed in Russia being used in the U.S., like a leader “lying constantly while attacking targets for lying” and the “escalation of rhetoric to dictatorial extremes.”

STR New / Reuters Former chess world champion Garry Kasparov said he's concerned that Americans are allowing Trump to turn the U.S. into Russia.

Democratic government is “based on institutions,” Kasparov wrote in a Twitter thread on Sunday. “If someone is attacking those institutions instead of strengthening them, it’s time to pick a side. Rule of law or by strongman? Rule of institutions or of tribe? The history of making the wrong choice here is clear.”

Check out the thread:

Since the start of his campaign, Trump has dedicated himself to attacking defining American institutions: electoral system, free press, separation of powers, law enforcement. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017

Every one of these moves has been under the cover of the autocratic attack on the objective truth. Lying constantly while attacking his targets for lying, for "fake news", for treasonous behavior. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017

This method has served another end, perhaps the greater goal, of splitting the US even more deeply, a division that makes recovery from other attacks much harder. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017

The escalation of rhetoric to dictatorial extremes has a numbing effect. Terms like "enemies of the people", "coup" and "treason". When actual enemies, real treason, are exposed, they've already been used up, discredited. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017

It also requires stronger doses each time to achieve the same impact, the distraction, the clicks, the outrage. The media reaction of amplifying each time more than the last makes it worse. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017

Democratic govt is based on institutions. If someone is attacking those institutions instead of strengthening them, it's time to pick a side. Rule of law or by strongman? Rule of institutions or of tribe? The history of making the wrong choice here is clear. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017

We chose wrong and failed democracy in Russia. We failed by choosing a man, even a decent man, Yeltsin, over strong democratic institutions. We paid for it with Putin, and are still paying for it, as is everyone else. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017

Even if you like Trump, or tolerate him for what you think he can do for you or your cause, you are choosing against those American institutions. If you think they are broken, fix them, don't help Trump destroy them. Choose. — Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 17, 2017