> there are people who want to avoid distributions made by Russians
Well, racism / citizenship-based discrimination is a thing, yes.
> Are builds reproducible?
A valid question, but what does that have to do with the ethnic background or citizenship of the distro makers?
> Where do these people reside?
It seems their team is from all sorts of places, although it doesn't exactly say where in the world each of them is located:
> Of course it is a thing when the country of their nationality is committing genocide, and an authoritarian government.
Bit ironic to continue posting comments here, isn't it?
None the less, I agree with your worry and caution based on where software is produced, but I enact that by checking my OS/software before installing/updating it, not spreading FUD on internet forums.
This website is very liberal with regards to freedom of speech, and while hosted in USA it isn't part of FAMAG, and non-partisan. While the USA is under attack from radical right, it has been before (Dubya).
The thing with citizens of Russia and China who reside in their respective authoritarian country is they cannot be held legally accountable.
Of course it is a thing when the country of their nationality is committing genocide, and an authoritarian government.
> A valid question, but what does that have to do with the ethnic background or citizenship of the distro makers?
Allows security researchers to verify the binaries and/or find intentional backdoors.
> It seems their team is from all sorts of places, although it doesn't exactly say where in the world each of them is located
Lots of words for 'I don't know'. Me neither, that is why I am asking.