Recommended Reading
Reactions and Outcry Against Putin’s Latest Surprise
Independent news outlets around the world have reacted strongly to president Vladimir Putin’s announcement on October 1st to head the United Russia party in upcoming Parliamentary elections. The move reveals Putin’s intention to retain his grip on power in the Russian Federation. Bolstered by the propagandistic state-run media (which, among other things, decries Kremlin opponents […]
Oct 4, 2007 | Continued
Kadyrov: Putin Should Stay For Life
Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov announced on October 2nd his desire that Putin remain in power indefinitely, and ignore the Constitution. Speaking in front of the United Russia party Congress in Moscow, Kadyrov shook his hands, booming: “As before, I want that Vladimir Putin remain for a third term, and to on the whole be the […]
Oct 3, 2007 | Continued
Rewritten History
In an article recently published in Novaya Gazeta, Professor of Sociology Vladimir Shlapentokh (of Michigan State University) has revealed an academic study of altered history in Putin’s Russia. Shlapentokh introduces the idea that silenced names provide a clear indicator to measure authoritarianism. Likening the media and public blacklisting of opposition figures to similar moments in […]
Oct 2, 2007 | Continued
Kasparov on Nomination and Putin
Yesterday Garry Kasparov was nominated by the Other Russia National Congress to stand as candidate for president in the 2008 elections, scheduled for March 2, 2008. The Putin regime has established countless roadblocks to the democratic process that it will be nearly impossible for Kasparov to appear on the March ballot. Today Vladimir Putin announced […]
Oct 1, 2007 | Continued
The Kremlin’s Farce Enters Act Three
In a move that shocked many western observers by its bluntness, Vladimir Putin announced today his intention to head the United Russia party in upcoming parliamentary elections. Regarding the possibility of his becoming prime minister, Putin winked that “it is still too early to think about it.” He went on: “Two conditions must be met […]
Oct 1, 2007 | Continued
Kasparov Wins Nomination as United Opposition Candidate
Garry Kasparov, leader of the United Civil Front, has been elected as the single opposition candidate to represent the Other Russia in the March 2008 presidential election. After a series of democratic and transparent primary elections, delegates from far-flung regions voted today in Moscow to propel the former world chess champion to lead the opposition […]
Sep 30, 2007 | Continued
Chechen Parliament Threatens Kasparov
Dukvakh Abdurakhmanov, the head of the People’s Assembly of the Chechen parliament, put his true colors and those of his government on display yesterday. He was reacting to an speech in which Other Russia leader Garry Kasparov referred to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov as a bandit. Abdurakhmanov first talked of a libel suit against Kasparov, […]
Sep 27, 2007 | Continued
Gazprom and the EU
The Foreign Policy blog takes a critical look at how the Russian state energy goliath Gazprom is exploiting European disunity and weakness. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in a 2006 press conference with Tony Blair, said the European Union needed to work towards a common energy policy to limit the influence of Gazprom, the Russian-controlled energy […]
Sep 24, 2007 | Continued
The Expected Unexpected PM
We are continuing to watch with amusement the caricature of shock on the face of the global media after Putin appointed unheralded functionary Viktor Zubkov to the post of Prime Minister this week. Zubkov’s lack of experience in anything important other than being Putin’s friend was no obstacle to his being confirmed overwhelmingly by Putin’s […]
Sep 14, 2007 | Continued
Putin Shuffles the Deckchairs
For some reason western media outlets are acting as though today’s announced cabinet reorganization by Vladimir Putin is in some way significant. It is nothing more than a ritual. Nor does it have much to do with the December 2nd parliamentary elections, which are little more than a farce scripted long ago. Putin will use […]
Sep 12, 2007 | Continued