02/06/2009 / RUSSIA
Even trains stop when Medvedev arrives
Look closely at this picture. These railway tracks are in use. And yet, they've been covered with tarmac. Why? So that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev would have a smoother ride on his visit to town.
When a city in Russia is graced with the presence of an important official, there's no such thing as being over-hospitable. It was in preparation for President Medvedev's arrival in the remote city of Kirov that prompted officials to tarmac over the railway.
After all, it was the first time in 185 years — when Alexander I came — that an official had bothered to make the trip.
Besides, the tradition of whitewashing reality for high authority is a long-standing one in Russia.
It was there that the fake, dainty Potemkin houses were hastily constructed in order to keep Catherine the Great contented on her journeys down south. And it was during Soviet times in the country that town mayors painted their lawns green for important visits.
Despite all this, it still came as a surprise to the Kirov community when their own town fell victim to the tradition on May 14 this year. Governor of the region is Nikita Belych, leader of one of the strongest opposition parties, the Union of Right Forces (SPS). Liberals in the country were hoping to see the former opponent of Putin stand his ground after being appointed by President Medvedev. But following this incident, he's been given a clear "fail" grade.
Bloggers say that not only was the railway tarmacked over, but dozens of potholes were haphazardly filled in and facades of houses painted. Secret service agents called some of the residents and told them not to leave their homes during the visit.
Who knows if Medvedev was impressed by the efforts, but one thing's for sure, the general public was not.
“Belych hasn't lived up to his reputation as a liberal politician”
Artur Abashev, from Kirov, is the leader of liberal movement Smena.
Just after Medvedev left, Belych held a press conference. He said that he wasn't to blame for covering the rail crossing and manholes with tarmac — it was an order from the Federal Security Service [read more on Belych's blog (in Russian)].
Concerning the harsh instructions given to citizens who live on the presidential escort route, it's not the first time human rights were violated during the new governor's reign. When Nikita Belych was appointed governor, we hoped that human rights violations would come to an end, but we were wrong. The right to freedom of assembly is still not respected. The police continue to oppress the opposition. Hence, Belych hasn't lived up to his reputation as a liberal politician.
“Medvedev's Kirov visit was no exception”
Konstantin Yadvishis is from Tula, a city south of Moscow which Medvedev visited in March.
We could see some of the preparations for the visit from our windows. The night before the arrival people hastily started to paint the facade of a military hospital in Sovetskaya Street. That was quite surprising because it's a listed building: the window frames can't even be painted without special permission.
During the day, massive amounts of fresh white snow were transported to the city's main road in order to cover up the dirty sludge.
Near the building where Medvedev was to give a speech — The Railroad Culture Palace — potholes had been hastily filled in. The weather was damp, so the potholes were full of melted snow. Nevertheless, tarmac was thrown right in with the water.
And it was all done just hours before his arrival. The next stage saw the closure of all roads. Everything was shut down, even shoe repair shops.
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Submitted by Unregistered userjoseph walker (not verified) on Thu, 04/06/2009 - 11:12.Nothing unusual ,we in england when anybody important is coming ,a spring cleaning tAKES PLACE ,IF BY TRAIN,IT IS ALL POLISHED UP.CARPETS ARE LAID ,THE TRAIN LOOKS LIKE IT FROM THE ASSEMBLY BLOCK.IF BY ROAD,AN ESCORT IS THERE ,SO A 1 MILE JOURNEY WONT TAKE TWO HOURS ,EVERYTHING IS MARVELLOUS.A GOOD LAUGH FOR US .WELL IF YOU CAN COMPREHEND THE BULLSHIT THAT IS.
Unregistered user
Everywhere
Submitted by KK (not verified) on Thu, 04/06/2009 - 11:26.That's it.
In every country the situation is analogical. But try to find any article about this in your country in the media =)
Agree - pure bullshit.
Unregistered user
I felt France 24 wasn't
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 04/06/2009 - 08:39.I felt France 24 wasn't pushing corporate agenda as hard as the rest. I was wrong. Articles like this, are rather common, Russia in particular is portrayed in a very dark colors.
I remember being a kid, crying watching on TV unemployed, hungry and homeless -- the victims of capitalism. Propaganda in the countries of former Soviet block has vanished, however on the West it is still flourishing. Some parts of the East didn't fully submit yet to the "Global free markets".
Unregistered user
France 24 and others
Submitted by KK (not verified) on Thu, 04/06/2009 - 09:11."...Russia in particular is portrayed in a very dark colors..."
Absolutely. The only media that supports Russia is Russian mass media, as silly as it sounds.
I everyday practically maniacally monitor all major English-language world media and I have never, never ever met an article that describes RF from good point of view. Though, false, only once I met such a post, it was after Eurovision song contest, and the media pointed that the show was great. I was astonished and read the article again and again, but no, there was no mistake, they were giving positive judgement to Russia. But that is a lonely example...
Also media likes to write about poor Russian oligarchs, that are pushed by the goverment.
I would like to underline that though I live in this country, I wouldn't consider myself a patriot. I judge upon following: fair/unfair. And this is unfair to blacken any country, though there are a lot of positive moments, positive movements in it. And this is a case of Russia. As if foreign media systematically filters the info and reports only on negative developments within the country. Sad, but this is the illness of all presses.
Unregistered user
This must be the most
Submitted by Unregistered user (not verified) on Thu, 04/06/2009 - 08:44.This must be the most significant news out of Russia this week. And the way it is resented is classic.
Unregistered user
That is the way global press normally acts...
Submitted by KK (not verified) on Wed, 03/06/2009 - 11:34.And after such posts people in the world think that Russia is a country, where bears walk in the sreets...
Though this is the very way how not only EU, American, Russian but all presses act... They no longer make news, but gossips and guesses. That is like: "Look at that! This country is bad, because it's been said, they do this and that. And our country does it in the other way, in the right way..."
Every country's media is focused on digging out any kind, any shadow of bad-reputational info about others and place this at its website with a cynical malicious headline. What a hard job!
I think many people are just sick and tired of all this stuff.
Unfortunately all news has to be read through some kind of "filter", that's called "they do it to blacken us/them".
And the worst thing in all this is that every country does this. It's a kind of informational war.
Unregistered user
Brother of Un-fortune
Submitted by LIBORIO PRESS (not verified) on Wed, 03/06/2009 - 16:36.Jun 3, 2009 LIBORIO PRESS
That is the way global press normally acts... Yes
But it could be another way around. For example if every one of us call Unesco to open a portal really freedom of expresion things will be different
even thoug Observer is not at bad.
Did you know why stll democracy not avance in the world?
Simple PUBLIC HOUSE conception.
In Rusia many want to return to Communism for public house.
In America politician control 60% of public house residents they name it asent bolete.
In Cuba people live in houses public like porn in a cochiqueras, but has not option governement own all.
United Nation is the Public House of Goverments Corrupts and their functionaries are paid by us citizens.
You know the solution? That this comentary were in first plane
Unregistered user
Brother of Un-fortune
Submitted by KK (not verified) on Thu, 04/06/2009 - 08:05.I think it is as minimum silly to wait that once it will all go right. And everyone will tell truth etc. Nobody knows what it would be, I don't know what it would be in this case, will it be better?
But I don't think that Russia is trying to be pushed back to Communism right now... This is another myth about Russia. Communists in Russia are minority. My opinion - since I live in this country and able to see it with my own eyes - the only communism feature that I currently observe is the key idea in each media message "Our country is the best country, our president is a brilliant leader, our people are the smartest". BUT that is absolutely OK for each normal healthy country. Saddens the following: the same idea is being highlighted by negative comparison with other countries, leaders, people.
Of course this is good for the country that is described as the best one with best govn-t and people, this is very good for the people of this country. People became self-confident and proud of their native country. BUT herewith the people get a distinct message, people are imposed with idea of weakness of other nationalities. Sometimes it causes hatred towards the countries and this is really sad.Especially bearing in mind that people don't keen on investigating and separating truth from media messages.
Yes, media still informs us, but practically every message has a kind of underlying message in it, a hint, when they allegedly just inform us on international situation.
Not all people can or are interested in monitoring the same international event both on local and international mass media, though it is sometimes very interesting and useful. Unfortunately they just conceive the information the government would like them to conceive. This is wrong when people judge on a situation just having this "painted black/or white minimum" of information and especially making a conclusion who is right and who is wrong based on the info.
I'm not searching for solution it is useless. I simply everytime feel sad when I read any messages with such hint or negative mood as above about any other country, not only my native.
Observer is not bad as we can share our views on the issue :)
Unregistered user