Putin

The panellist who disappeared

Sophie Team Observers — Wed, 04 Jun 2008 15:29:28 +0200

Last October a political analyst well known for his critical attitude towards the Kremlin took part in a pre-recorded debate on the Russian TV channel TV Centre. Were the authorities ready to get slated on television? Apparently not. When the show was broadcast a few days later, the opponent magically disappeared from the set.

The producers of the show - incidentally called "The People Want to Know" - soon realised their mistake after filming and carefully edited out Mikhaïl Deliaguin's contributions from the recordings. The black sheep is an economist who has advised Boris Yeltsin and other various politicians who are today expelled from power. He regularly condemns Russia's power and electoral systems. Although he was removed from the show, you can't say he wasn't there at all - the ghost panellist can sometimes be seen in the background.

“They close the British Council, but buy houses in London"

Julien — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 19:11:13 +0100

'Until now, Iran and Burma were the only countries to ban the British Council'.

Russians react to the closure of the British Council by the Russian authorities. One of them remembers when it was closed down once before in the past. That was in 1947, and it marked the beginning of the Cold War. Another says that the Russian authorities are becoming schizophrenic: "They close the British Council, but buy houses in London."

Satellite dishes forbidden in Turkmenistan

Julien — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 18:52:49 +0100

www.neweurasia.net

According to this blogger, who specialises in post-soviet countries, the Turkmenistan regime does not support liberalisation. It was recently confirmed by the fact that the new president decided to prohibit satellite aerials, that he would have more control over information.

On 5 November Radio Free Europe published an article by Gulnoza Saidazimova called "Turkmenistan: a new obstacle for access to the airwaves". The article reflects on the internal policy of the Turkmen leader.

Since taking over this year, new Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov has been viewed as a hopeful reformer who might open up one of the world's most repressive societies. But a new order to remove all private satellite dishes from homes in Ashgabat - which critics say could block access to independent information - is quickly tarnishing that image.

The article made me ask myself: Is the West really so naive as to believe in the liberalism of a man who was indoctrinated by Soviet propaganda for several decades, and who later participated in the creation of one of the most repressive regimes in the world? Can the reinstatement of pensions, 10-year schooling, or the abolition of the daily obligation to pledge allegiance to the president be considered as really liberal moves?

This reminds me of when Vladimir Putin was first elected. For the first few years he was depicted as a liberal who would reform Russia. And what was the result? From the relatively liberal country that Russia used to be during Yeltsin's rule, it was transformed into an authoritarian state ruled by the secret service, gradually isolating itself and hoping for a return to "Soviet grandeur". However, when writing about ‘Putin-the-liberal', no one asked the simple question: can a former KGB officer (although "there are no former KGB officers" as Russians like to say) be a liberal?

The same question should be asked in relation to Berdymukhammedov. Can a man who went to a Soviet university, spent half of his life as a faithful servant at the court of Turkmenbashi and never travelled abroad for more than a few days be liberal? I will risk saying that he doesn't even know the meaning of the word.

The west still has confidence in him [...]. But when they realise that he's not interested in democratisation, they will start criticising, and with increasing harshness. What will be the result? Berdymukhammedov - like Islam Karimov or Nursultan Nazarbaev - will feel offended by the west and choose to cooperate with Russia and China. Why? Because for him liberalisation and democratisation is what we now see happening in Turkmenistan. He knows no other liberalisation and can't even begin to imagine it."

Maciula, on neweurasia.net

New possible evidence of election fraud

Julien — Wed, 05 Dec 2007 19:45:17 +0100

Material compiled by our Russia observer, Allena Ponomaryova

Further possible proof of election fraud is emerging. Blogger Grigori Belonuchkin who was monitoring a polling station on the day, has revealed evidence that some documents sent to the electoral committee were fake. The papers, which had been modified to boost the count for President Vladimir Putin's party, were located and corrected. However, the blogger says that others had already been registered.

Post your questions to our Russia observer, Allena Ponomaryova, or directly to Grigori (he speaks english).

Caught on tape stuffing a ballot box. But is it authentic?

Julien — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 13:05:32 +0100

By Team Observers

This video, filmed on a mobile phone, was originally posted on www.smena.info, a site hosted by Smena, a relatively unknown Russian opposition group. It has since been snapped up by numerous television chains. It shows a woman stuffing a ballot box with voting papers at a polling centre. In the background, a man’s voice asks her, in Russian, to “turn over the ballot slip”. The rest is inaudible. At the end of the film, however, we hear the person who’s filming ask a guard: “Do you have any pistols? Which model?” The video is dated Dec. 2, Russia's parliamentary election day. But the tape date, and its authenticity, are yet to be verified. Our regional editor, Maria Antonova, and our observer, Anastasiya Lebedev, will keep us updated.

Demonstrators witness arrest of Russian opposition leader Kasparov

Julien — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:22:00 +0100

By Team Observers with reporting by observer Allena Ponomaryova

Shortly after his speech at a protest rally in Moscow on Saturday, Nov. 24, former chess champion and Russian opposition figure Garry Kasparov was arrested and detained for five days. The next day, the judge declined Kasparov’s appeal and pronounced him guilty of "organising an illegal march against President Putin" and "declining to comply with the policeman's repeated demands to stop". Witnesses at the rally share their videos, pictures and reactions with The Observers.

Post your questions to Allena Ponomaryova on her profile page.

Allena Ponomaryova

Allena Ponomaryova — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 16:58:41 +0100

Nom

Ponomaryova

Prénom

Allena

Blog ou Site web

Centres d'intérêts

Date de naissance

Description

Moscovite recently emigrated to Canada.

langue

Russian, English, French, Czech,

Profession

Journalist and translator

"Putin's plan is victory for Russia"

Julien — Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:42:00 +0100

Material compiled by our Russian/ former-USSR regional editor, Maris Antonova.

In September, President Putin's United Russia party launched a paper campaign across Russia. The slogan: "Putin's Plan - Victory for Russia" (Plane Puntina - Pobeda Rossii). Internet users react to these posters and booklets distributed in the street by members of the party.