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I see we have Russian sympathizers here, so we have misinformation from both sides now.
Is that what is known as "fair and balanced"?
When did Russia's politicians ever become content after the fall of the USSR? Their "glory days" are over and they dream of recapturing them once again.
It's quite simple: Putin needs distractions so his people won't pay attention to the stupendous levels of corruption in his government, not to mention the sputtering economy and his systematic dismantling of whatever civil rights the Russian people had managed to acquire since 1991.
Hence the multiple wars, both literal and metaphorical. Russians are easily deluded, so if the great "vozhd" tells them (constantly, in all news media) that Russia is a victim of an international homo-fascist conspiracy, of course they'll happily guzzle it down like vodka.
Putin basically believes that all the lands that once belonged to the tzars are by default really part of Russia. He knows communism dident work so he wants to resurrect the old pre-1917 Russian Empire. Putin is a Russian nationalist, not a commie stuck in the Cold War.
It would be like if the US claimed Panama, Cuba, and the Philippines because we once owned them a hundred years ago ... see how absurd it is? Well that's the Russian way.
Putin basically believes that all the lands that once belonged to the tzars are by default really part of Russia. He knows communism dident work so he wants to resurrect the old pre-1917 Russian Empire. Putin is a Russian nationalist, not a commie stuck in the Cold War.
I am curious, how did you know what Putin believes and what he wants?
Is it your humble opinion, supposition, fancy fantasy?
You guys are talking too much about nothing. No one from you is seriously willing to understand Putin's policy for real. Instead, you are prefering to slander and fantasize about him. But Putin honestly, clearly and openly said what he believes seven years ago at 43rd Munich Security Conference. And who has just a little brain would understand what Putin was talking about.
Estonia was never a pre-Soviet territory, but Ukraine was, for centuries.
There are few Estonians of Russian extraction or Russian native language speakers, but half of the Ukraine came from Russia and speak only Russian.
And, of course, Estonia is in NATO and Ukraine is not. In Putin's mind, those Russian connections make Ukraine viable to bring back into the Russian nation, and there's nothing he wants more than a return of empire, but he wants an empire that is more manageable than the over-large conglomeration of buffer states the Soviets collected up.
Putin knows who he can bully and who he can not. He's very aware that NATO is now aroused over the recent actions in Ukraine, but he's not about to pick an open fight with NATO if it's not to his advantage. If a couple of overzealous border guards seized and Estonian officer, the officer will be released and handed back. Putin may be ready to invade Ukaraine, but he's not yet ready to take on NATO, and won't be for a long time to come.
His game will be steady pressure on the Ukranians until he gets a good sense of NATO's resolve and determination. If it looks like NATO is going to prepare for a serious fight, he'll back off and wait for another day to grab Ukraine.
Mr Putin needs to watch it. Russia's population is DROPPING so he really can't afford to waste his supply of young dudes for any kind of war.
Mr Putin needs to watch it. Russia's population is DROPPING so he really can't afford to waste his supply of young dudes for any kind of war.
No it cannot. And there is also a very big gender imbalance. Russia has one of the highest women to men ratios in the world. In short, a relatively lower percentage of men compared to most nations. And with the men, high rates of alcoholism, much higher than in other parts of the world. One of the world's highest rates of suicide. One of the highest, if not the highest, murder rates in Europe. Many deaths related to alcohol in Russia, mainly among men. And the life expectancy among men in Russia is around 60. This is lower than many developing nations. And then the birth rate has been dropping for the last 20 years. Alot to lose.
Just to shed some light on this incident. On September 5 when this event took place, the Estonian and Russian border patrol examined the site of the kidnapping together. Both parties agreed that the border was breached as followed: Russia-Estonia-Russia. They both also signed the appropriate document (in Estonian and in Russian)
It can be said with certainty that a smoke grenade was used and with a little less certainty also a stun grenade. Russian 'media' reporting that this person was arrested in Pskov is flat out bulls**t.
Just to shed some light on this incident. On September 5 when this event took place, the Estonian and Russian border patrol examined the site of the kidnapping together. Both parties agreed that the border was breached as followed: Russia-Estonia-Russia. They both also signed the appropriate document (in Estonian and in Russian)
It can be said with certainty that a smoke grenade was used and with a little less certainty also a stun grenade. Russian 'media' reporting that this person was arrested in Pskov is flat out bulls**t.
No, you are inaccurate. Russian media reported that he was arrested on the territory of the Pskov oblast (district), not in Pskov (city). Estonia borders with the Pskov oblast, and everyone who will cross over the russian-estonian border towards Russia even one feet, would be found on the Pskov oblast.
So, everything was reported correct.
No, you are inaccurate. Russian media reported that he was arrested on the territory of the Pskov oblast (district), not in Pskov (city). Estonia borders with the Pskov oblast, and everyone who will cross over the russian-estonian border towards Russia even one feet, would be found on the Pskov oblast.
So, everything was reported correct.
That's right. But how did he get there? That's where your media is inaccurate, on purpose. He was in Estonia when he was captured and dragged to the other side of the border and then arrested
The Russian border patrol confirmed this, so did the Estonian side. Which means that he was wrongfully abducted.
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