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Under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, people who fraternized with foreigners or criticized the Kremlin were "enemies of the people" and sent to the gulag. Now there's new legislation backed by Vladimir Putin's government that human rights activists say could throw Russia back to the days of the Great Terror.
The legislation expands the definition of treason to include damaging Russia's "constitutional order," and "sovereignty or territorial integrity."
The activists believe each proposed addition cynically targets potential threats to the Kremlin, shattering what remains of civil society in Russia.
Russian treason bill could target Kremlin critics - Sacramento News - Local and Breaking Sacramento News | Sacramento Bee (http://www.sacbee.com/836/story/1479877.html - broken link)
I thought this was kind of interesting, kind of shows you the direction the are going overall:
The Kremlin also sharply restricted independent media, leaving just a few outspoken radio stations and newspapers with limited audience reach, and has curtailed the work of non-governmental groups.
Actually I think the price of oil declining, assuming it stays down for awhile, may cause Russia to be a little less aggressive in "meeting the neighbors".
After all, they really don't build anything themselves, they depend upon private companies from Europe or the USA to do all of the thinking, planning and execution. Russia only steps in after the project is successfully completed, at a price they unilaterally find to be "fair".
(chuckling) Before you know it, Russia will have "free speech zones", two blocks away, or or or... terrorist/no fly watch list that have more names than the population of Tampa, Florida... or or, will start secretly listening in on peoples conversations. Oh wait, I think they already do that.
I was going to say, sounds like Russia is following our lead. Between the "Patriot Act" , Gitmo, and the way the government is able to influence what our mainstream news does and does not air or opine, we certainly should not be throwing rocks at anyone from our glass house.
An interesting thing is despite all this, Putin is popular with quite a few people. They seem him as restoring Russia's dignity in the world and are not too bothered with democracy. Like in China, in some ways, economic prosperity (percieved or real) trumps the need for true democracy.
An interesting thing is despite all this, Putin is popular with quite a few people. They seem him as restoring Russia's dignity in the world and are not too bothered with democracy. Like in China, in some ways, economic prosperity (percieved or real) trumps the need for true democracy.
I believe part of his objective is to silence discussion about reversals in Russian economic fortunes.
I believe part of his objective is to silence discussion about reversals in Russian economic fortunes.
Agree. Putin really cannot seem to stand criticism and does not let go the power - the Yukos chief in jail and the Georgian President are among the people who will corroborate. But, many Russians support him despite these problems. When Putin had jailed the Yukos chief, I was in Moscow and while there were many tears being shed in the West, the few people I discussed this over drinks there could not care less. They really thought amalgamation of the companies into a govt-controlled company was good for Russia. Never mind that another oilgarch - forgot if he was the Sibneft guy - who was friends with Putin, made off with billions while the Yukos guy is still in jail.
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