Sunday, December 14, 2008

Russia: Freedom and thuggery

A day of "Marches of Dissent" in Moscow and St. Petersburg has been marked by massive police action, including about 90 arrests in Moscow and 10 in St. Petersburg and the cordoning off of two squares by Moscow police.

According to CNN.com:


A spokesman for Moscow City Hall told Interfax [the rally organizers] had been offered places to hold a rally, "but they again deliberately staged provocations and called on their supporters to attend unauthorized events."

This is, of course, a load of B.S. The organizers of the rally, the Other Russia coalition, had legally applied for permission to hold the rally at central locations in downtown Moscow (Triumph Square and Pushkin Square). Instead, they were offered "alternate locations" in godforsaken places. For those familiar with New York geography, it would be a bit like an organization wanting to march down 5th Avenue and being offered an alternate location in Washington Heights. It should be noted that The Other Russia tried repeatedly to negotiate a compromise with City Hall, to no avail.

[More: A correction is in order. The alternate location offered to The Other Russia was Bolotnaya Square -- literally meaning "Swamp Square" -- which is, in fact, fairly close to the Kremlin. The organizers' objection to this location was that it's relatively unpopulated, away from the main flow of the crowds in downtown Moscow, and would impede their goal of "interaction with the people." Bolotnaya is more a park than a square, and serves mainly as a hangout for young people and a spot for fire shows.]

Those arrested included fifty retired generals (who had joined the protest in the vain hope that the police would not have the nerve to arrest armed force veterans) as well as Roman Dobrokhotov, the brave young man who interrupted Dmitry Medvedev's Constitution Day speech in the Kremlin the other day.

A few dozens dissenters (50 according to the Associated Press, 80 or 90 according to reports in the independent Russian media) were able to hold a brief march in an alternate Moscow location that was not disclosed in advance, blocking off Sadovaya Street for a while.

In St. Petersburg, where the city authorities allowed a rally but not a march, things went more peacefully, though harassment of opposition activists (including, in one case, a beating that left the victim hospitalized) is still reported.

It is often said that the liberal opposition in Russia has no base, and to a large extent that's probably true. Still, the government's actions show that it's afraid of the opposition broadening its influence. Those actions, moreover, are not only thuggish but dumb. Suppressing the rallies draws more attention than letting them happen unmolested.

Speaking of thuggery, a remarkable (and truly disgusting) act thereof took place on December 12 in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, where 100 to 200 opposition activists (including chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov and former deputy prime minister Boris Nemtsov) gathered for the founding congress of a movement called Solidarity.

According to a BBC report:


A pro-Kremlin youth movement, Young Russia, set off smoke bombs outside the conference hall. Some wore monkey masks and taunted delegates by tossing bananas at them.


But the BBC omits any mention of antoher stunt by members on one of the pro-government youth movements that specialize in harassing opposition activists: releasing live sheep, clad in shirts and caps with a Solidarity logo, outside the conference center (apparently to make the point that the conference attendees were "sheep"). Three of the sheep died for unknown reasons (perhaps due to being roughly tossed from the bus that brought them in). Eyewitnesses say several others had broken legs. A video made by opposition activist Oleg Kozlovsky captures a part of the outrageous event. (Warning: video contains brief images of dead animals.)




Will the thugs be prosecuted for animal abuse? Don't hold your breath.

More: On its website, The Young Guard claims that it was not behind the stunt with the sheep, and that it approves of the "political content" of the action but deplores animal abuse. Its site also features a video that purports to rebut allegations that the sheep were abused. Of course, this video -- apparently shot by people associated with the stunt -- shows only that some of the sheep were unharmed and in no way disproves Kozlovsky's video.


12 comments:

Anonymous said...

online bachelors degree | online doctorate degree | accredited degree

Anonymous said...

You will never find swimsuit more excellent than in Ed Hardy!
ed hardy ugg boots
ed hardy love kills slowly boots
ed hardy love kills slowly
We provide you with the sexiest swimwear at present. Wanting to be bright on beach in this
ed hardy polo shirts
ed hardy love kills slowly shoes
ed hardy wear
Abandoning traditional concepts on sexy swimwear, Ed Hardy adds tattoo upon, which is meaning
how your outline if only you like now! Genuine material admits you to throw your whole worr
ed hardy love kills slowly shirts
ed hardy trousers
ed hardy jackets
It seems that ed hardy mens shoes was difficult to be able to let you exist out in swimwear, the
just fold, flouncing, bow and swim suits, Ed Hardy has been widely worn in open.
ed hardy t shirts sale
ed hardy womens t shirts
ed hardy boots
In the trunks term, the Panerai candy-flush has mainly took the Louis Vuitton Speedy purpose
I fondness ed hardy womens Swimwear shirts, and other printing of
ed hardy womens clothes
ed hardy womens shirts
ed hardy clothes
swimwear in an austere tone proposal combines the exclusive tailoring,
wimwear this summer to become the mainstream trend. Cool down, sunshine fair,
ed hardy outerwear
ed hardy womens
ed hardy womens jeans
green MOISTURE, attractive red no other elements,
together with the unique thwart-buckle create worn, immediately show a charming beauty.
ed hardy bags
ed hardy winter boots
ed hardy t shirts
Whether it is sexy bikini, or cross-quantity g-star
trunks intended to reach new heights with this dynamic.Enjoy yourself on Ed Hardy Bikini Swimsuit please!
ed hardy bags
ed hardy winter boots
ed hardy t shirts
The desired redden of this type
of bag, but once again the label that ed hardy and the Christian Audigier Brand Manage
Louboutin at MAGIC in August 2009.
ed hardy t shirts for men
ed hardy mens jeans
ed hardy mens shoes
The total spectrum of Audigier Brand Management lifestyle brands and crop will be
including ed hardy shirts, Christian Audigier, SMET, Crystal Rock, C-Bar-An and R
ed hardy mens shoes
ed hardy womens hoodies
ed hardy mens tees

Unknown said...

nice share thanks a lot :)

download free pc games
affiliate review

Unknown said...

Wow. I didn't actually hear about this news. Looks like I've been watching too much soap operas lately, I've been missing a lot of good stuff here. Shopping Cart Hero

lovelychell1203 said...

nice blog! thank you for posting your article. i will go along with it.Golf Clubs Second Hand

oslec said...

Thank you Cathy for this cheerful blog.I enjoy this one.

Destinations

owner financing said...

Russia needs a strong state power and must have it. But I am not calling for totalitarianism.

used cars for sale

Donna said...

I found your website perfect for my needs. It contains wonderful and helpful posts. I have read most of them and got a lot from them. To me, you are doing the great work. Thanks for Sharing. Great Websites!

The Verv @ RV

Donna said...

Thanks Cathy for a very nice informative and interesting article.It is very encouraging to go through the post for it contains information about these interesting feature.Thanks for sharing.Great websites!

Ascentia Sky

newlaunchsingapore said...

I have enjoyed reading this kind of article. Very informative and knowledgeable one. I will share it to my friends and add this website to my bookmark lists! Thanks for sharing. Great Websites!

Millage @ Changi

Unknown said...

should we are Cheap RS Goldsaying, not too irresistible to pile disapproval on those people who are ready to do the daring do the job regarding challenging a authoritarian point out, through the comfortable Buy Guild wars 2 Goldperch as someone that is most unlikely to help be of their shoes.

Unknown said...

I am very excited to be able to get this very useful information, This is one of the best articles I just found today, I hope you keep updating other information that is still related to this, I'm really looking forward to something new like that, Thank you very much because you have shared this news to us all, best regards

Cara Mengobati Nyeri Saat Kencing Obat Ginjal Bengkak Cara Mengobati Gatal Pada Selangkangan Cara Mengobati Nyeri Lambung Cara Mengobati Nyeri Punggung Cara Menghilangkan Gatal Di Selangkangan Obat Diabetes Melitus Obat Kista Ovarium Obat Eksim Obat Flu dan Batuk