Yukos CEO Found Guilty On Most Charges

RFE/RL ^ | 17 May 2005

[GarySpFc]

Well, at least they know who really is responsible for this decision. Court only announced the verdict.

Careful, your fangs are showing.

[Lukasz]

Thanks for posting, should I say more about this “democracy”?

[A. Pole]

Putin is the criminal. It's so sad that Russia always has such criminal leaders.

Do you think that prosecuting Al Capone and Enron was wrong?

[Lukasz]

Gary, Putin may be proud that he has so faithful supporters like you. I’m wondering only why you don’t live in this paradise?

[A. Pole]

Gary, Putin may be proud that he has so faithful supporters like you. I’m wondering only why you don’t live in this paradise?

Hey if you guys condemn the prosecution of Russian mafia oligarchs it means that it is good for Russia! Ha, ha, ha.

[struwwelpeter]

The lady who writes has been a gadfly for the Russian authorities for quite some time, though not a citizen of the country. It's interesting that, if it's such a 'police state', why do they keep letting her in?

I thought her letter showed that, no matter what the political climate, there will always be a dissident movement in Russia.

Any idea how these protestors would have fared in one of the absurdistans? Or in France?

[Lukasz]

Hey if you guys condemn the prosecution of Russian mafia oligarchs it means that it is good for Russia! Ha, ha, ha.

And here you miss the point. I know very well that they are thieves, but I want to show Putin’s hypocrisy. He put them to jail only because they supported opposition, not because they are thieves. Hundred other oligarchs living in Russia like Gods and Putin doesn’t care because they don’t have political ambitions.

[A. Pole]

And here you miss the point. I know very well that they are thieves, but I want to show Putin’s hypocrisy.

Yeah, sure.

[Lukasz]

The lady who writes has been a gadfly for the Russian authorities for quite some time, though not a citizen of the country. It's interesting that, if it's such a 'police state', why do they keep letting her in?

We should not exaggerate, Russia is not democratic but they are not Uzbekistan as well. They need to pretend great democrats and people like Svetlana aren’t real danger for their interest.

[Lukasz]

Yeah sure, as you see I have not any problems to admit that they are criminals.

[A. Pole]

Yeah sure, as you see I have not any problems to admit that they are criminals.

Any patriot in place of Putin would do exactly the same. You see, Russia needs private business and even some "oligarchs", why not to be selective and pick for prosecution those who work against the interests of the country? The others who stay away from politics, pay taxes and do more honest business should be able to keep the part of the loot.

[Lukasz]

Putin works for own interests not Russian. You would understand this fact if you would support democracy. But you don’t.

[A. Pole]

Putin works for own interests not Russian.

No, it is you who wish Russia to fail. That is why you criticize Putin.

[Lukasz]

No, you treat them like subhuman who aren’t able to introduce democracy.

[A. Pole]

No, you treat them like subhuman who aren’t able to introduce democracy.

They do have democracy and they had it from 1991. What Putin is doing is to move from decentralised model similar to the Fourth Republic in France into the Fifth Republic model of de Gaulle.

This reform is saving Russia from the chaos and impoverishment. You guys know it very well, and since you want Russia to be ruined, you badmouth Putin. But as they say "psy szczekaja a karawana jedzie dalej" ("Dogs bark, but the caravan rolls on").

[GarySpFc]

Putin works for own interests not Russian. You would understand this fact if you would support democracy. But you don’t.

The only interest you have in Russia is to express your hate.

[GarySpFc]

Putin works for own interests not Russian. You would understand this fact if you would support democracy. But you don’t.

The only interest you have in Russia is to express your hate.

[struwwelpeter]

I was most impressed by what I took for restraint and the almost professional conduct of the police. When I had some dealings with Russian police in 1999 and 2000, they were a lot worse. The advent of the cellphone with fotoapparat must have calmed them down.

But then, these were OMON. BTW: one time I saw an OMON decal in my rear-view mirrow, and you'd never guess what I thought it read ;-)

[Lukasz]

They do have democracy and they had it from 1991. What Putin is doing is to move from decentralised model similar to the Fourth Republic in France into the Fifth Republic model of de Gaulle.

Really, I’m curious when he expect to join the rest of Europe in this democratization process. I hope that in this century.

Off topic but could you tell me, for which party in Poland would you vote if elections would be today?

[Lukasz]

No matter what would I ask you, you always have the same answer. Lack of arguments Gary, lack of arguments…