Posted on 02/14/2005 2:26:33 AM PST by HAL9000
Russia is no longer a functioning democracy, it has no independent media or political opposition, while its courts are fully controlled by the regime, U.S. billionaire George Soros told the Austrian newspaper Die Presse. Russia has taken a step backwards, Soros maintains.The U.S. and the European Union should respond to the changes taking place in Russia, Soros said in an exclusive interview for Die Presse.
“They should take all that into consideration. To qualify for G-8 membership a country must be a democracy. Therefore, Russia should be stripped of its G-8 membership,” he said.
However, European nations are dependent on energy supplies from Moscow, that is why they are unwilling to pay attention to the negative changes in Russia’s political life, the billionaire pointed out.
Soros has been actively supporting democratic movements in Eastern Europe and his foundation has succeeded in precipitating changes in Serbia, Georgia and Ukraine. Several post-Soviet states have declared him a persona non grata.
“[Belarus’ president] Lukashenko has ousted me, Karimov ousted me from Uzbekistan,” says Soros. Those countries are ruled by authoritarian regimes which fear democratic changes.
However, Soros said, “revolutions are made not by our foundation but by the residents of those countries themselves. What happened in Ukraine recently has sent jitters through regimes in other states, and Putin’s [regime] in particular.”
Soros is a persona non grata in Britain - he made millions off of speculating against the pound.
Regards, Ivan
Soros is an idiot. Sounds like he wants the US and EU to push Russia even faster into new totalitarianism.
He evidentally made his billions by ruining others.
How did this idiot get to be the "US" poster boy for the idiot left? "US billionaire"? Wasn't he born in Norway? Did he renounce his citizenship and become only a US citizen? If so it was probably because he got the boot from his birth country.
The SCUMBAG is mad that these countries won't allow him to finacially rape their economies for his own personal profit.
No, Hungary. I think it's worth mentioning that among his supposed activities to aid democracy was that he kept Pravda open.
Regards, Ivan
He's more of a trans-national billionaire. He certainly doesn't belong to the US. He has no loyalty to the US.
Canada is no longer a functioning democracy either. It's a dictatorship of a minority ignoring the will of a majority.
I can't stand Soros, but what exactly is wrong here. Everything he is saying about Russia is true. Let's not be hypocrites. If Newt Gingrich made these same comments we would all be slapping him on the back. And secondly, since when is being a currency speculator a dishonorable thing?
But is not supportive of democracy in Iraq.
I guess under those rules, the US doesn't qualify to be a G-8 member either -
Constitutional Republic is NOT a democracy.
When the speculation becomes manipulation.....
Additionally, Soros's political direction is strongly socialist and attempted the same "manipulation tactics he used in currency speculation with the recent US political elections. Fortunately he fell short.....
NeverGore :^)
It's true that Putin has become more authoritarian lately, but anything coming out of Soros' mouth is tainted crap. He only regrets his inability to become the ultimate oligarch and drain the resources of his 'open societies'.
"he made millions off of speculating against the pound."
So what? Currency speculation isn't illegal. If I could have made millions off of speculating against the pound, I would have too.
I should have mentioned the other motive - he also did it to bring down John Major and the Tory Government.
Regards, Ivan
"He only regrets his inability to become the ultimate oligarch and drain the resources of his 'open societies'."
Why do you think so?
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