Are those the chicks from tATu?
Posted on 05/06/2005 5:14:29 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Russian plans to mark 60 years since the end of World War II will make a mockery of the occasion, world leaders have been warned.
A group of politicians, academics and human rights campaigners have signed an open letter attacking Russia's record on democracy and political freedom.
They say official ceremonies to be held in Moscow undermine the memory of those who fought and died in the war.
Signatories include ex-Czech President Vaclav Havel and former US ambassadors.
Moscow has also upset neighbours Georgia, Estonia and Lithuania, who all plan to boycott Monday's ceremonies.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili is staying away because Russia and Georgia have failed to agree on a timetable for closing Soviet-era bases in his country.
In a separate row, Estonia and Lithuania are boycotting the ceremonies because they say their liberation from the Nazis marked the start of Soviet occupation.
Latvia will send dignitaries - but along with Estonia and Lithuania it wants Russia to apologise for the Baltic states' annexation by the Soviet Union in 1940.
'Mockery'
Russian President Vladimir Putin said recently that the three Baltic states had been "treated as pawns in world politics" but said Moscow had already apologised and would not do so again.
"Must we do this every day, every year? That is downright senseless," he told German television.
Pro-democracy campaigners in Europe and the US have expressed growing concerns about modern Russia.
In the letter, to be published in full in the UK's Financial Times newspaper to coincide with the 9 May ceremonies, signatories accuse Russia of betraying the principles behind victory in 1945.
They write: "[We] believe the venue and hosting of this event are altogether unsuited to the fundamental principles for which that historic victory... was achieved."
Russia in 2005 lacks strong democratic institutions, while political freedoms, civil liberties and the rule of law are weak, the signatories allege.
"It seems to us a mockery of the occasion to gather there in honour of the 20th century's climactic sacrifice for Europe's freedom."
As well as Mr Havel, the letter's 75 signatories include former prime ministers of Estonia and Bulgaria and academics and democracy activists from eastern and western Europe and the US.
Several current and former members of the European parliament, US congress and UK parliament also signed the letter.
Richard Allen, former national security adviser to former US President Ronald Reagan, has signed, alongside several former ambassadors.
Russia has been accused of concentrating too much power in the hands of the Kremlin, and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently criticised levels of media freedom.
How sad. As of 1500, Lithuania was in confederation with Poland and ruled from the Baltic to the Black Sea. The Lithuanian - Polish confederation, along with the Holy Roman Empire, stood as a Western bulwark against the Turks and Russians. Quite literally, at its eastern flank, Western civilization has retreated hundreds of miles since the late 1600s. And the growing influences of Islam and Russian megalomania, threaten the remnent.
The Russkies can cry all they want about the Nazis and state that they battled them etc etc but the sad fact is that for two years they were ALLIES
carved up Poland and raped it nicely during and AFTER the second world war.
"And what would you think? You and other former people of the USSR were active participants of all communist atrocities and now all of you are shining and innocent new democracies and Russians are the only villains who should apologize for everything since Kievan Rus?"
At least you are not predictable.
In any case , your proposition is logically impossible since as late as 1947, the Kremlin was committing famine genocide (again) in Ukraine to the extent of approx 1.2 million. Certainly, Ukrainians or any other nation are not capable of committing genocide against themselves.
That's a nice-looking chick on the left.
Are those the chicks from tATu?
Yes, you can commit mass murder, just make sure the people you murder are the same race as you.
First of all, I personally have not committed any crimes against anybody. Next, murder and rape are both sordid crimes punishable by law. However, you do not punish a murderer for rape, and for a good reason. Arbitrary use of law does not prevent further crimes.
"Next, murder and rape are both sordid crimes punishable by law"
Good - then we are happy that you will applaud when the first Communist is brought to trial for crimes against humanity.
Although you might be dipleased that all their paychecks were issued by the Kremlin.
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