Anna Politkovskaya and the Self-Defense of Democracy (in Russia)

http://www.cdi.org/russia/johnson/2006-236-28.cfm ^ | 20 Oct 2006 | Jon Hellevig

[RusIvan]

Anna Politkovskaya and the Self-Defense of Democracy By Jon Hellevig

The writer is a Finnish lawyer who has lived in Moscow for 15 years. He has written the book Expressions and Interpretations (www.hellevig.ru) discussing Russia's social development from the viewpoint of philosophy and judicial philosophy. He is also the author of several books on the Russian tax and labor law.

The murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya has once again induced a surge of anti-Russianism in Finland. Politicians, so-called researchers and media declare that Russian leaders masterminded the murder. Many people cautiously avoid these direct expressions, while being highly critical of the Russian government. Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja falls somewhere between the two groups, whereas Markku Kivinen from the University of Helsinki affiliated Aleksanteri Institute and MP Heidi Hautala clearly belong to the latter. It is obviously not in the interests of the Russian President to have a well known journalist killed (pointing this out would not be necessary, but for the continuous smear campaign against Russia). Based on information I received from Jukka Mallinen (translator of Politkovskaya's "Putin's Russia" into Finnish), there were no Russian government officials behind the murder. On the other hand, there is reason to put forward an alternative motive, which is quite possible -- that the murder was orchestrated by those wishing to create the kind of public opinion climate to compliment an anti-Russian agenda.

[RusIvan]

ping

[vargan]

You seems to have more time to read inosmi.ru -.-
Just wanted to post this link :)

[MarMema]

Led by Yeltsin, the Russian people freed themselves from that burden and encouraged this spirit to other former prisoner-countries.

That's about as far as I can read without laughing.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

vargan could already be on your list, but isn't visible. Sorry for double pinging if that's the case, to both of you.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

vargan is visible, simply wedged in between longer names.

[Jedi Master Pikachu]

So what's your opinion? Do you think that there was an assassination?

[RusIvan]

You seems to have more time to read inosmi.ru -.- ==

No I got this link from LibForum.ru:).

[RusIvan]

Led by Yeltsin, the Russian people freed themselves from that burden and encouraged this spirit to other former prisoner-countries.
That's about as far as I can read without laughing.==

"The laugh without the reason is the reason for stupidity"- the old russian proverb.

If you knew the latest history of Soviet Union during Gorby reign then you knew WHICH the former soviet republic claimed her independence FIRST. It is RSFSR. Others followed her example.

It is so obvious and vivid fact but you don't know it. It happened not that long ago just in 1991 but you still do not know it. WHY?! I'm far from thoughts that you are poor educated maybe you just ignore facts which contradict your anti-russian bias?

[Agrarian]

It certainly is hardly unknown for someone (Putin's opponents in this case) to commit a crime in order to throw suspicion on an "obvious" suspect (Putin, in this case). The article is correct that it would be stupid for Putin to have her killed, since suspicion would obviously be immediately on him. One doubts that she was doing enough damage to the government to be worth the outcry of international opinion.

But then people do stupid things all the time.

I doubt that we will ever know with certainty who did this. The best thing that Putin can do to remove suspicion from his government is to find clear evidence of who the killers are, and prosecute them.

As long as the crime remains unsolved, Putin's critics will consider him guilty until proven innocent. There are those who will consider him guilty no matter what the evidence, but that fact is no reason not to investigate the crime with vigor.