Posted on 11/29/2007 10:32:37 PM PST by Wiz
MOSCOW - Though more than a dozen parties are on the ballot for Russia's parliamentary election Sunday, one would hardly know it. The pro-Kremlin United Russia (UR) party, whose standing has jumped more than 25 percent since President Vladimir Putin announced he would head its candidate list last month, could fairly win up to two-thirds of votes for the 450-seat State Duma, according to most polls.
But in what some experts say may be the least democratic election since the USSR collapsed, boycotted by Europe's election-monitoring body, the campaign has been marred by complaints from opposition parties of official interference, seizure of campaign literature, the exclusion of some candidates from the ballot, and the sidelining of independent Russian poll observers.
Over the past week, allegations have also surfaced, notably in an investigative report by the English-language Moscow Times, that voter coercion and outright fraud are being deployed to loft UR's vote to even greater-than-expected heights.
"On a scale of 1 to 100, the level of democracy in this campaign is zero," says Lilia Shibanova, head of Golos, Russia's only nationwide network of independent election monitors.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
We need to get out of Russia’s face . Instead of making them an ally , we’ve steadily encroached on their former Republics , thereby enraging the Russians . They in turn , have moved towards the Chi-coms and are helping the Iranians .
We need to stop our meddling in that region and start making them a strategic ally .
So it is the fault of the US that Russia is becoming a one-party state?
Well, Bush saw goodness in Putin’s eyes....
We have , in effect , helped the current situation by enabling Putin to use the U.S. as a catalyst for his Nationalistic brand of reforms . We have done this through encroachments into their former territories .
The Russians will do what is in their best interest , and can we blame them ? They won’t allow themselves to be bound by political correctness in a manner like we are , they crush their Leftist movements .
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
But those “former territories” as you call them are independent nations now. Don’t we have every right to treat with them as we and they see fit?
You may wish to attempt to appease Putin, but I'll take a pass on that, thanks.
Uh, what? Care to explain how setting up a base in Georgia is responsible for Putin crushing domestic political opposition?
YOu’ve seen some of the other things President Bush ha done the last few years and I am not impressed.
Chumming up with Puttie is just one of many very stupid actions.
Harriet Miers,
amnesty,
the two border patrol agents being left in jail,
after 6 years of getting hammered by the dems still trying to just get along with them.
I can go on but.
I concur.
A stake must be driven into the heart cold war delusions. Russia is THE most important ally we have. Any other option is self defeating.
Thank you . I knew I would take some heat for this position.
The Russians are doing what is best for Russia , and can we blame them ? They have a good leader in Putin , and while many here might not like his autocratic ways , apparently the Russians do . They have handed him a good victory today in their elections .
If we got out of Russia’s backyard , I believe our relations would be far more favorable , which would have great benefits for the U.S.
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