Posted on 12/30/2010 12:35:46 PM PST by devere
German Chancellor Angela Merkel criticised on Thursday the sentencing of former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky to six additional years in prison, saying the ruling appeared to be politically motivated.
"The impression remains that political motivations played a role in this trial," Merkel said in Berlin. "This contradicts Russia's frequently repeated intention to pursue full adoption of the rule of law."
The sentencing of Khodorkovsky by a Russian judge on charges of multi-billion dollar theft and money-laundering means he will serve a total of 14 years in prison and not be freed until 2017.
(Excerpt) Read more at af.reuters.com ...
When it comes to human liberty, Russia hasn’t changed in the past 94 years ...
You don't say, Angie. Why would a government run by an ex-KGB chief have any vendettas?
/sarc
This guy was by no stretch, a “good guy”. It’s naive to think he rose to control oil and gas in post collapse Russia only in the model of a modern western businessman.
He was busy doing the bidding of the EU, at the expense of the Russian treasury. (who has a 10% flat tax) He and the EU were doing *their best* to install a Russian government that was an EU satellite/puppet, ensuring the gas supplies would always be delivered on terms highly favorable to the EU.
This is by far the main theme in politics there and in Europe. Understand Russian natural gas and oil, and the strange actions of the EU suddenly all make sense. I don’t blame the EU,,, but the Russians are entirely rational for not ceeding control of their oil and gas supplies and delivery to the EU.
why doesn’t she ask putin to allow k to go to germany?
The Russian moves against this guy also dovetail in with the Russian suggestion last year of using a gold-backed international currency as paymment for oil. Medvedev even displayed what that gold coin would look like.
The EU would prefer to pay for gas, from russian gas fields under defacto EU control, with “Euros” that can have their value inflated away.
There is a serious power struggle here, but the Russians arent giving away the free trade store the way we did. The EU instantly characterizes any Russian effort to trade on favorable terms with the EU, as a return to dictatorship.
Notice how the EU never has a problem with other dictators on earth?
The Russians were badly burned by Soros, and they learned the lesson. That isn’t allowed these days. You are supposed to wear the “kick me” sign forever.
The remaining question is whether or not the mafia can be rooted out. If not, Russia will be a future Saudi Arabia. If the mafia can be supressed,, they have hope of a solid economy. I think we won’t know for 15 years hence.
On the other hand, it’s practically impossible to become successful in Russia without violating various laws. In true Rayndian fashion, this means the government can prosecute any successful businessman.
Thats not what this was. This guy is as bad as any of them. He was making 10 million a year as a Russian businessman, inside russia,,, IN 1988. Ask a Russian you might know what that means.
When all the Soviet state owned businesses were being privatized, somehow he wound up “owning” all the former state oil companies. Again,, ask a Russian how that happened. This was an era when the roughest thug basically CLAIMED ownership of a factory, a building, etc,,and if nobody more violent challenged him, he won.
Last,, ask yourself how many other oil company owners are so celbrated by world leaders. Russia has serious problems,,and this guy was one of them. He is part of the gangster culture that has to submit to the Russian government, IF they are to ever have a functioning nation.
And so many here act like he is a hero,,, as recently as 2003 he was a major benefactor of the, “Communist party of the Russian federation”. He didn’t like paying taxes, so he tried to install someone friendly to him. So Putin took him down. Probably a sane move.
Putin has issues,, but this guy is no different. Probably even has a miniature giraffe too.
“this means the government can prosecute any successful businessman”
Than goodness OUR business don’t need to worry about that!
That is the objection I have. I don't doubt that he could be a bad guy. But I also don't doubt that had he been a Putin supporter he'd be free and clear making his billions with the full support of the government regardless of how immoral is actions were. He was only prosecuted because he threatened Putin's power. Even more, he was most likely only convicted because Putin ordered that result.
A little slow but Angela’s got it now...
Putin is a KGB killer who blew up his own people to come to power:
http://www.wanttoknow.info/documents/false_flag_russia_bombings.pdf
Worse than Mussolini, but not as bad as Hitler.
Until Khodorkovsky decided to oppose Putin’s agenda he was just another shady businessman with violent associates.
Now he’s a martyr for democracy who smiles in every picture.
He knew what he was doing when he stayed in Russia and let himself be arrested.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.