Posted on 03/03/2015 4:28:30 AM PST by WhiskeyX
Several EU politicians and Russia's opposition leader have been barred from attending the funeral of murdered Russian politician Boris Nemtsov.
A Polish politician was denied a visa and a Latvian MEP turned back at a Moscow airport, while Alexei Navalny was denied permission to leave jail.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Sanctions have consequences.
“Sanctions have consequences.”
Murder, incitement to murder, aiding and abetting murder, disinformation, and false propaganda to commit genocide on behalf of the totalitarian Russian Government also may have consequences as well.
Sure it will squirt...
Now, Putin’s internet creeps threaten this young woman.
No doubt the Putinistas on FR will support making death threats against this woman.
To be honest Sobchak is a Russian version of Meghan McCain in her behavior. Her boyfriend is a Neo-Bolshevic, a great grand son of a women who were Lenin’s lieutenant for South-Ukraine aka ‘Comrade Daemon’.
Not sure if any of that's true. Whatever the case, considering all the communist flags draped around Donetsk and Luhansk, those "People's Republics" celebrating Soviet holidays and the like carrying around photographs of Stalin and Lenin and Marx and Engels, somehow I doubt that the problem here is that she is too far left and that's why Russkies want to kill her.
“Sanctions have consequences.”
Yeah, barred from attending the funeral, that will show them ;))))
Just look at the long line of investors wanting to invest in Russia! Putin has sealed Russia’s fate for the next 20 to 40 years. Pump up your Russkie bravado on that Ivan.
John Major didn’t have a problem attending, but then he isn’t a wanker from Poland is he?
What strikes me as strange is that not many foreigners outside so-called “Russia experts” knew much about Nemtsov or even had heard of him before his execution-style murder few days ago.
With around absolute maximum 2% support in Russia for Nemtsov, mostly coming from main cities (not elsewhere in Russia), and no seat in parliament, why suddenly has Nemtsov been transformed into an icon of a seemingly grand-scale on the world stage?
Yes, Sir John Major attended Nemtsov’s funeral. But by the same token, I dislike that Nemtsov’s funneral has been turned into a political event, and he appears to be very much used as a pawn in death as perhaps he was in life.
Another question: As far as I know, Nemtsov has been involved in Russian politics since the early 1990s (chosen first by Boris Yeltsin)? Can we list Nemtsov’s actual (significant) achievements in terms of paving the way for democracy in Russia?
Sure, considering Putin is a fraudulently elected leader, Nemtsov was part of the protests against such fraud: http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/russians-protest-putin-election-fraud/
So, Yes, we did know about him in spite of the sway of tv in Russia being 90% in showing Putin’s party.
So, versus what you say, besides being jailed or worse, it appears it is difficult to get an opposition view out.
None-the-less and in spite of his high ratings which may well come from an environment of fear, there is plenty to doubt about Putin even being a legitimate leader.
>>”Sure, considering Putin is a fraudulently elected leader, Nemtsov was part of the protests against such fraud: http://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/russians-protest-putin-election-fraud/";<<
I’m not so sure Putin was a fraudulently elected leader, as much as he was able to ‘manipulate’ public opinion in his favor; as do politicians in the West.
True, state-run media dictates in Russia. So do our mainstream media in the West which are dominated by a few, very much influencing what we do and do not see/hear.
I’m not a Putin supporter. But Russia, like other countries, even Western ones, operates under an already established, broader, political structure.
Here is how Nemtsov started: “ he was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic in 1990.” — http://www.rightsinrussia.info/person-of-the-week/borisnemtsov
I applaud Nemtsov for his reformist attempts, his ambition, his participation in anti-Putin protests, and his anti-authoritarian & anti-corruption stance. Part of that attempt could’ve been to win ‘hearts & minds’ of the much broader population, beyond distributing pamphlets and protesting - it really could & should not have been a one-man show since early 1990s.
Other points and my suspicions are: I’ve seen this type of “reformist icon” before; more in countries like Iran (which I believe, overall, is closer to Russian situation/politics than the U.S. or the U.K. for instance), where history, culture, society and many other elements are vastly different, more complex, and can point at noble intentions, but, often, with little to no substance in practice; only self-serving agendas. These are usually some of the main reasons for not being able to muster more than 2% support from the population.
Interesting question...it would seem that in death Nemtsov has become more valuable to Russia's opponents than he was in life. The next move will be to have some other able bodied anti-Putin step forward, wave the bloody shirt and call for a united opposition. This will further weaken the Russian President's popularity, demonstrations will grow louder, etc. etc.
The reforms of the 90s in Russia actually worked. That period was just troubled with low oil price and later overshadowed by what Putin could afford when the oil boom windfall fell on his lap.
Nemtsov was in the government in 1997 and 1998. Brent crude year average prices were $19.11 and $12.76 in these years. Putin came to power in year 2000 with barrel at $28.66 shooting up to $96.94 by the end of his first two terms in 2008.
Russians remember too well Yeltsin’s liberal gang rule and acquired strong aversion to scums who came to power under democratic slogans. They robbed tens millions people, they created oligarchic leeches. Their rule was more disastrous than WWII. Nobody else could contribute so much to Stalin’s popularity in Russia. Nemtsov was quite eminent member of this liberal anti-Russian team.
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.