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Special Report by The Real Russia Project of Discovery Institute
Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the U.S. media's overarching, if unspoken, perception of Russia and Eastern Europe is that this region doesn't matter much any more. Though some still see Russia as a dangerous enemy, most mainstream media appear to have lost interest in what happens there, except for occasional sensational events. As a result, there is inadequate awareness in America of the fascinating cultural, political and economic developments taking place in today's Russia.
Relying on old Cold War stereotypes ignores centuries of Russia's history and shows a lack of curiosity about its future. Such indifference is not in the interest of America or its citizens, and it threatens to shut down imagination about potential cooperative relations with Russia and her neighbors. The Real Russia Project aims to focus on the emerging new Russia with accurate and fair reporting and analysis--without fear or favor.
Ambassador Bruce Chapman
President of Discovery Institute
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1 -- Putin is a former KGB agent who is suppressing opposition and accumulating power
"He has beaten all his adversaries: independent media, oligarchs, regional governors, communists, liberal parties, the parliament as such and even the government apparatus. The power they once wielded is being seized by Mr Putin's KGB friends ... the KGB men move into the commanding heights of the economy ... a whole floor of former or current KGB in newly prominent positions on the president's staff." ("Putin's Quest for Power is Harming Russia" by Anders Aslund, Carnegie Endowment; Financial Times, August 23, 2004)
RussiaBlog: Like many others in the Russian elite, it is true that Putin was once a KGB officer. The KGB, however, no longer exists; it disintegrated in 1991 with the fall of the Soviet Union. And by the early 1980s, the organization had been almost completely transformed. One thing KGB became known for was hiring bright, capable young people. If Putin was preoccupied with power, he would be seeking a third term as a President, but he has made it clear that he has no such desire. After all, he could be drawing a higher salary with less pressure as the head of Gazprom.
Liberal democratic parties in Russia are largely unpopular for their association with Yeltsin's corrupt regime; they lack the ability to unite as one oppositional force and do not have a clear economic or political plan for the nation. Many Russians greeted the abolition of direct governors' elections with relief because the governors lacked accountability and were violently abusing their powers. Many criminals and oligarchs were buying their way into legal immunity with bribes during election campaigns.
The years 2005 and 2006 have been especially rich with dissent and protests. The still-popular Communist Party marched alongside Russian fascists in Moscow on May 1, 2006, displaying anti-government banners, including one which read, "Putin and successors go to hell!" Consider, by contrast, how unlikely an anti-government march of that kind would be in Iran, China or North Korea.
2 -- Russians live under Putin's tyranny
"Vladimir Putin, the aspiring dictator of Russia, has forced President Bush to reveal how committed he really is to the cause of democracy around the world. Putin's decision ... is an unambiguous step toward tyranny in Russia." ("Stand up to Putin" by Robert Kagan, The Washington Post, September 15, 2004)
"Putin characterized the changes as enhancing national cohesion in the face of a terrorist threat, while critics called them another step toward restoring the tyranny of the state 13 years after the fall of the Soviet Union." ("Putin Moves to Centralize Authority" by Peter Baker, The Washington Post, September 14, 2004)
RB: Putin was elected with 71 percent of the vote in 2004. Not only are the Russian people active in democratic processes, but 70 to 80 percent of citizens approve Putin's leadership, and many would like to see him stay on for a third term. The latter is impossible according to the Russian constitution. Average Russian salaries have increased by one third in the last two years. Individuals and businesses alike have actually begun to claim their real incomes, paying taxes, and planning long-term savings and business strategies, due to the stability brought by Putin's administration. Russia's federal budget has been in surplus since 2000; in 2006 the surplus reached 8.7 percent of GDP.
3 -- Russian media isn't free
"The Putin administration has grown uglier: the media is now--with a few embattled exceptions in print and on the Internet--entirely under state control." ("Meet the Chief Exec of Kremlin Inc." by Nick Paton Walsh, The Guardian, July 6, 2005)
RB: Far from simply affirming the government's actions, many Russian media outlets are openly critical of the Kremlin--and some refuse to acknowledge any positive changes achieved in the last few years. There are approximately 1,100 TV channels, 670 radio stations and 50,000 newspapers in Russia. Independent Internet media is very popular where Internet access is available. Only 20 percent of the population gets their information from state-owned media, with the majority of Russian TV-viewers preferring private programming and entertainment. In Russia, Western TV news channels such as CNN, FOX, BBC, Euronews, and others are widely available and often freely broadcast.
4 -- Khodorkovsky is a political prisoner
"The European Court of Human Rights ... has fast-tracked a complaint by the former Yukos Oil oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky, jailed on charges of tax evasion and fraud after he challenged Putin politically." ("Reversal of Fortune" by Owen Matthews, Newsweek International, April 2, 2006)
RB: YUKOS was practicing tax evasion on a massive, multibillion-dollar scale. A deeper investigation is now underway, and Khodorkovsky's aides face charges of murder and attempted murder in the process of conducting company business. They were also charged with unlawful business practices, such as tax evasion, fraud and money laundering. In addition, Israeli lawyers are working with Russian prosecutors to extradite Khodorkovsky's former partner Leonid Nevzlin, as many political circles in Israel find his presence harmful to their country's image. Israeli lawyers are investigating allegations that Nevzlin fraudulently obtained his Israeli citizenship in 2003 after Russian prosecutors indicted Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
In March 2005, Alexei Pichugin, the former chief of security for YUKOS, was sentenced to prison time for multiple counts of murder. Many oligarchs do face prosecution, but not because of their political beliefs; rather, they face punishment for actual crimes they have committed.
5 -- Brutality and human rights abuses run rampant in Chechnya
"Human Rights Watch says Russia resumed harsh campaign of torture, abductions and political killings in Chechnya ..." ("Russia Using Brutality to Suppress Chechens, Rights Group Says" by Barbara Crossette, The New York Times, February 28, 2002)
"... Amnesty said its field workers had discovered there was "no end to gross human rights violations" in Chechnya and Ingushetia. In a briefing paper published today, the group said its research implicated the Russian authorities "in the torture, abduction and secret detention of civilians." ("'No End' to Chechnya Rights Abuses, Says Amnesty" by Mark Oliver, The Guardian, September 30, 2005)
RB: When hundreds of Islamic militant groups in Chechnya were fighting the Russian army--which tried to restore Constitutional rule in this Russian region--casualties were tremendous on both sides, including among civilians. Although some representatives of the Federal forces displayed brutal behavior, the government did its best to punish such unlawful conduct. Colonel Yuri Budanov, who raped and murdered a Chechen woman, was publicly prosecuted, stripped of his rank, and is now serving time in prison. The trial was covered nationwide by all major media outlets. It is true that Chechnya has suffered more violence than Iraq--with beheadings, crucifixions and other torture inflicted by Islamic terrorists against peaceful citizens and young Russian soldiers.
Foreign journalists refuse to acknowledge, however, any improvements in Chechnya. In 2005, more than 7,000 fighters freely laid down their arms and took part in free elections, which were considered by international observers to be both smooth and successful. Russian army casualties dropped from 1,397 in 2000 to 28 in 2005. The Chechen government has been supportive of the Kremlin--and regional leaders are successfully enforcing the new Chechen constitution.
As a result, 250,000 refugees have returned home and established some 30,000 new businesses. Chechnya's new Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov, who is Muslim, enjoys an 85 percent approval rating and has promised to make Chechnya "the most peaceful and prosperous region in the world" in only two years. Just two years ago, the city was in ruins, but now, the largest mosque in the world is being built along with a five-star hotel in downtown Grozny. In 2006, an organization called Russian Ministries successfully ran several Christian summer camp sessions for Chechen children in Grozny. Despite these and many other positive strides, however, U.S. media continue to focus on the violence.
6 -- Kremlin supports Hamas, Iran and radical groups
"On March 3, Hamas envoys will arrive in Moscow. Their Russian hosts have prepared a banquet fit for a sultan. Gifts will be abundant. Russia's foreign minister Sergei Lavrov has offered to provide Hamas with foreign aid. There may even be shipments of everything from guns to helicopters." ("A Russian Ruse" by Ilya Bourtman, National Review, March 2, 2006)
"This is 100 percent, non-alloyed, near-perfect and totally bananas anti-Semitism--not the work of rational minds. It is, though, the work of the very people whom Putin ... would meet with. He would do so, apparently, without one word being changed in this repellent covenant--or without Hamas's renouncing its intention to obliterate Israel." ("A Disturbing Invitation" by Richard Cohen, The Washington Post, February 14, 2006)
RB: Not only has Putin never met with Hamas, but Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made it clear that the group would be treated as an "undeveloped teenager" until it recognizes Israel. After Hamas representatives explicitly stated their unwillingness to make peace with Israel as they deplaned in Moscow, Putin deemed a meeting with the Palestinian leaders impossible. It is true that Hamas visited the Kremlin, but rather than meeting with the Russian president, the group joined Moscow tourists at museums and cathedrals. In effect, Russia's Foreign Ministry told Hamas to negotiate with the Israelis if the organization wanted to receive foreign approval.
Regarding construction of a nuclear power plant in Iran, Russia will penalize Iran if it chooses to misuse nuclear technologies. "If Iran expels the IAEA inspectors, we will immediately halt our work," said a high-ranking source in the Kremlin on September 8, 2006. And two days later, Putin stated that Iran "should abandon its plans for nuclear enrichment on its soil," and refused to rule out possible economic sanctions against Iran.
7 -- New NGO law assaults Russian civil society
"Critics counter that the Bill will destroy Russian civil society by severely curtailing NGOs' access to foreign funding from agencies such as the Department for International Development in Britain, USAID or the EU's Tacis." ("Putin crackdown to limit the power of foreign-funded NGOs" by Jeremy Page and Julian Evans, The UK Times, November 24, 2005)
"The leaders of Russia's nongovernmental sector have been predicting for more than a year that civil society would be next on President Vladimir Putin's crackdown on democracy. Now it seems as if their predictions are coming true with a vengeance." ("Putin's uncivil crackdown" by Lara Iglitzin, The Seattle Times, December 9, 2005)
RB: As in any other civilized country (including the U.S.), this Russian law requires registration of all NGOs and simplifies the registration process. It also restricts direct foreign financing of Russian NGOs; many of them have largely been involved in election campaigns and espionage. It also eliminates opportunities for advanced money laundering schemes. Hardly a country where philanthropy thrives, Russia is home to some 450,000 NGOs; it is hard to believe that all of them are devoted to legitimate business. Naturally, the media boils the issue down to the simplest of contradictions. Why are Americans so concerned with foreigners being able to donate to Russian non-profits? Isn't it time for Russians to learn how to put oil money to a legitimate use?
8 -- New "slander" law demonstrates Kremlin's authoritarian tendencies
"Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law making slander of a public official a criminal offense ..." ("Putin Signs Law Against Slander of Public Officials" by Alan Cullison, The Wall Street Journal, July 29, 2006)
"A return of dictatorship in Russia, a country armed with thousands of nuclear weapons, would present a much greater threat than the current set of tyrants now threatening U.S. security." ("U.S. Ignores Putin's Assault on Rights" by Michael McFaul, Carnegie Endowment; Los Angeles Times, February 2, 2003)
RB: The Russian federal law--titled "On the Counteraction to the Extremist Activity"--aims to restrain radical and xenophobic organizations. Such groups are rising in popularity among Russian youths and have successfully organized several large fascist marches in 2005 and 2006. On August 21, 2006, three Russian students detonated a bomb in a Moscow public market, targeting ethnic minorities, killing 11 and injuring dozens. If there is a threat of totalitarianism in Russia, it is not a top-down problem, but rather a bottom-up one. Russians who dislike Putin often perceive him as too liberal and pro-Western.
The law does not target journalists. Instead, it seeks to punish those who have deliberately slandered government officials by falsely accusing them of involvement in extremism or terrorism--both of which are defined narrowly in the new law. The charge of slander would have to be proven in court. Many Western media outlets took the language of the bill out of its legal context, perpetuating an exaggerated perception of the Russian government as increasingly authoritarian. In our view, the potential acquisition of power by grassroots fascists in Russia presents the true threat to American national security.
9 -- Putin's policies constitute major human rights abuses in Russia
"The downgrading of Russia's status from "Partially Free" to "Not Free" by Freedom House was hardly accidental. The abolition of the governors' elections, other draconian changes to the electoral code, and the crackdown on NGOs are alarming signs of Russia's future direction." ("EU Soft on Moscow" by Evgeny Morozov, Brussels Journal, May 31, 2005)
"... [Putin is] the man who is doing more to stop the extension of freedom than anybody else ..." (William Safire, NBC's Meet the Press, February 27, 2005)
RB: Putin's policies are not the source of mass human rights abuse in Russia. The cause lies in a historically ineffective legal system and mass corruption at all levels of government. In 2004, when the annual federal budget was only $95 billion, cash bribes amounted to $316 billion. Putin's administration has focused on fighting the historic ineptitude of Russian bureaucracy--beginning with the changes in governors' elections and ending with attempts to restore order in the army. Many foreign journalists conveniently ignore such major human rights issues as the mass brutality in the Russian military and the fact that Russian sources account for 50 to 75 percent of the world's child pornography. Much of foreign funding directed at bashing the Kremlin's policies could have been better spent on exposing more pressing issues.
For example, a massive child sex ring was exposed in downtown Yekaterinburg in August 2006. The accused were caught selling young boys, renting them for sexual services and routinely raping them. When discovered, the victims numbered over 1,000 boys, ages 12 through 17; many of the boys were as young as 7 years old when the illicit business began in 2001. Yekaterinburg police have documented 116 cases of rape and sexual abuse. Such crimes are reported in great number every year throughout Russia. Unfortunately, foreign media and human rights groups all too often ignore the worst human rights abuses in Russia, preferring instead to concentrate on Putin's polices.
10 -- Russia is unsafe for U.S. investors
"Billionaire investor George Soros said OAO Rosneft, Russia's state oil company, shouldn't proceed with its initial public offering because it will legitimize the government's attempts to dominate global energy supplies." ("George Soros says Russia's OSA Rosneft IPO should not Proceed" , Bloomberg Financial Express, July 6, 2006)
RB: While George Soros assailed Russian IPOs in an attempt to scare off American investors, Russia established itself as the world's largest energy producer. And unlike some other oil-based economies, Russia doesn't use its oil profits to sponsor extremist groups.
The state-owned oil company Rosneft went 49 percent public in 2006. Russian private investors offered $750 million. In Europe, Germany's Dresdner Bank invested $300 million. The IPO was underwritten by Wall Street majors J.P. Morgan and Morgan Stanley. Besides a one-billion-dollar offer from British Petroleum in July 2006--and other offers by Malaysia's Petronas Bank and Petrobras (Brazil's state oil company)--China Daily reported that the China National Petroleum Corporation offered Rosneft $500 million. While real estate is booming in major Russian cities, the Chinese have secured construction projects worth $3 billion in Moscow and St. Petersburg. These investments trends suggest that Putin's new Russia can be trusted.
The first half of 2006 showed $23.41 billion foreign direct investment (FDI) into Russia (41.9 percent more than the same period of 2005); $499 million of this was directed into portfolio investments. Total foreign investment in Russia breaks down to 27.5 percent for direct investments, 2.1 percent for portfolio investments, and 70.4 percent for "other investments." While leading world economies are taking advantage of Russia's newfound stability and vast natural resources, America--preoccupied with politics--seems to be missing out.
This report was prepared by Discovery Institute Senior Fellow Yuri Mamchur, Director of The Real Russia Project. For more information on the Project or to find out how you can support it, please contact yuri@discovery.org or (206) 292-0401, ext. 151.
Well, I'm an American citizen and I agree with all you have said here! I really do!
I think you would be surprised just how separate the American Government is from her civilians. I personally believe that’s what makes America strong. I mean, everybody in my "circle of life" understands the media is just as corrupt as the Government and no one is really trusted. Polls have shown that a majority of American civilians distrust our politicians and are finally realizing the media (for the most part) only cares about what makes them money.
Please don't get me wrong here, I love my country! I'm glad we are heading up this war on evil Islamic extremists, although I think our invasion and subsequent war in Iraq is a huge mistake.
I think those American citizens who still think negative of Russia are those who are busy living their lives as best they can and don't or won't take the time to realize you guys would be a GREAT ally. But I honestly think this is changing more and more as the months and years pass.
I'm a norwegian citizen and I did recognize most of your allegations here. Thanks for a good clearing up, you should try and get some of those cases to the international press.
John,
It is well known that there is a huge dissent in the US, but the corporate media uses everything they can to silense it.
I believe that the Bush administration is putting the US in grave danger by involving itself in the war in Iraq, as well as having a hostile policy towards Iran, NK, Cuba, Russia, China, etc.
The worst thing is that there's a huge propaganda campaigne (not just now, but been there for decades) on networks, such as Fox, CNN, etc. and the opinions of less informed individuals are shaped in a truly harmful way. Religious fundamentalism isn't helping either, when the leader of such groups is making open remarks about assasinations of Venezuela's president. What happened to "thou shall not kill"?
To wrap it up, I agree with most of what the article had to say, minus the abuses in Chechnya. Back in 2000 and 2001 they are well documented and known and the rampage was on an industrial scale.
BTW, I'm Russian living in North America
1) The KGB thing is overstated, certainly. How many people remember that George H. W. Bush was the head of the CIA? We don't see that fact blazoned after every mention of his name, as is often the case with Putin.
I think citing such rallies in Moscow can be a bit misleading though, as I have often read and seen police blocking off such routes of parades to stop spectators, supposedly in the name of protecting participants. It is rather like the old adage "If a tree falls in a forest, and nobody is there to hear - does it make a sound?". This isn't the case with all rallies, but is the case with many.
2) Obviously very overstated, and even if you considered Putin a tyrant (a real stretch) - he is a mostly welcome one in Russia.
3) I agree with this observation 100%. American's get a bit crazy over government direct or indirect ownership of the media. However, we forget that most nations have national TV and news media. In fact, most of my Russian friends forget from time to time they exist as non-governmental corporations in the US. In either case, corporate or government owned - writing any news article will have some sort of bias.
4) I think Khodorkovsky and Yukos did engage in criminal acts. However, I also believe that most Russian oligarchs and their corporations did the same. I do think Khodorkovsky and Yukos were targeted by the Russian government for political reasons. Most Russians that I know feel the same way - although mostly they seem amused by this big money political gamesmanship.
5) I have a difficult time seeing in either the Western or Russian media how Chechnya or Chechen terrorism has improved very much over the last few years. Beslan was only a little over a year ago. It is an ongoing tragedy for both sides.
6) Western and Russian media are both biased against/for Iran. Severely so, the images shown on television and newspapers are radically different, with Russian media focusing on good-looking middle-class Iranians, businessmen, and clean orderly cities and Western/US media focusing on hateful language from leaders, military developments, and flag-burning sessions by chanting crowds. Both sides have their reasons. While the US has been very rigid in dealings in the Middle East, Russia has always taken these opportunities to play the politics a bit softer.
7 & 8) The implementation of these laws, under Putin and any future Russian president, will tell the real story. The laws, as currently worded, are not so different from many other laws in Europe (for example). However, the language is vague enough that the implementation of them may become quite another thing. Only time will tell.
9) It is always surprising to me how Putin will speak in slow and soft terms, about things he says he can't change by himself ("I'm only one man, what am I to do?" sort of language) .. but conversely he plays to this idea that he is a strong leader and a man of action. Personally, I don't think he has shown enough balls in taking on crime and corruption within Russia - it just sort of remains status quo.
10) Americans do business in much more high-risk nations than Russia. However, in Russia the playing field is newer and the stakes seem larger. I also think language is a larger barrier than it should be. Of course, recent reactions by the Russian government against Sakhalin-2 don't help create an image of stability in business dealings. I think it is just a question of time before more American businesses invest in Russia, however. Trust is slow to build.
Letter to Yuri:
Good one, Yuri!
In 12 years' promotion of the world's most powerful, proven, firefighting airplane, Associated Press has dedicated about 10 column inches to the airplane - that out of Moscow simply to report that the airplanes (2) had been shut down by the US Forest Service after having been ordered up by FEMA in Y2K.
AP hangs up when Tom Robinson calls them.
California's Ventura County has a current heath advisory out on air quality from the out-of-control Ca blazes.
Schwarzenegger has said "we'd consider anything" when asked specifically about the IL-76 waterbomber's chances in the US.
Not sure about that. Seems to me any politician would need the media onside to import the IL-76.
Google "Il-76 waterbomber". All you really need to read is the leading Wiki entry (which I composed) together with links under 'controversy' there.
Cheers;
John Anderson
Global Emergency Response
Calgary
I agree with it all except the following:
3. Press Freedom - I was in Russia during the last elections, and I saw wall-to-wall coverage of Putin and nothing whatsoever of any opposition. There is media which is critical of the Kremlin, but I have not come across any which carries national and sustained criticism. According to Reporters Without Borders, Russia's freedom of the press is bloody awful, ranked 138 of 167.
4. Khordorkovsky - Agree with W.Shedd here.
5. Chechnya - Chechnya is a complete mess, and Putin has still to explain properly exactly why the second Chechen war was started. Russia has a huge problem with Chechen terrorists and that must be dealt with firmly and properly, but Russia's behaviour in Chechnya has been by and large appallingly barbaric. I have a good friend who served two tours there, and he says it was shockingly bad what was going on. I have no sympathy whatsoever for Chechen independence, and I concede that things are improving (although I think money could be spent on better things than a 5-star hotel and the world's largest mosque), but when outsiders criticise Russia's methods in Chechnya they are right to do so, albeit not always right in criticising their aims.
10. Investment into Russia - Outsiders are investing into Russia despite the current climate, not because of it. The extremely high oil price and companies desperate to extract some of Russia's vast gas reserves have overridden what are genuine fears about investing in Russia. Things have improved slightly, but not by much. Contracts still don't count for much, and anyone with serious money in Russia gets it out fast, and only those with serious money are going into Russia in the first place.
It is well known that there is a huge dissent in the US, but the corporate media uses everything they can to silense it.
This is pap, I'm afraid. There has been raging debate in the US media since the Iraq War with both sides getting plenty of space to have their say. Go pick up a copy of the NY Times if you are having problems finding any dissent against Bush and Co.
Could you explain how Moscow is able to ban a religion?
"Religious minorities are often a litmus test for where a society is going... this is an ominous signal,"
Isn't it true that Putin actually invited Hamas to Moscow? Could one imagine the Russian reaction if Jerusalem invited Chechen terrorists? Further, is it not true that Putin denies that Hamas is a terrorist organization?
The last Forbes investigation showed that there are more than 36 billioniers in Russia. Is Khodorkovsky the only one who was prosecuted by the russian court? Are there any other trials?
I am an American. Our CIA did not foresee Stalin getting Nuclear Weapons until a decade later from when Russia did. The CIA didn’t for see the invasion of North Korea into South Korea. The CIA in Vietnam was described as so vague as to be useless. The CIA said that the East German economy was as large as West Germany. The CIA didn’t foresee China, India or Pakistan getting nuclear weapons. The CIA didn’t foresee the fall of the Shah of Iran. The CIA didn’t foresee the fall of the Berlin Wall. The CIA didn’t foresee Saddams invasion of Kuwait. During the first Gulf war, General Swartzkoph said the CIA was useless. The CIA didn’t foresee Osama bin Laden. The CIA saw the Iraqies having all sorts of weapons, they didn’t.
Do you have bunch KGB guys we could hire?
Regarding point number three:
You might also like to point out that the British 'Independent' newspaper correspondent, Mary Dejevsky, who was in Russia to observe the 2003 Parliamentary elections, recorded that "Yabloko's leader, Grigori Yavlinsky, has been on television more than President Putin in the final few days of campaigning".
Hardly the actions of a repressed, unfree media.
Carl
3. "In Russia, Western TV news channels such as CNN, FOX, BBC, Euronews, and others are widely available and often freely broadcast."
You guys made me laugh with the scale of your lies. Like russians say, "Lie but know the limits". How many people of 150 millions have access to free media? One of 10.000?
the reason I got interested in russia, was as a teenager I attended ballet classes... so the Bolshoi
and so on companies, dancers, teachers and history of dance became a study for me
I still remember Ulanova in the movie Giselle... a masterpiece
I am australian and an artist
I started to research russia more, when my brother was murdered for his money, and a russian bride meet scam thing
in moscow, and at the moscow airport hotel
its a long story but I wondered why 2 women and 2 men had to kill him with such violence when they could have taken his money and run with it
the theatre of russians held hostage happened a couple of weeks after he was murdered
I have watched docos on the Hermitage but it is unlikely I would visit russia now
once some of the security is sorted ... perhaps I would
with my searches I came across Andrei Sychev who lost his legs, penis, and toes..... from assault and attempted murder....not "hazing" the law is assault and murder
these searches gave me a lot of insight into some of russia
can people vote in russia ?
at 18....
thats a lot of kids who can vote....?
leaders are only as good as the men around them,
ahem, men and women,
it will come... I would guess
JHH
that should read "fingers"
not "toes" sorry people..
re Andrei Sychev post above
still get upset about it I guess...Andrei also lost some fingers....
and getting old..grin plus I should check these things
JHH
The KGB thing is overstated, certainly. How many people remember that George H. W. Bush was the head of the CIA? We don't see that fact blazoned after every mention of his name, as is often the case with Putin.
With respect, the CIA despite its extremely unpalatable actions past and present is a benign and cuddly force in comparison to the KGB. For starters, the CIA or its predecessors were not actively involved in the mass murder of large parts of the population of the US. The reason Bush's role in the CIA is not mentioned is because the comparison is invalid to all but a few.
Very interesting report!! I look forward to seeing how the media outlets throughout USA and Russia respond to it. Certainly those who were quoted have a perspective to defend.
I thought the arguments refuting their statements were intelligent and analytical. I appreciate the insight and perspective offered by someone who has seen both sides of the story, as well as the unspoken truth often hidden between them.
Good luck with your contacts!
Moscow Media
while I was researching my brothers death, and old ballet history,
current news was minimal, and certainly inaccurate about the full details with honesty
that I found hard to handle
and .........
with Andrei Sychev it was various,
some taken off etc. and so on , and hard to get to the truth.... but one does eventually, and I will do my artworks for him as I go along
I tried to find the Mothers for Soldiers, and most were hard to reach, if I could get or reach them at all
however one just keeps researching, .......
I personally think that russia should give all its media total freedom
of truth
in the long run it works better
even the Mothers of Soldiers is/was trying to help, basically with gov and law
thats not too much to ask
every country has media limits at times,
all the time, no
perhaps russian women should go on strike....grin
no kids...... until the army fixed....
actually many women are doing this already,
one should get some women up there....
in government.... we have the ideas....
much regards to all
JHH
PS finding art history was fabulous.... and dance history
often if researching art
the art sites of russia are tops
So Michael, where are you? I am interested in your comments about this.
Sure, the CIA wasn't so much an agency for targeting its nations own citizens, as the KGB. But the CIA certainly has a nefarious association internationally, with perhaps a greater reputation for meddling in other nations affairs.
But the point is well taken. Also, George H. W. Bush was essentially a political appointee in that position for 355 days under Gerald Ford.
Hi Tanya.
Nothing much to add as Yuri and his sidekick CDG are doing an excellent job. No need for me to rain on their parade.
Maybe some day, outlets like Ekho Moskvy and Russia Profile, will have the guts to take me head on in my stated views at Russia Blog and elsewhere.
As is, I continue to be understandably unimpressed with those controlling the flow of information. There're some folks in Moscow and elsewhere who continue to disappoint. I'm confident that they've the sense to do the right thing.
I'm not the only one feeling this way.
hi all,
from australia here
re russian media... I think there were about 3 or so russian sites that were in english..
out of about 15 twenty browser sites I came across..
this made it very difficult to find news, info, and such as I dont speak russian
I assume DUMA means government ?
I tried to translate the sites media documents on the Russian Project from russian to english on my browser
and the translation is better than nothing
but the translator is not too good and meaning is lost that is for sure
anyway perhaps this is also and why, people not living in russia have trouble understanding or finding out about the country
did a quick look for russian icons an hour ago on russian sites
one had a big CASINO gambling advert at the bottom..groan
think I will stick with the russian art galleries and museums...
they are generally better
oh and super too
much regards all
Regarding JHH's attempts to translate Russian web based information...Does anyone know of a good/better translator than what she used?
Which one did you use?
Yuri, any suggesitons?
hi all, and Tanya,
used
altavista babel fish
translator
forgot to put this message here for you..
thank you...and I would appreciate a better translator
I also spelt "sergeant" incorrectly on one of my posts re Sychev
I noticed that if I came across russian sites and I tried to translate... and or they had already
it was difficult to understand... never mind we will get there
thanks again Tanya and all
hi all, and Tanya,
Tanya I altavista, babel fish ed directly the Yuri russian version on the blog here...
it translated slightly, better than the one I tried
from another site...
I will re read it carefully,
though hard to understand
thanks all... JHH
Re: Translations & Related Matter
The below link are the comments from someone in the business:
http://talk.guardian.co.uk/WebX?14@1015.GPhelYR2McE.4@.77480649/4986
At the above linked forum, that person has acknowledged working as a Brit based translator in Russia for some leading publications/sites.
There's the saying: "You get what you pay for." This isn't always true. There're numerous instances of the reasonably well paid, who aren't reflecting the best product.
All this can lead to another interesting and related report pertaining to the noticeable flaws present in the attempts at improving the English language media coverage of Russia. Some in the involved hierarchy might incorrectly see this as an unfounded "insult," while others more open minded will take notice and followup with constructive changes.
A politically incorrect topic for the Russia unfriendly's, who aren't interested in seeing their monopoly broken. Then, there're some others on the supposedly Russia friendly side, who appear to feel jeopardized by utilizing some really great talent out there with a proven track record.
I'm by no means the only one having this view. As a case in point, the cited translator seems to concur.
hi all,
um BABEL FISH is free on my browser....with altavista browser site
and has tons of countries and languages you can instantly translate
I cant speak russian, but from what I read somewhere,
russian to english is sometimes hard because of beginnings and endings of words or something... I am no expert
I will try and find another free translator that is better than bable fish for russian
though bable fish is supposed to be one of the best translators
its really about understanding.... what you read
and things can be mis interpreted or miss understood if the words are incorrect for what the person really said
never mind, will get there..
much regards all JHH
thanks Michael Averko,
I appreciate the help
ALTAVISTA web browser site
babel fish...... is free and supposed to be one of the best as far as I know
it translates tons of languages back and forth
I am an artist and layperson, ....
gosh Russia is big.....
I am not political - history educated
though I do try and keep up with us here in australia
its compulsory to vote here at 18 and one can get a small fine if one doesnt...
one can also find any information generally one wants.... with our gov system
more later...just a thank you Michael
I used a few translators to decipher the radio interview, including Babel Fish. The translated text is pretty slaughtered. You have to just look for the basic meaning, and forget about any grammar or lyrical style.
For someone who loves eloquence, that is such suffering!
got a smile Tanya,
me too...grin
its not good though because some people will thoroughly try to understand it and most wont because the english version makes it sound that the person is saying something they are not.....
and that is a real pity I think....it also would slow down students online who are trying to learn too
I am 61 now, and only did a tiny bit of french, taught by a nun who was learning it herself to teach us...grin
good teacher though...
I have dabbled with the idea of learning a language..
out here in australia most kids learn english, and sometimes have the choice of one other language
if I come across another free translator ...I will let you all know... if better than bable fish
regards to all
I feel your pain.
As earlier communicated in this Comments section: it's part and parcel to an ongoing problem of putting the best step forward.
So much can be done to improve the overall situation. That it's not being done, turns people off, thereby limiting the efforts in attracting a wider audience.
hi all, from australia
this is going to sound a bit strange to a lot of you
but
"western"
I often wonder where they get these words from
like "hazing" which is really assault and attempted murder
"western" to me does not mean much except may cowboys in movies
perhaps if everyone, said the countries they mean it would help,
like Sweden,Australia, England and so on
rather than throwing anybody who is outside russia into one big heap..grin
re the koran, I find it difficult to understand why
koran religions, fight each other ? and destroy the little that they already have
thoughts from the artist...
great posts... I am learning lots
JHH
that should read.. maybe cowboys in movies...
not "may" above...sorry again people..
will make a concerted effort to check always before posting now
JHH...
//3. "In Russia, Western TV news channels such as CNN, FOX, BBC, Euronews, and others are widely available and often freely broadcast."
You guys made me laugh with the scale of your lies. Like russians say, "Lie but know the limits". How many people of 150 millions have access to free media? One of 10.000? //
I live in Moscow, tell you what I know, you can pay a bit and get any major western news chanel on cable or similar service. Euronews is broadcated for free in Moscow at least.
Wow. Good job on Soviet style propaganda, seems like old habits die hard. Anyone with any knowledge of Russia, and it's government will undoubtedly see through the utter nonsense that you post here.
Dear RussiaBlog Readers;
Further to my previous post please note that somebody has removed all text and links at Wikipedia "IL-76" tending to prove there is controversy surrounding the use of the
Il-76 waterbomber.
Accordingly, I have made entries at the 'discussion' tab of Wikipedia allowing research on this controversy off Wikipedia.
Wiki remains the leading entry for "IL-76 waterbomber"
subject at various searchers.
Cheers;
John Anderson
Global Emergency Response
Calgary
Yuri I whole heartedly agree with you here. It is incredulous that Vladimir Putin made the world's top 20 dictators this year. If he is on that list Premier Bush should be on that list with him. He started an illegal war, the crimes he has commited go on and on.
I approve of Putin because he is a corruption fighter and that is what Russia needs. People in America see Russia as a threat because of the biblical of reference of the "Great Bear" in Armageddon. They accuse Russia of siding with the middle east against Isreal and the United States and that Putin is limiting Christian worship. It makes me sick as this is absolutely false. The common enemy of the United States and Russian are Muslim terrorists. And why anyone in the United States would think that a man who is publicaly Russian Orthodox Christian, and who's country has been ravaged by Muslim terrorists just as bad if not worse as that of the United States would side with the middle east is absolute insanity.
Very interesting report!! I look forward to seeing how the media outlets throughout USA and Russia respond to it. Certainly those who were quoted have a perspective to defend.
I thought the arguments refuting their statements were intelligent and analytical. I appreciate the insight and perspective offered by someone who has seen both sides of the story, as well as the unspoken truth often hidden between them.
Good luck with your contacts!
It is well known that there is a huge dissent in the US, but the corporate media uses everything they can to silense it.
^^ sounds like crap to me
there are always going to be different slants to media outlets in different countries. its impossible to avoid.
I think every thing you read in the western press about Russia is propoganda rubish, I met my girl in Russia and fell in love with the country, Im now living in St Petersburg running my own dating site www.email2femail.com