of the meeting by having moderators from among the participants to group
questions from their peers into broad subjects, it was largely the same type of
a question-and-answer session lasting more than two hours, albeit somewhat
losing steam. Nikolai Zlobin, director of Russia and Eurasia programs in
Washington’s Center for Defense
Information and popular Russian media figure, said this year’s was the least
exciting meeting for both Putin and group members. “The president ended up
having to give us a short lecture on the political economy,” Zlobin said.
In fact, Putin’s subjects ranged from commenting on the Rosneft-BP deal (he
was not originally approving of it because it ran contrary to the government’s
policy of reducing the state sector in energy business) to an in-depth
evaluation of the euro crisis (it is a systemic crisis and up to the competent
European bodies to resolve, but Russia is interested in a closer relationship
with the EU despite the fact it will not become a member). Russia and China,
Putin said, need to be moving to increase their turnover to $100 billion and
begin trading in rubles and yuans rather than in dollars, which is not easy. And
the Eurasian Union is taking European experience in account and thus does not
want to introduce a single currency until the economic conditions and practices in its parts are more even.
was not originally approving of it because it ran contrary to the government’s
policy of reducing the state sector in energy business) to an in-depth
evaluation of the euro crisis (it is a systemic crisis and up to the competent
European bodies to resolve, but Russia is interested in a closer relationship
with the EU despite the fact it will not become a member). Russia and China,
Putin said, need to be moving to increase their turnover to $100 billion and
begin trading in rubles and yuans rather than in dollars, which is not easy. And
the Eurasian Union is taking European experience in account and thus does not
want to introduce a single currency until the economic conditions and practices in its parts are more even.
When presented with the recommendations from Valdai Club discussions on
how an institutional reform is needed in order to speed up the country’s
economic growth,
Putin took them in stride.
how an institutional reform is needed in order to speed up the country’s
economic growth,
Putin took them in stride.
“He certainly recognized what needs to be done economically,” said Angela
Stent, director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European studies
at GeorgetownUniversity. “Most of the recommendations people spoke about
he agreed with. His line on all inadequacies of the Russian institutions was that
he understands those problems and they are working on it.”
Stent, director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European studies
at GeorgetownUniversity. “Most of the recommendations people spoke about
he agreed with. His line on all inadequacies of the Russian institutions was that
he understands those problems and they are working on it.”
"The only moment when you saw Putin angry was when he spoke about Pussy Riot," said Orietta Moscatelli, chief editor of Italy’s TMNews press agency. “He was
clearly very angry when he saw double standards in treating Pussy Riot as the
rights defenders while the producer of the anti-Islam film was put in prison [in the United States]. On the eve of the day, when there is a chance that Pussy Riot
would get the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize, he was making it clear
that the majority of Russians consider it logical and desirable that they should
be prosecuted. He was really passionate about that.”
clearly very angry when he saw double standards in treating Pussy Riot as the
rights defenders while the producer of the anti-Islam film was put in prison [in the United States]. On the eve of the day, when there is a chance that Pussy Riot
would get the European Parliament’s Sakharov Prize, he was making it clear
that the majority of Russians consider it logical and desirable that they should
be prosecuted. He was really passionate about that.”
Russia is receiving its cues for permission of their government to exert control by
the USA actions, including the Defense Appropriation Bill. The world looks to the
USA regarding freedom and democracy. The Defense Appropriation Bill is an example
of what is not suppose to occur in the USA even under the most extreme of elected
officials.
By MARK DUELL
The only margin of safety is President Obama. Why aren't moderates winning
across the globe? One of the reasons is the extremism that has become a part
of the Post September 11th fears in political dialogue leading to insults against
our democracy and civil rights.
the USA actions, including the Defense Appropriation Bill. The world looks to the
USA regarding freedom and democracy. The Defense Appropriation Bill is an example
of what is not suppose to occur in the USA even under the most extreme of elected
officials.
Civil rights groups today (click here) voiced major concern over a defence bill 'allowing the military to indefinitely detain U.S. citizens suspected of terrorism.
The $662billion bill was signed by Barack Obama on Saturday despite his ‘serious reservations’ and pledging he would not support that element.
But human rights advocates said the bill is a ‘blight on his legacy’ and ‘dangerous because it has no temporal or geographic limitations’....
The only margin of safety is President Obama. Why aren't moderates winning
across the globe? One of the reasons is the extremism that has become a part
of the Post September 11th fears in political dialogue leading to insults against
our democracy and civil rights.
MOSCOW, October 31 (Dan Peleschuk, RIA Novosti)
The new anti-treason bill (click here) approved today by Russia’s upper house
of parliament has prompted concern from experts, academics and human rights advocates, who say it could be used against almost anyone.
of parliament has prompted concern from experts, academics and human rights advocates, who say it could be used against almost anyone.
“I see a lot of people around me who are experts and journalists who have
become cautious, and who are becoming more and more cautious every day,”
said intelligence analyst Andrei Soldatov, the co-founder of Agentura.ru.
become cautious, and who are becoming more and more cautious every day,”
said intelligence analyst Andrei Soldatov, the co-founder of Agentura.ru.
The bill, proposed by the Federal Security Service (FSB), broadens the
definition of treason in Russia’s Criminal Code to include steps that endanger
Russia’s “constitutional order, sovereignty and territorial and state integrity.”
definition of treason in Russia’s Criminal Code to include steps that endanger
Russia’s “constitutional order, sovereignty and territorial and state integrity.”
While supporters argue that the bill’s wording was meant to eliminate arbitrary interpretation, critics say the new version has the exact opposite effect....
MOSCOW, October 8 (Marc Bennetts, RIA Novosti)
Russian opposition leader (click here) Sergei Udaltsov said on Monday he had been summoned by investigators over allegations aired on federal television that he had conspired to launch a violent revolution.
The summons came less than 72 hours after state-run television channel NTV
broadcast what it said was secretly-filmed footage of Udaltsov meeting leading
Georgian politician Givi Targamadze to discuss plans to seize power in cities
across Russia, including the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.
broadcast what it said was secretly-filmed footage of Udaltsov meeting leading
Georgian politician Givi Targamadze to discuss plans to seize power in cities
across Russia, including the Baltic exclave of Kaliningrad.
The grainy, low quality footage also showed the two men discussing an offer by
Andrei Borodin, the self-exiled, ex-head of Bank of Moscow, to contribute $50
million to the protest movement. Borodin also allegedly pledged to obtain
another $150 million from other Russian emigres living in London....
Andrei Borodin, the self-exiled, ex-head of Bank of Moscow, to contribute $50
million to the protest movement. Borodin also allegedly pledged to obtain
another $150 million from other Russian emigres living in London....
