Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category
Posted on February 23, 2008 - by Venik
Russia’s Threat of Military Intervention in Kosovo
As I predicted (see Russia’s Kosovo Options post on Feb. 15), Russia’s response to Kosovo’s declaration of independence is spilling outside the usual diplomatic channels. The latest BBC headline reads “Russia could use force in Kosovo”. Russia’s ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin told journalists that “Russia does not exclude the possibility of a military intervention [...]
Posted on February 22, 2008 - by Venik
Journalistic Standards in Russia
While the overall quality of reporting in the Russian media is gradually improving following a complete collapse of journalistic standards during the Yeltsin era, Russia’s online news agencies continue to consider accuracy optional and to take liberty with facts. One of the most common problems in Russian media – both printed and electronic – is [...]
Posted on February 20, 2008 - by Venik
Freedom of Information in Russia
I find it annoying when I hear some BBC reporter talk about “government-controlled” media in Russia (as if BBC wasn’t government controlled). Just as media in any other country, Russian media is regulated – not controlled – by the government. Quality of work of Russian journalists is another matter altogether, but this problem has nothing [...]
Posted on February 17, 2008 - by Venik
Space Arms Race is Coming
The US decided to shoot down its own old spy satellite before it crashes into Earth. The official reason: the satellite contains about a ton of toxic fuel. Very few take this explanation seriously. In the entire history of the space age not a single human being has been hurt by the falling man-made space [...]
Posted on February 15, 2008 - by Venik
Russia’s Kosovo Options
An interesting opinion about Russia’s options regarding the Kosovo situation was published by Reuters in their “Russia’s options limited for Kosovo retaliation” (Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:34am EST). Fyodr Lukyanov, editor of the respected journal Russia in Global Affairs, believe that Russia’s immediate response to the expected proclamation of independence by Kosovo will be limited [...]
Posted on February 15, 2008 - by Venik
Kosovo Quagmire, Round Two
Western media is in a rush to point out that Russia’s support of Serbia on the issue of Kosovo is a result of cultural ties between the two countries, as well as Russia’s desire to regain its influence in international politics. Russia’s failure to protect Serbia from aggression by NATO in 1999 was a humiliating [...]
Posted on January 31, 2008 - by Venik
Universal Health Care
I just finished watching Michael Moore‘s “Sicko“. As always Moore hits the nail on the head. In simple terms he explains a complicated problem and the main reason behind it: HMOs are robbing us blind but we are too stupid, tired, scared and depressed to do anything about it. Our doctors and politicians continue to take kickbacks from [...]
Posted on January 27, 2008 - by Venik
Kasyanov barred from elections
Mikhail Kasyanov, Russia’s former Prime Minister and the leader of the PDU party, has been barred by the Central Election Commission (CEC) from participating in the presidential elections in March of 2008. According to Russian election legislation, an independent candidate like Kasyanov must collect two million signatures from supporters in order to participate in presidential [...]
Posted on January 16, 2008 - by Venik
British Council vs GIBDD (Russian traffic police)
Stephen Kinnock, the head of the British Council in Russia, was detained by police on suspicion of drunk driving. He was held for about an hour and then released with consular help. Work of the British Council in St. Petersburg has been temporarily suspended because the Council’s Russian staff is being “interviewed” by the FSB. [...]
Posted on January 11, 2008 - by Venik
Presidential primaries and the idiot’s war
Like many of you, I was watching the Democratic presidential debates. They almost convinced me to vote Republican for the first time ever. The first question on the agenda: nuclear terrorism and, of course, Osama. According to the leading economists, the country is heading toward a deep recession (1). Even with the buy-out of Countrywide, [...]
Posted on December 12, 2007 - by Venik
The battle of the experts
Go to Google News and pick a few random articles about the latest events in Russia. Quickly look through each article and write down names of various Russian political analysts and experts quoted in the article. Also write down the names of the organizations these experts represent. You will end up with an interesting list [...]
Posted on December 10, 2007 - by Venik
Russia’s liberals: the identity crisis
I just stumbled upon a remarkably-balanced article about Russian politics: “In Russia, a democratic message blurred“, by Nikolai Petro, US State Department’s former special assistant for policy on the Soviet Union under George H. W. Bush. It is not every day that in an American newspaper one encounters an intelligent thought about Russia’s political life. [...]
Posted on December 3, 2007 - by Venik
Western press on Russian elections
I guess sometimes the desire to criticize is just too overwhelming to resist. Western journalist covering the Russian elections resemble a herd of wildebeest crossing a river, falling prey to logic and common sense. An unstoppable desire to print something scathing, and brutal, and full of appearance of righteous indignation. It doesn’t matter if the [...]
