Redstate

Posted at 6:30pm on May 17, 2008 Vladimir The Terrible

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

One of the more distressing aspects of the media's coverage of Russia is its ready acceptance of Russian backsliding into a state of autocracy. This report reminds us that when it comes to examining Russia, one shouldn't be so sanguine about its reversion to what is properly called a "cryptofascist" state system:

As ex-President Putin settles in to his new role as Prime Minister, he has every reason to congratulate himself.

After all, he has not only written the script for his constitutional coup d'etat, but staged the play and given himself the starring role as well.

Of course, he has given a walk-on role to Dmitry Medvedev, his personally anointed successor.

But the transfer of power from Putin to his Little Sir Echo, Medvedev, and the show of military strength with those soldiers and clapped-out missiles in Red Square on Victory Day which followed it last week, made it clear who is really in charge.

No decision of any significance for the Russian people or the rest of us will be made in the foreseeable future without the say - so of Medvedev's unsmiling master.

Read on . . .

Posted in Foreign Affairs | Russia | Vladimir Putin — Comments (2)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:30am on May 10, 2008 "And Now . . . Evening Wear!"

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

Back to the bad old days, at least as far as theatrics go. I suppose that it is nice and reassuring that Vladimir Putin Dmitri Medvedev told his audience that "war is bad, mmmkay?" and that we ought to be careful not to start any, but the message is . . . shall we say . . . undercut by a military parade that might have brought smiles to the faces of Brezhnev, Andropov and Chernenko.

To be sure, we shouldn't read too much into all of this. As this article makes clear at the end, Russia's military possesses more bark than bite. But there is no question that President Putin Medvedev wants to remedy this. And even independent of this issue, Russia's actions towards former Soviet states (distressingly, no one on the Presidential campaign trail is talking about Abkhazia and/or South Ossetia) and the internal repression that has returned to Russia is quite enough to cause observers to wonder and worry about Russia's intentions and ambitions.

Posted in Foreign Affairs | Russia | Vladimir Putin | Vladimir Putin's Sockpuppet — Comments (1)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:24am on May 8, 2008 Meet The New Boss

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

Same as the old boss. And my, isn't the following telling?

The remarks appeared to presage Putin's continued hand on Russian power. "It is extremely important for everyone together to continue the course that has already been taken and has justified itself," he said.

Only then did Medvedev, 42, approach the lectern, rest his hand on a copy of the Russian Constitution, and utter the oath of office.

In a brief address afterward, he touched themes he has embraced since Putin selected him as his successor late last year and as he was shepherded through a scripted election.

He emphasized improving living standards, education and medical care, and modernizing Russia's narrow economy, which relies on oil and gas revenues, as well as other forms of natural resource extraction.

"I would like to assure all of the citizens of this country that I will be working to my fullest capacity," he said. "I fully realize how much has yet to be done."

Medvedev, whose public persona is decidedly softer than Putin's, also stressed the importance of civil rights, as he has in several speeches since he became the presumptive president-elect.

Minutes later, Putin accompanied the new president outside to review the passing formations of the ceremonial regiment. When the two men left the dais after the last platoon passed, it was on cue from Putin, not Medvedev, who followed the former president's lead.

It's safe to predict that Putin will continue to dominate policy as much as he is able to dominate political theatrics.

Posted in Dmitri Medvedev | Foreign Affairs | Russia | Vladimir Putin — Comments (0)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 2:01am on Mar. 4, 2008 Summarizing The Russian Presidential Election

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

I really can't do better than this:

THREE hours before the close of the presidential election on Sunday March 2nd, in which voters massively endorsed Dmitry Medvedev as Russia's next president, a bull-necked security guard (radio in hand, legs apart) barred the entrance to polling station number 3065. The station had been set up in a vast and heaving electronics market, apparently for the convenience of traders. But the few who turned up to vote were told that the station had closed, either because of a terrorist threat or as a result of some obscure "technical" problems. A brief look inside suggested that, although almost empty, it was in fact functioning.

Outside of the polling station stood a large group of men in black leather jackets. These were the same characters your correspondent saw casting multiple votes in the December parliamentary elections. They were soon led away and a four-wheel-drive vehicle arrived. Men emerged carrying a white plastic ballot box and were allowed into the station by a guard, who then shut the door tightly. A young policeman who came to inquire was instructed to leave by figures in plain clothes and promptly did so.

These latter men (one identified himself as a "representative of the international community") glowered, then lunged, violently throwing your correspondent and another foreign journalist on to the nearby street, with a warning never to come back. One offered a piece of advice: "Go back to England, you can ask [the self-exiled opponent of Vladimir Putin, Boris] Berezovsky and Prince Harry your questions. We'll manage here without you." Your correspondent and his colleague were then forced into a taxi, and the bemused driver was ordered to drive to the British Embassy.

Posted in Authoritarianism | Contra Tyrannum | Dictatorship | Dmitri Medvedev | Russia | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (1)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 1:54am on Mar. 1, 2008 Dem Czars, Dem Czars, Dem [Beat] Authoritarian Czars . . .

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

How does one say "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" in Russian? Understand that I ask because of this:

The Kremlin is planning to falsify the results of this Sunday's presidential election in Russia by compelling millions of public sector workers to vote and by fraudulently boosting the official turnout after polls close, the Guardian has learned.

Governors, regional officials, and even headteachers have been instructed to deliver a landslide majority for Dmitry Medvedev - Russia's first deputy prime minister, whom President Vladimir Putin has endorsed to be his successor.

Officials have been told they need to secure a 68% to 70% turnout in this weekend's poll - with around 72% casting votes for Medvedev. However, independent analysts believe the real turnout will be much lower - with between 25% and 50% of the electorate taking part.

The Kremlin is planning to bridge the gap by the use of widespread fraud, diplomats and other independent sources have told the Guardian. Local election officials are preparing to stuff ballot boxes once the polls have closed with unused ballots, they believe, with regional officials also giving inflated tallies to Russia's central election commission.

Additionally, public sector workers including teachers, students, and doctors have been told to vote on Sunday or risk losing their jobs or university places. Parents have even been warned at parents' meetings that if they fail to turn up their children might suffer at school.

Read on . . .

Posted in Authoritarianism | Dictatorship | Dmitri Medvedev | Foreign Affairs | Geopolitical Nightmares | Vladimir Putin — Comments (7)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:46am on Jan. 18, 2008 For Those Who Continue To Wonder Why We Should Worry About Vladimir Putin . . .

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

This link is dedicated to you.

No, Putin is not a military threat. Yes, he is working feverishly to create a dictatorship centered around him in his own country. Yes, such a dictatorship will serve to make Russian decision-making more opaque. Yes, the increased opaqueness of Russian decision-making will serve to cause countries like the United States to miscalculate when it comes to crafting Russo-American foreign policy. And yes, we should be concerned about such miscalculations and their dramatically deleterious consequences.

Posted in Authoritarianism | Dictatorship | Foreign Affairs | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (1)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 9:14pm on Dec. 19, 2007 Vladimir Putin: Person Of The Year

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

As a consequential figure on the world stage, I can certainly understand why Vladimir Putin got selected as Time's Person of the Year. For all of its problems, Russia remains a country with great sway and power and Putin is therefore a key player on the world stage. His efforts to shut down a nascent democracy deserve mention, attention and worldwide opprobrium. His efforts to reignite the forces of Russian imperialism via bullying former Soviet republics, a likely recognition of the efforts being made by the breakaway ethnic Russian enclaves of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in Georgia to achieve independence (this in response to any effort on the part of Kosovo to achieve independence), Russia's withdrawal from the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty and Putin's own efforts to enhance his cult of personality and his political power at home should be of deep concern to any and all Russia-watchers.

I continue to think that General David Petraeus should have been selected Person of the Year. Just as consequential as Putin, he used his talents for good, leading the troop surge in Iraq and helping to set the country on a path towards reconstruction, political reconciliation and full re-integration into the international community. But as I indicate above, the Person of the Year award doesn't just go to good people, though in this case, a powerful argument can be made that a good person (Petraeus) deserved it over a deeply flawed and power-hungry one (Putin). The consequence of this "award" should be a renewed emphasis on the threats a belligerent Russian government poses to its own citizens and to other countries. No, this is not the Cold War. Not even close. But it's nothing to shut our eyes to either.

Or to put matters more succinctly, see this.

Posted in Authoritarianism | Dictatorship | Foreign Affairs | foreign policy | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (9)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 7:22pm on Dec. 17, 2007 Paging--Once Again--Mel Brooks

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

It's good to be the President of Russia. Or the Prime Minister of Russia. Or, just to simplify matters, Vladimir Putin:

President Vladimir Putin told a party congress Monday that he would accept the prime minister's post if his longtime protege is elected president, guaranteeing Putin an ongoing heavyweight political role in Russia.

Read on . . .

Posted in Authoritarianism | Dictatorship | Foreign Affairs | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (6)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:01pm on Dec. 15, 2007 Sound Familiar?

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

The bad old days are back:

A Russian opposition activist has been sent to a psychiatric hospital by authorities a day before a planned demonstration.

Read on . . .

Posted in Authoritarianism | Contra Tyrannum | Dictatorship | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (12)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 12:58am on Dec. 12, 2007 How Very Convenient

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

Just yesterday, Vladimir Putin said that Dmitri Medvedev ought to succeed Putin to the Presidency.

Today, Medvedev showed that he can sing for his supper:

Russian President Vladimir Putin should become prime minister after stepping down next year, his chosen successor Dmitry Medvedev says.

Mr Putin named Mr Medvedev on Monday as his favourite for the presidency. Mr Putin's own popularity is likely to ensure he is elected, analysts say.

Mr Putin steps down in March but is expected to retain political influence.

That last paragraph is possibly the understatement of the year.

Posted in Authoritarianism | Contra Tyrannum | Dictatorship | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (2)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 8:43am on Dec. 8, 2007 Statistical Evidence of Russian Electoral Fraud?

By Neil Stevens

Via Slashdot Science I found this article summarizing analyses of the latest Russian election. If this is even news, then clearly someone came up with some signs of fraud, and it shouldn't be any surprise which political party got the benefits of this alleged fraud...

Read On...

Posted in Contra Tyrannum | Electoral Fraud | Russia | United Russia | Vladimir Putin — Comments (2)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 10:28pm on Dec. 3, 2007 Still More On Repression In Russia

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

Courtesy of Stefan Beck. I realize, of course, that all of this is depressing reading. But it is necessary reading as well. And while we are on the general subject: Link.

Posted at 4:59pm on Dec. 3, 2007 How Vladimir Putin "Won"

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

Pretty much what you would expect:

. . . "The election was not fair and failed to meet standards for democratic elections," concluded the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe in a joint statement. Nothing was left to chance to ensure a high turnout. In Moscow your correspondent spotted several "tourist" buses stuffed with people from far-flung regions. They voted early and often. The buses were guarded by men in black leather coats and ski hats who, every few minutes, would let a small group out of the vehicle to cast their ballots. They would move to the next polling station and repeat the exercise. The "leader" of the group said the men were workers from a nearby factory. But, despite strict instruction to keep silent, some admitted that they were free labourers and came from as far away as the Kemerovo region, some 3500 km from Moscow. "We have been going around polling stations since lunch time," grumbled one man, "and they have not paid us yet".

In the event that I haven't mentioned it enough, it really is time for us not only to rethink our policy regarding Russia, but to actually implement the rethought policy.

Posted in Authoritarianism | Contra Tyrannum | Dictatorship | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (15)/ Email this page » / Read More »

Posted at 11:08pm on Dec. 2, 2007 As Expected . . .

By Pejman Yousefzadeh

Vladimir Putin "wins":

Exit polls showed Vladimir Putin's party winning more than 60 percent of the vote Sunday in a parliamentary election that could pave the way for him to remain the country's leader even when he steps down as president.

Read on . . .

Posted in Authoritarianism | Contra Tyrannum | Dictatorship | Tyranny | Vladimir Putin — Comments (0)/ Email this page » / Read More »