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Russia must find its own way towards democracy. It has never known this desirable
state of affairs and at many levels is deeply suspicious about the implied western
values being imposed upon it. Of course this is primarily a top-down attitude
but there is little evidence that there is much in the way of public "demand"
for the various freedoms, that the western world characterises as democracy.
'Interference' is how the state regards foreign-funded NGO campaigning and right
now the state has a lot of support from the people. Even more offensive in Russian
eyes, are the otiose public pep-talks made by western leaders such as the US
President, pointing out their slippage, or lack of achievement in democratic
standards. The Russians can and do respond by referring to a long list such
as: the disgracefully undemocratic Florida conclusion to the US presidential
election of 2000; to the US engaging in an offensive war in Iraq without UN
sanction, resulting in scores, perhaps hundreds of thousands of civilian deaths,
and many more injuries; to the US unilaterally departing from the Geneva conventions
on prisoner of war treatment at its prison camps, Guantanamo and elsewhere;
they refer to such scandals as Abu Gharaib and of US agencies hijacking suspects
'for rendition,' off the streets of other countries - the list goes on. It can
be summarised as people that live in glass houses should not throw stones, let
alone take a high moral line with other 'malefactors'.
In 2008 Russia will elect a new president. There are likely to be candidates
on the slate who represent the virtues that the west would like to see take
hold. But who is holding their breath on such a candidate winning, or even doing
well? If Russia continues to succeed economically (and with an oil and gas based
economy, why should they not), then amongst other improvements their people
will want to see over time, will be those that we characterise as democracy.
Russian citizens becoming used to much improved family and national circumstances
are not going to want to be compared with other successful nations where opposition
politicians and editors , investigative journalists etc; are not shot
down in the streets without any one ever being even arrested, let alone convicted
A smooth path to raising living standards will include such obvious improvements
in life, but this is for them to achieve. It cannot be imposed in such circumstances,
nor brought about by preaching. Our PRESCRIPTION is to stop trying
to tell them how they should run their country, whilst making sure that the
information as to what they actually do is fully reported and widely available
in the international media, for any or all who may wish to do so, to easily
access.
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Comments
WHAT CRAP! You made some really pathetic excuses for the Putin gang. It sounds more like your candidate lost in the Florida election and you are making a partisan rant at the expense of Russian democracy. Shame on you.
It is wrong to suggest that the West should not interfere and continue in tendering to the undemocratic measures in Russia. The fact that the Ameericans are acting in a non-democratic fashion should not limit our thinking.The West should tell them that they will not invest in their economy and will not allow investments by Russian capital into Western economies, UNLESS....
As at now, the business men in the West are pandering to the Russians and allowing them to take over, without proper compensation investments of both Russian and overseas investments.
When does the West wake up to the gangsterism of Putin and the other government inspired judicial crooks. When is Khodorovsky liberated?
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