Still Life with Vladimir Vladimirovich

Because of logistical things, I'm home a little early from the archive. Still getting stuff done, with the help of a late afternoon cup of java.

I call it "Still Life with Vladimir Vladimirovich"

And the once and future president.

March 10 "For Fair Elections," Part II

I've got no brilliant commentary to add, but I do have a few pictures. Mostly we stood way in the back, near a screen that was replicating what was happening on the stage, which was about a half-mile further down Novyi Arbat. This time was a little odd because they confined the crowd to one side, an open plaza - pedestrian area. What this did mean, however, is that once we decided to get clear of the crowd, we walked down the other side of the street and got a look at the larger crowd at the front, near the stage.

"Robocop cleans our Detroit of theives and liars."

Robocop is against 'slave-cops.' [Anyone have a better way to translate that one?]

Hey, an actual picture of me on my blog. That doesn't happen often.

This is Udaltsov, the "Left Front" leader. He called for a million people to march on May Day.

Elections

I don't really have anything to say about the elections more than is being said in the media. The independent media and blogs here are reporting widespread violations of rights and election law, but frankly, they were not decisive in the result. I do, however, have two comment-questions:

The first is this: why bother? Why do the powers-that-be condone, if not personally prepare, these election-day schenanigans, if they know full well based on pre-election polling, that Putin was already well over 50% anyway? I'm certain that it says something about the mentality behind metaphorical Kremlin walls. However, it seems to me to be a poor estimate of the cost-benefit result on the image of Russian democracy, and Putin personally, among both the citizens of the RF and global opinion--not that the world is paying close attention.

Second, what now for the small but significant minority who have been activated over the last several months? Slide back into apathy? Perhaps from some, but for many with whom I've spoken recently - and these not necessarily the most active and passionate opponents - that seems unlikely. At the same time, where do they go? Into Navalnyi's anti-corruption battle? Into creating independent parties? Into something entirely different and unexpected?

Only time will tell.

As the Russians say, "как раз," Putin is about to speak to his victory rally on Manezhnoi. Who knew that the Who ca. 1971 would be the best explanation for Russian politics ca. 2012?

"Meet the new boss,
Same as the old boss."

Hungary and One-Party Government

I'm cross-posting something I wrote on the other blog I decided to start. It's not about Russia, per-se, but it is Eastern Europe. And that's a problem.

Politics, Culture, and Other Infuriating Things

Holidays and News

It's been several days since I've posted because, frankly, there's not much to write about. The ten days to two weeks that begin before New Year's Eve and carry through until next Monday, following yesterday's Orthodox Christmas, are essentially vacation for everyone in business and government. And the news media, which slumbers as well.

This also includes the archives. As a result, I've had some time to do some reading, spend time with friends, including some old friends visiting Moscow. It's been a welcome bit of vacation, but I admit that I am excited, anticipating getting back to work.

There's not much to update on anything else I've written about recently. There is a sense that the next protest march is being planned for 4 February, which is about a month before the scheduled presidential election. For now, things are pretty quiet. However Stephen Cohen, in a video interview on DemocracyNow!, noted, in response to a question about the seriousness of Prokhorov's run for the presidency, that he spent New Year's Eve in a chalet in Switzerland. This is not something you do if you are anything more than a ploy by the Kremlin to eventually siphon off the protest vote.

Russian Politics

As the Russian Presidential election quickly approaches, I keep asking the same questions of the news I read: Will anything change with the nominal transition from Putin to Medvedev? Will Medvedev be able to influence policies?

It seems as if Medvedev is projecting a more liberal image that befits a focus more toward legal reforms, social problems, and economic issues and away from the raw power of the former KGB and FSB elements in the Kremlin. We shall see...(a common refrain of mine when I think about Russia these days.)

It's Been a While

...since I've posted. A month and a half, to be exact. It's been a busy stretch, both for me and for Russia. The holidays were here and I have been lucky enough to spend a month with those I love. Now, it's back to school and things are going well, like they say "Time flies when you're having fun." I can't believe that January has nearly come and gone.

As for Russia, well, as you probably know, we have an heir apparent. No surprises, although I was a little surprised that the decision became public as early as it did, months before the March election. It seems like they are aiming for a seamless official transfer of power, without much real change.

Any opposition candidates (Kasyonov, Kasparov, Zhyugonov, et.al.) are finding tough sledding in their attempts to get registered, run, and find air time for their campaigns. I fail to understand why the authorities feel the need to quash opposition when they would win even in a fair election.

Sunday Politics...

Commentary from The NYT on the state of Russian justice and its hopeless entanglement in the political system. The quote below seems to be the most pertinent to the situation that arose this week when authorities in Great Britain began seeking the extradition of a former KGB officer in the poisoning of Litvinenko.

The cynicism has been a hallmark of Mr. Putin’s presidency, allowing him to consolidate power by using the law to weaken the media, marginalize opposition parties and imprison political enemies. It is now being used to paint Britain as wielding its judicial system in Mr. Litvinenko’s murder in the same way Russia often wields its own — manipulating the law for political ends.

Who knows what will happen next. The more I read about, it the less I understand.

News...

A little a bit of news from Russia: First more mine disaster from the same region where a different mine exploded two months ago killing dozens.

Mine Blast Kills 38

Also, Putin has been in Europe for the last few days, especially talking about the Russian economy and the Russia's growing wealth.

Putin Touts Economiuc Strength

Post Number Two of the Day...

...but I couldn't resist. Here's a pretty hilarious article from 2001 from The Onion archives. (Thanks to Molly for finding it!)

Russia Aquires Amway Distributorship

Also, in other news the Brits are charging a Russian in last fall's poisoning/murder of ex KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko. Is anyone surprised?

Read All About It!

Some Politics

So the recent EU-Russia summit in Samara went off not-so-well. First there was the planned protest that didn't get off the groud and then there was the fact that there was little agreement between the two parties on...anything. Issues like the Russians' tiff with Estonia and the disagreement between Poland and Russia over Polish meat exports do little to improve things. On the other hand, as the article below notes, European and German dependence on Russia for energy supplies make this relationship vital, if no less contentious.

EU-Russia Relations in the NYT

The other thing that looms is the fact that by this time next year we should know who Putin's successor will be. That said, the picture is far from clear. There are some candidates (unofficial, of course,) but I have a feeling that Putin will pull a rabbit out of the hat, much the same way that Yeltsin did when he plucked Putin from relative obscurity to Prime Minister and then hand-chosen successor.

Some Commentary on the state of political Russia from The Moscow Times

R.I.P. Boris Nikolayevich

It will be interesting to see how the Russian government and people react to Yeltsin's death and how his funeral and things go. I think it will be interesting because it will bring memories of the rough years of the 90's back to the forefront. You have to give him some credit for helping to bring down a totalitarian state with a minium of violence and blodshed. (You can imagine the "Yugoslavia in 11 time-zones" nightmare."

NYT on Yeltsin's Death

Gates Showed Up in Moscow to talk to the Russians about missle defence.

Опять политика...

This article in The Moscow Times gives a pretty good impression of the situation here in the wake of the government's crackdown on last weekend's tiny protests. The powers that be seem nervous. It goes a long way to explaining the government's reaction to opposition and the reaction to events in Ukraine and other world events.

Also, here's an interesting article about Eastern Europe and it's growing position as an outsourcing area for Western Europe-based businesses.

...and Monday Morning

I've got a picture from last week's trip to Bogolyubovo. Picture credit to Molly.

Also, another picture from a while back when we were in Moscow, also one of Molly's.

Russian language news seems to play it as a few members of a "radical opposition," painting anyone who would oppose the current order as an extremist. For those who can read Russian there is Rambler.ru which makes things sound orderly.
On the other hand, there is The Moscow Times on this weeekend's festivities, which seem chaotic. Also interesting is this story, by a photographer who was swept up by the police and then released. I wasn't there, so I'll leave it to you to decide.

P.S. The NYT

Also, let's save polar bears by killing them.

Sunday...

...this week, I'm not working on Sunday, just killing some time on the Internet before heading of to spend some time relaxing and reading in our favorite cafe. It's sunny, but cold, so the thought of spending a lot of time outside is a non-starter.

Also, if you didn't catch this, you might want to read about Moscow events from yesterday in this story from the NYT

P.S. There's another related article that just appeared.

Politics Again

Yushchenko's Opinion Piece about why he chose to call for elections. There is also a piece in The Moscow Times about the Situation in Kiyv. As an American I am inclined to see it from the pro-Western Yushchenko's point of view, but clearly there are a lot of people in the country who support Yanukovich.

Here in Vladimir, winter has made an attempt to return as the temperature plunged yesterday and there were patches of snow here and there on the ground and on buildings this morning: another day in paradise.

More Ukraine

More Ukraine Fun Another article in The New York Times about what seems to be a developing Ukrainian political crisis.

Here'sWhat The Moscow Times has to say about it.

It's hard to tell right now, but it seems like the normal growing pains of a functioning, if tumultuous, democracy. This is of course in stark contrast the politics of many of the other post-Soviet countries.

Other than that, a warm, sunny day at work.

Bagpipes?

Molly, Nicole, and I were headed to the coffee shop Sunday afternoon for a cup of coffee and some relaxation when we came upon this guy:
I'm not sure how a bagpipe-playing guy showed up in Vladimir, but we put down a few rubles and listened for a few minutes.

Here's a picture of Nicole and Molly that I snapped at the same time. We're all sad because we are going to be losing our Nicole at the end of the month as she goes back to the States to claim her Master's and find what is known as a "real job!"

Also in the news today is more political turmoil in neighboring Ukraine. The pro-Western president, Yushchenko, is facing an over-assertive parliament and it's leader, the pro-Russian Yanukovich. (You might remember that Yanukovich is the guy who was Yushchenko's opponent in the presidential election back in 2004.) As a result of a further strengthening of the opposition majority, Yushchenko is calling for new parliamentary elections late next month. It may not be as scandalous as Italian politics, but it is very interesting because Ukraine is riding the balance between pro-Western, EU-facing influences and East-leaning, pro-Russian ones. Read All About It

Here's a Contrast

Pro-Kremlin Nashi Youth Organization Rally in Moscow

Not-so-pro-KremlinRally in Nizhniy Novgorod broken up.

Election Day Results

Election Day Results are in and, not surprisingly, United Russia cleaned up. I like the part where the leader of United Russia is indignant that they only won in 13 of 14 regions and is demanding that the governor of that one region be sacked.

As I said before in my post about Petersburg, most of the advertising there was for United Russia and what little was not was for the other party that backs the Kremlin, "Just Russia." (See the picture below of me with Plushenko: He's endorsing "Just Russia.") The powers that be seem to be trying to play it as if these two parties oppose each other, with United Russia, the majority, as a center-right group and Just Russia a center-left "opposition." I'm not sure exactly what they oppose though, because they clearly support the Kremlin and Putin. Oh well, the winds of Russian politics are never easy top read. It seems that the Kremlin is trying to build a two party system and force out the two real, but very weak, oppositions, the liberal Yobloko (Apple) and the Communists, who are a long way from being a power, but are popular amongst older folks.

In large part, these are judged by most commentators to be a dress for the federal legislative elections in the fall, followed by the presidential contest next spring. We'll just have to tune in again and see how it unfolds.