Russian liberal party questions Gerard Depardieu

The Liberator bog has published a letter from Yabloko - the Russian liberal party (not to be confused with the Russian Liberal Democrats) to Gerard Depardieu challenging him on his decision to move to the republic of Mordovia.  It's the sort of thing that needs a wider circulation.

Russia signals end for Assad

The news that Russia thinks Syrian dictator Bashar al Assad may face defeat is surely the end.  Assad has only been able to cling on so long with the support of Moscow and withdrawal of their personnel would be terminal. 

Assad is one of the last of the unreformed soviet dictators who tools of repression, state murder and torture have kept his grip on power while other middle eastern leaders were feeling the cold blast of popular democracy.  But it's not just in Moscow where Assad found support - he always had his fans in the west too - those who in the name of socialism and equality conveniently ignored assad and his ilk's anti social actions and personal agrandizement. 

Assad will no doubt be offered safe passage and asylum somewhere out of Syria where he can spend some more time with his ill gotten gains and guilty conscience.  The question is who will support him then?

Friday favourite 72

Well with the imprisonment by the new Communist regime in Moscow of three members of a pretty poor punk combo, there is only one possible choice.  What is most abhorrent about the case is the Russian state's use of psychiatry to justify their actions - just like the old Socialists.  The act of protest is not a sign of mental illness and was comprehensively debunked in the 60s and 70s.  I'm not sure even the Chinese use it as an excuse in their repression these days...

Now it's Bob Putin...

The news that an assassination plot has been made up uncovered by the Russian security forces, reminds me of a little known Tim Robbins film - Bob Roberts.

In that a folksy right wing populist candidate employs various underhand tactics in an attempt to win an US Senate seat and (spoiler alert) arranges his own attempted assassination.

Here's a flavour:



Surely Putin must have seen the script?

Putin gained just 10% support from UK Russian exiles

The fall out from last week's (note the apostrophe Nick) fixed elections in Russia continues with the announcement that another oligarch, Mikhail Prokhorov, is to challenge Putin for President next March.

But in trying to find out more about him I stumbled across this article that gives a breakdown of votes cast in the Duma election from Russian exiles. In it is revealed that Yabloko - the Russian Liberals - received 41% from UK based voters with Putin's discredited United Russia receiving just 10.6%.

Good show I say.