Yuri Shchekochikhin - died in July 2003. Suspected cause of death: Ingestion of a radioactive substance. As deputy editor of Novaya Gazeta, Shchekochikhin was investigating corruption in Russia's FSB security service at the time of his death.This weekend, a crowd of protestors joined an estimated 250 mourners to commemorate the deaths of Marelov and Baburova. Anti-war activist Anna Karetnikova, a friend of Anna Politkovskaya who was slain in 2006, blamed the double murders on orders from the Kremlin.
Paul Klebnikov - a U.S. citizen of Russian descent and editor of the Russian edition of Forbes magazine who was shot on a Moscow street in July 2004.
Anna Politkovskaya - shot dead as she entered her Moscow apartment in October 2006.
Ivan Safranov – fell to his death from his Moscow apartment building in March 2007. Although he had just returned from shopping with a bag of groceries in hand, Russian authorities ruled the death a suicide. He had been investigating sensitive arms sales days before his death.
Magomed Yevloyev - the owner of a Russian opposition Internet site was shot dead on August 31, 2008.
Stanislav Markelov - murdered on January 23, 2009, he was an investigative reporter with Novaya Gazeta.
Anastasia Baburova – an investigative reporter with Novaya Gazeta, she was murdered on January 23, 2009 alongside Stanislav Markelov.
To date, four employees of Novaya Gazeta have been murdered: Shchekochikhin, Politkovskaya, Markelov, and Baburova.
Alexander Lebedev (a Russian billionaire and former KGB agent) and Mikhail Gorbachev (the last leader of the former Soviet Union) own a 49% stake in Novaya Gazeta, the newspaper hardest hit by these assassinations. The employees own a 51% stake. Lebedev writes a blog at alex-lebedev.livejournal.com.
Recently, Lebedev and Gorbachev joined forces to launch a new political party independent of the Kremlin. Called the Independent Democratic Party, it seeks legal and economic reform and the promotion of an independent media. Considering the Kremlin’s slide into oligarchy, Novaya Gazeta may represent the last outpost of free and independent journalism left in Russia.
In solidarity, I have added Novaya Gazeta (English version) to our list of news and information sources. According to the editors:
The killers have no fear because they know they will not be punished. But neither are their victims afraid, because when you defend others you cease to fear.
I'm so glad you posted this. You know, we are so caught up with the Middle East, Putin has been able to bring back old style communism using the KGB tactics he knows so well. Russia's collapse left a big hole which no group was able to take advantage of. Gorbechev, unfortunately was before his time and Yeltsin was grossly incompetent.
ReplyDeleteI find it horrifying that these journalists find themselves once again in mortal danger for speaking the truth. And this country should not turn their back on Putin; he and his regime are far more dangerous than most realize.
Russia is the best reason in the world to create a green energy grid in North America and Europe.
ReplyDeleteRocky, it is still too early to determine how far Russia has slipped into oligarchy. For the sake of brevity, I did not mention this:
ReplyDeleteThe current president, Dmitry Medvedev, met with the editor of Novaya Gazeta to express his condolences over the latest assassinations.
It remains unclear how much authority Medvedev wields. Although serving as President, the Prime Minister is Vladimir Putin, former president and Medvedev's mentor. Does Medvedev hold real authority, or is he merely a placeholder for Putin until the next election?
The current oligarchy is in many respects the result of bungled American advice during the Yelsin years. Yes, our fault! American advisors pushed Russia too far, too fast in the direction of privatization resulting in severe economic privation for Russia during the 1990s. Truth lies somewhere in between and is not accurately reported by our own media either.
Matt, you are right on the subject of energy. Russia bullied Ukraine in the latest gas crisis, and Europe has been forewarned.
Last I heard, Putin was worth like 40 billion dollars. The guy is an evil Rockefeller.
ReplyDelete8pus, too early to tell? I think the writing has been on the wall for a long time and certainly was clear once Putin decided not to run for president but remain as PM.
ReplyDeleteThe Bear is alive and well, unfortunately and don't look to Medvedev, the straw man, to foster any changes. Medved means "teddy bear" and it is an apt description of this guy's power. Notice who did all the talking during the gas pipeline crisis - Putin.
The spy who died from poisoning in England blamed the Putin regime before he died.
The president of Ukraine was nearly killed in a similar manner by his opponent who was backed by Putin.
But, your right, this is not old Mother Russia - something new and scarier has risen in her place. A corrupt government, commerce run by gangs and killers walking the streets without fear of reprisals.
Kind of sounds like 1920s Chicago...
This is very sad. It's nice to remember to be thankful I live in the United States. Even though we screw stuff up - a lot - this kind of thing can't happen.
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't say "can't happen" but obviously it's far less likely. Here we have more danger from private groups, who have actually shot journalists and of course doctors who work in abortion clinics.
ReplyDeleteRocky: Kind of sounds like 1920s Chicago...
ReplyDeleteProbably the more apt analogy. Privatization at U.S. urging created these oligarchs, and the only difference between our oligarchs versus theirs is the difference in violence.
A very distant relative, whom I never met until last Spring, came to visit me for 5 weeks to learn and practice English. Currently living in Berlin, she was born and raised the Mineral’nye Vody region of the Caucasus, Russia. Her family still lives there, owns several businesses, and is prospering. It seems they enjoy more freedom and opportunity than any American “librul” would if Ann Coulter had her way.
Many have prospered after communism, but my fear is they will soon see a reversal if the dark portents central to Putin and his regime remain.
ReplyDeleteMy great grandfather was a prosperous builder in Ukraine at the turn of the last century but, the next generation under Stalin was left with nothing. It can and has happened that fast.
The area of Europe that encompassed the old Soviet is as vulnerable and unstable as the Middle East. I hope Hillary has enough sense to keep a third eye on them.
Rocky, I would never put thugs on a pedestal; all I am saying is that we have more than our fair share of bad characters:
ReplyDeleteAnn Coulter – thinks of “libruls” as godless traitors who, as written in her books, should be persecuted and punished. Says women should be denied the right to vote because more women than men vote Democratic. Has accused 9/11 widows of profiteering from their husbands’ deaths.
G. Gordon Liddy – has stated openly and without hesitation that he is an admirer of Adolf Hitler.
Rush Limbaugh – wants our new president to fail and is trying to rally the far rightwing to obstruct all initiatives. Defames any opponent and has ridiculed people on the basis of their infirmities (such as Michael J. Fox).
Michael Savage – has described autistic children as spoiled brats deserving of punishment; openly bashes gays, hispanics, women, and minorities.
Bush/Cheney – torture, extreme rendition, domestic wire-tapping, politicization of the justice department, a preemptive war predicated on lies and deceptions, defamation of political opponents, no-bid contracts to favored cronies …
Need I say more! America has a sinister side too, except we don't necessarily murder journalists (only abortion clinic workers, as Captain Fogg points out) to control the news. Hours and hours of Hilton/Spears gossip works just as well.
8pus, I'm not disagreeing with you; one has only to look at the life and struggles of Morris Dees or the murder of Alan Berg or the case of the MS civil rights workers or Medgar Evers to see how our own country has failed to deal effectively with extremism and hate.
ReplyDeleteI have been quite alarmed over the last 4 years in particular and am relieved to see Obama reversing much of the damage. But I'm not letting down my guard yet.
As for Russia, my point is they are still a threat and bear close scrutiny.
I just started selling to a retailer who has 10 stores in Russia. I am really enjoying the relationship and will be visiting him this summer. Yes, we both like to wheel n deal, and we both would not be considered 'traditional businessmen' but he has told me enough to make me realize that there are two economies in Russia, one being what we call an economy and the other being illegal and or thug run. Which can still be found in most of the developing world and in some parts of the United States, Europe, and Japan.
ReplyDeleteWhen I ask him how big he thinks his business can grow, his response is always, "hopefully never so big that I step on someones toes...."
Now THAT's interesting, Tao.
ReplyDelete"hopefully never so big that I step on someone's toes."
The opposite - no? - of American capitalism which is all about getting big enough to be able TO step on toes.
After years of communism and not so much being stepped on but squashed, I find it heartening to hear this quote from a businessman in Russia. I hope the legitimate business people find a way to continue to grow while removing the criminal element that has fostered so much violence and corruption there.
ReplyDeleteI am looking at my comments and they seem pretty bleak and it is not my intent to paint such a dreary picture but rather to give voice to my distrust of the current regime in power.