U.S.A.: Has Racial Problems?

Population of the USA will change drastically in the future!

Hello,

I thought Russia was the only country with racial problems......

Never dreamed that there is racial problems in the USA. I lived there 47 years and saw it all. Now The UN is going to investigate these problems. (I do not think that the USA cares what the UN thinks!)
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U.N. racism investigator to visit U.S. from Monday
Fri May 16, 2008 2:48pm EDT

By Stephanie Nebehay

GENEVA (Reuters) - A special U.N. human rights investigator will visit the United States this month to probe racism, an issue that has forced its way into the race to secure the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

The United Nations said Doudou Diene would meet federal and local officials, as well as lawmakers and judicial authorities during the May 19-June 6 visit.

"The special rapporteur will...gather first-hand information on issues related to racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance," a U.N. statement said on Friday.

His three-week visit, at U.S. government invitation, will cover eight cities -- Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Omaha, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Race has become a central issue in the U.S. election cycle because Sen. Barack Obama, the frontrunner in the battle for the Democratic nomination battle, stands to become the country's first African American president.

His campaign has increased turnout among black voters but has also turned off some white voters in a country with a history of slavery and racial segregation.

Diene, a Senegalese lawyer who has served in the independent post since 2002, will report his findings to the U.N. Human Rights Council next year.

However, the United Nations has almost no clout when it comes to U.S. domestic affairs and is widely perceived by many as interfering. The United States is not among the 47 member states of the Geneva-based forum, but has observer status.

In a report last year he said Islamophobia had grown worldwide since the September 11 2001 attacks on the United States, carried out by al-Qaeda militants.

DEATH PENALTY

A U.N. panel which examined the U.S. record on racial discrimination last March urged the United States to halt racial profiling of Americans of Arab, Muslim and South Asian descent and to ensure immigrants and non-nationals are not mistreated.

It also said America should impose a moratorium on the death penalty and stop sentencing young offenders to life in prison until it can root out racial bias from its justice system.

Racial minorities were more likely than whites to be sentenced to death or to life without parole as juveniles, according to the U.N. Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. It monitors compliance with an international treaty which Washington ratified in 1994.

U.S. officials told the body, made up of 18 independent experts, that they were combating hate crimes such as displays of hangman's nooses and police brutality against minorities.

Some 800 racially motivated incidents against people perceived to be Arab, Muslim, Sikh or South Asian had been investigated since the September 11 attacks, they said at the time.

Substantial progress had been made over the years in addressing disparities in housing, education, employment and health care, according to a U.S. report submitted to the talks.
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Now it is not just Russia everyone points the finger at. My country gets a taste of what they give Russia all the time..........

Never Dreamed..... "racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia"

Kyle

comments always welcome.

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USA Has Rules On Firearms & Ammunition At The Border!

Hello,

Have a read about what you have to do to cross American borders with ammunition and firearms.
http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohib

Firearms
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulates and restricts firearms and ammunition; and approves all import transactions involving weapons and ammunition. If you want to import or export weapons or ammunition, you must do so through a licensed importer, dealer, or manufacturer. Also, if the National Firearms Act prohibits certain weapons, ammunition, or similar devices from coming into the country, you will not be able to import them unless the ATF provides you with written authorization to do so.

You do not need an ATF permit if you can demonstrate that you are returning with the same firearms or ammunition that you took out of the United States. To prevent problems when returning, you should register your firearms and related equipment by taking them to any CBP office before you leave the United States. The CBP officer will register them on the same CBP Form-4457 used to register cameras or computers. (See the section on Register Items Before You Leave the United States).

For further information about importing weapons, contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20226; or call (202) 927-8320; or ( Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ) .

Many countries will not allow you to enter with a firearm even if you are only traveling through the country on the way to your final destination. If you plan to take your firearms or ammunition to another country, you should contact officials at that country’s embassy to learn about its regulations.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

http://kylekeeton.com/2008/04/usa-pastor-phillip-miles.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/04/russia-items-to-declare-at-border.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/04/russia-pastor-phillip-miles-gets-three.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/04/phillip-miles-what-will-be-outcome.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/03/pastor-phillip-miles-still-in-prison.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/more-on-phillip-miles.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/pastor-phillip-miles.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/russia-important-update-on-american.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/russia-update-on-pastor-phillip-miles.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/why-did-i-try-to-walk-into-russia-with.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/why-would-anyone-bring-ammunitio

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U.S.A. Gives Russia bad marks!

Hello,

Another think tank from America, talking about Russia! Seems that the USA Government has nothing better to do than sit around spending billions on deciding that Russia is Bad!

No wonder Russia really does not care what Americans think or if Americans travel here or not, the press from America is all bad about Russia!

That is why I have this blog to put a different light on Russia!

Russia Is Cool!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.
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08/02/2008 22:47 MOSCOW. (Andrei Fedyashin for RIA Novosti) - Gas, oil, pipelines and investments in Europe or Asia have become Russia's main sins that without absolution or strict control may do damage to U.S. national security, both taken singly or as a package.

Michael McConnell, the U.S. Director of National Intelligence, has listed all of them in his Annual Threat Assessment to Congress. He mentions the military component of the potential Russian threat but not without some embarrassment because of the permanent U.S. military build-up as compared to the weakened Russian potential. McConnell notes that the Russian army is overcoming "a long, deep deterioration in its capabilities that started before the collapse of the Soviet Union". The intelligence tsar, as the U.S. Director of National Intelligence is called, suggests that Moscow's mounting economic might should be viewed as a source of concern.

The report does not even mention Russia as a threat to the United States. Its detailed analysis is neither scary nor sensational. Nor does it contain anything new as regards Moscow. The previous report a year ago criticized Russia a lot more.

The Kremlin's response to the report was absolutely right. When Russian journalists asked officials to comment on it, they were told that the report should not be overdramatized, although it raised some questions. After all, Americans have long been accusing Russia of "positioning to control an energy supply and transportation network spanning from Europe to East Asia," and talking about Russian energy policy: "Aggressive Russian efforts to control, restrict or block the transit of hydrocarbons from the Caspian to the West-and to ensure that East-West energy corridors remain subject to Russian control-underscore the potential power and influence of Russia's energy policy."

Moscow can hardly perceive as a challenge McConnell's "concerns about the financial capabilities of Russia, China and OPEC countries and the potential use of their market access to exert financial leverage to political ends." The same applies to his concern about the growth of Russian investment abroad. He means mostly investment in energy sectors in Europe and China. But this is nothing new, and the United States has been doing the same for years.

Not a single country has so many divisions as the United States - from the State Department and the Pentagon to the Department of Agriculture - that are responsible for promoting abroad American goods and services, credits, financial instruments, culture, way of life, Coke, cars and washing machines. In any country, be it tiny or very powerful, American Ambassadors and other diplomats will not be embarrassed if they have to flex their muscles or throw America's rivals off the bridge. This is almost an axiom in the diplomatic service. But the very fact that Russia is mentioned in the report together with Iran, Iraq, Pyongyang, Beijing, and even the notorious Al Qaeda does not at all mean that they can be equated. Exaggerations are typical of such documents. It was produced by intelligence and as one wise Englishman said, secrecy is a prelude to deception. But every trade has its own temptations.

This assessment is special only because it was made in the year of two presidential elections - in the United States and Russia. Vice Admiral McConnel (Ret.) had to do an uphill job. His department was set up in the wake of the shocking 9/11 attacks, and is responsible for coordinating intelligence operations of about 15 departments - from the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency, Air Force, Navy and Army to the Coast Guard and the Department of Energy, to name but a few. He had to exert a titanic effort in order to reduce to a common denominator the opinions of mismatched departments that hate one another.

His predecessor John Negroponte, the first Director of National Intelligence since its formation in 2005 was not very successful. He occupied this position for less than two years, and was sent back to the State Department by President Bush.

It is clear that the report mostly deals with political issues, and has nothing to do with secrets. It would be naive to expect any secrets to be revealed during the hearings. American propaganda has never been too elegant but this report is more exquisite than others.

In general, such reports are just another foreign policy instrument couched in a veil of an almost solved mystery. In real fact, all ideas, concerns, and alarms are not the revelations of intelligence but a direct reminder of what the United States accepts and what it does not want to tolerate. As a guide, they are quite useful.
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OK!

Kyle

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Why Would Anyone: Bring Ammunition into Russia?

In this day & age: I would think that people would learn to obey the laws!

These are the facts:
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A Pastor from the USA is being held in a detention cell in Sheremetyevo Airport after trying to bring a box of ammunition into the country. A court will consider Friday whether to charge Phillip Miles, a pastor of the Christ Community Church in Conway, South Carolina, with smuggling.

If charged and convicted, Miles faces a possible fine or prison sentence. Miles, 57, arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport on Jan. 29 with a single box of rifle rounds in his suitcase. Miles was headed for Perm, and the bullets were a gift for a pastor there, who was a hunting enthusiast.

This was Miles 9th trip to Russia.... (I would ask how many more boxes of Ammunition he has brought over?)

Airport officials have accused Miles of failing to declare the ammunition as required by law and confiscated the box, he was then allowed to continue on to Perm on condition he answer further questions when he returned for a flight to the United States. Miles arrived back at Sheremetyevo on Sunday and at that point was detained. He is being kept in a holding cell at the airport & Miles is under investigation by Russian authorities on suspicion of smuggling!
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I would like to express to people traveling, there is a right & wrong way to cross other countries borders! Every country has its laws on what you can & can not bring......

Having a box of undeclared ammunition is not the correct way to enter a new country! Actually having a box of ammunition in your suitcase at all is not showing much in the way of intelligence.

You will be caught sooner or later.....
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(Link to another article about Miles.) This is an update link about Miles. The ammunition was rifle cartridges! Looks like he thought no one would check his things and tried to slip one by the Russians for a friend! I hope that he learned his lesson, lets hope he gets out with out too many problems......
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(Another update about Miles) From the Moscow Times sent by Miles Son in America!

Editor,
My father is Phillip Miles, the pastor being held in the Sheremetyevo Airport detention cell for bringing a gift of bullets to another pastor in Russia.
Our family loves Russia. In addition to my father, my grandfather has worked in Russia to help the country for the past 14 years.
We all come up with crazy ideas for a gift. Please forgive my father for his mistake. Phillip is really a great man and I do respect whatever decision the Russian authorities choose regarding his case.
May God continue to bless Russia and its people.

Justin Miles
Conway, South Carolina
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Kyle & Svet

PS: UPDATE LINK
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/russia-update-on-pastor-phillip-miles.html

comments always welcome.

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Russia: New Years; Food Traditions?

Black-Eyed Peas
Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about food traditions for the New Year!

In America: There is a Southern saying that dictates eating habits in the Southern United States' New Year's: "Eat poor on New Year's, eat fat the rest of the year." A traditional Southern New Year's meal includes ham, corn bread, black-eyed peas and collard greens. Both black-eyed peas and collard greens are considered especially lucky additions to the dinner table. Black-eyed peas are thought to bring wealth because they look like little coins, in addition to the fact that they swell when cooked -- a sure sign of prosperity. Collard greens are considered lucky because they are green, like greenbacks -- money!

This is the food we ate at New Years when I was growing up & I passed this on to my kids!

I am not sure about Russian traditions but I found an article that helps...
"Now we go to the kitchen on 31 Dec. The table must be crammed with dishes. There is a sign - how New Year is celebrated, all the year will be in this way. So people try to put all possible and impossible on the table ;-) We cook as a rule about 8-10 different salads, sandwiches, preservings. The main dish is potatoes and meat (it can be young pig, or chicken, or turkey, or goose)." (Link)

What do you have for New Years food traditions?

Kyle

comments always welcome.

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Russia: Missiles and The New Year!

Hello,

I have been writing about the missile issue since the beginning. This issue is a lot bigger problem than the world knows. Russia does not want missiles put near Her boarders with out Her having some say so and control.

http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/06/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://www.russianspy.org/2007/

Funny thing: USA really had an issue at one time about Missiles in Cuba!

Should Russia Trust The USA? Can you trust a country that answers world problems with, War? (Threaten to attack Iran?)
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New U.S. Missile Defense Proposal

Reuters

The United States has formally made new proposals to Russia aimed at easing tension over its missile-defense plans in Europe, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Russia has denounced U.S. plans to deploy a radar station in the Czech Republic and interceptors in Poland as a threat to its security. It suggested building up a joint missile-defense system instead, but this idea has aroused little interest in Washington.

Washington promised to set out its latest proposals to Moscow in writing following talks between foreign and defense ministers last month.

"The American side has finally, and late at night, passed to Russia written proposals regarding anti-missile defense systems. We are studying them," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Krivtsov said.

He gave no details of the substance of the proposals.

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So here we are again, The countries play their games while us little people just try to live! If we would all (countries) mind our own business the world would be a safer place.

Just some thoughts for a Friday!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Leaner and Meaner Army!

Russia's Army to Be "Leaner but Meaner" - Chief of Staff

http://mnweekly.rian.ru/national/20071115/55289883.html

15/11/2007

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti, Russia Today) - Yuri Baluyevsky, the chief of Russia's general staff said a moratorium on Russia's Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty obligations will take effect on December 12.

"There will be no changes to Russia's position: The law will come into force as it should, on December 12," Baluyevsky said Wednesday in Brussels, following a meeting with NATO chiefs of staff.

Baluyevsky said last Thursday that Russia would no longer be bound by current weapons and equipment limitations after its moratorium on the CFE Treaty comes into force.

The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, voted on November 7 in favor of President Putin's bill to impose a moratorium on the CFE Treaty.

The moratorium is set to come into effect on December 12, after final approval by the upper house of parliament, expected to vote on the issue on November 16, and President Vladimir Putin.

In an interview with the Russia Today TV channel on Tuesday the chief of general staff said that the CFE Treaty put Russia at a disadvantage.

"It was an onerous treaty for Russia. It was a treaty that Russia alone honored," he said.

Asked why Russia had signed the document in the first place, Baluyevsky said that at the time, in 1990, the goal was to avert a war, and the treaty effectively served its purpose.

He also said Russia's Armed Forces, like all militaries in the world, would be putting an emphasis on quality, not quantity.

"It will be a leaner but meaner, well trained and equipped, and professional force," the general said.

Earlier in the interview he said that the Russian Armed Forces were under no obligation to protect the world from the United States.

Answering a question as to whether or not the world could count on Russia to defend it from "insidious American plans," Baluyevsky replied, "Today, there is no need to be afraid of the Russian Armed Forces. However, I do not believe that the Russian military is obliged to defend the world from the evil Americans".

"We need to pool our efforts together with our American counterparts to fight existing common threats. I'd say that we are doing a pretty good job here.

"As for the modern Russian Army, it is not the Army that we have inherited from the collapsed Soviet Union in the early 90's," Baluyevsky added. "Today it's a totally new Army. As for the number of men, in the Soviet times the Army had more than 4 million servicemen and now it is a bit over 1 million. As you may notice, it has shrunk by 3 million."

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Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian Rubles: Dollar is Unstable!

Friday, 16th of November:

Things have gotten worse for the US dollar on the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX). The Dollar currently stands at 24.48 RUR/USD, RUR 0.04 below the official exchange rate set by the Central Bank for November 17-19. (weekend numbers)

The ruble’s appreciation against the dollar is due to the Euro’s renewed rise against the American currency on international markets. The euro is currently trading at about $1.4650, up from $1.4595 as of 15:00 Moscow time. This means that the euro has strengthened by 0.4 percent against the dollar during this short period. (means the Euro is kicking the Dollars butt!)

This week has been uneven for the US dollar. Having risen by RUR 0.08 against the ruble on Monday and Tuesday, the dollar dropped RUR 0.04 to 24.49 RUR/USD on Wednesday, in line with developments on international markets, where the dollar fell 0.5 percent against the European currency. On Thursday, it dropped by a further RUR 0.03 against the ruble, but recouped the loss on Friday, rising by RUR 0.06 to 24.52 RUR/USD. Having recovered against the euro on Thursday, the dollar was expected to end the week in a positive mode.

But... The Dollar decided to go the other way. (Down)

The Dollar is starting to become unstable. The World markets will not be able to support it forever.

I say it will stay above water until Christmas is over! Then sink like a rock.

Sad but true!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russians: Do Not Give Us Dollars!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about the Worlds attitude toward the Dollar.

The Dollar has hit new all time lows. It is not just the World that says this, it is even showing in the USA. The sub prime issue, is bigger than anyone thinks. Those US Banks that gave the loans, also sold those same loans to foreign investors! (These foreign investors do not want to hear about defaulted loans)

The Dollar which is weaker than the Canadian dollar and Australian dollar right now, is being supported by countries such as China, Russia, Japan & all of Europe. At any given moment, China could destroy the USA monetarily. Just by converting their stockpiled of $ to Gold, Silver or Euros. Russia keeps a certain amount of her reserves in $. Russia could convert and do the same damage almost as China. The three countries that have the largest reserves is China, Russia & Japan! (China having the largest reserve)
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Article on the Russian Reserves..........(RBC)

"Russia’s gold and foreign currency reserves stood at $455.2 billion as of November 9, up $7.3 billion or 1.6 percent from $447.9 billion a week before, the Central Bank of Russia has reported.

From October 5 to November 2, the reserves went up by $23.1 billion. In the last five weeks, from October 5 to November 9, they increased by $30.4 billion, or 7.1 percent.

The significant rise in such a short time could be due to the Central Bank’s increased acquisition of foreign currency on Russia’s forex market, bringing the reserves to their highest level ever recorded.

As a result, Russia has slightly reduced its gap from China and Japan, which have the largest gold and foreign currency reserves in the world. China’s reserves top $1.434 trillion, up $101 billion in the third quarter of this year alone and a more than 45 percent increase from January to September 2007 compared with the same period a year ago. Japan has over $945 billion.

The draft guidelines of the state monetary and credit policy for 2008, published by the Central Bank of Russia, say that the gold and foreign currency reserves will increase by $114.9 billion in 2007. In 2008 they are projected to rise by $37.9 billion to $68.4 billion, depending on Russia’s macroeconomic policy. In 2009 the reserves are expected to increase by between $8.6 billion and $46.3 billion. In 2010 they could drop by $4.5 billion or rise by $5.6 billion and $20.8 billion.

Meanwhile, from January 1 to November 2, Russia’s gold and foreign currency reserves increased by $144.2 billion, which is $29.3 billion more than the Central Bank had projected for the whole year.

Gold and foreign currency reserves are highly liquid financial assets controlled by the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry. They consist of monetary gold, special drawing rights, the reserve position in the International Monetary Fund, and foreign currency."

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Now as the ruble grows stronger against the dollar, more Russian companies are paying salaries in rubles instead of dollars. The salary structure has changed. Back in 2005, 45 percent of salaries were paid in rubles, and 44 percent in dollars. Currently, 80 percent of companies calculate salaries in rubles, and only 15 percent in dollars. (info RBC Report)

The good thing, "Unemployment is not a threat for Russia, with 72 percent of companies planning to hire more employees in 2008. (the problem of personnel training remains) In 2007, 70 percent of companies had difficulty finding personnel. Demand is very strong for competent office managers, secretaries, and young specialists with foreign language skills."
(Analytical department of RIA RosBusinessConsulting)

The path that the Dollar is taking is a rocky path indeed! (more like boulders)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

American in Russia: Supports, Ron Paul!

Hello,

Today as I was drinking my coffee, I was thinking!

I am American and very proud of being an American! Who would I vote for president? This is my answer..

RON PAUL


My answer comes from the mess the country is in. The Republicans seem to have forgotten what being Republican means! The Democrat's have forgotten what being Democrat means!

Both parties have forgotten that they all stand for the same country!

Kyle

Russia: People Want Vladimir Putin for 3rd Term?

Hello,

I was reading this article while drinking my coffee this morning, about the Russian People want Putin to stay as President. I do not know how true it is but I know that I myself want to see him stay in power! I think that the country and people need him to stay where he is at.

That is just my 2cents worth!

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Regions ask the president to stay:

Russia undergoes a wave of public rallies in support of extending Vladimir Putin's powers for the third presidential term. The opposition believes the rallies were organized by the United Russia party. However, both the Kremlin and the United Russia said the initiative is coming from the people.

Residents of Chechnya and Tver rallied in support of the third term for Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Earlier, there had been rallies in Volgograd and Kamchatka. Other regions are about to hold the rallies soon.

In Tver, the event was organized by “the ‘For Putin’ initiative group of citizens” who worded its purpose as follows: “We should by all legal means strive for the continuation of Vladimir Putin’s policy, the policy of national success and national pride”. Specially for the event, Tver city authorities lighted the torch on the Victory obelisk, which is normally done on very special occasions only. The rally gathered over 10,000 people. Nadezhda Afonina, head of Tver education department, said she was happy with how easily she managed to fill the quota of 3,000 people (teachers and students) imposed on her just one day before the rally. Attorney Pavel Astakhov, who arrived to take part in the event, could not refrain from agitation. He suggested that Tver residents should choose Putin at the December 2 election just like young women choose husbands: “Clever, energetic, reliable, with whom we all are safe and protected”. “We lawyers will definitely find a way to make all our hopes come true,” the attorney added.

In Chechnya, the rallies in support of President Putin took place in Grozny, Gudermes, and Achkhoi-Martan. The rally in Grozny consisted mostly of university students. “We have been warned that we should secure the attendance of all students,” said an employee of the University of Grozny. Files of young people dressed in T-shirts depicting Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin, and carrying banners with “Let’s give third term to Putin!” slogans, filled in Dinamo stadium guarded by police officers in parade uniforms.

The 20,000 people that gathered for the rally asked Putin to stay for the third presidential term. Kommersant’s reporter asked how they account for their slogans since the president had already said he would not change the Constitution and would not stay for the third term. One of the activists answered: “Constitution is the nation. What the nation decides is the law.” Similar rallies took place in Gudermes and Achkhoi-Martan. The participants urged their fellow young activists from other regions of the South Federal District to support the initiative of Chechnya’s president and parliament to prolong the powers of the current Russian president.

Volgograd mayor Roman Grebennikov gathered the city residents under the slogans “Putin, we stand with you” and “Working class for Putin”. He suggested signing an address that calls for considering the State Duma election as a “referendum of trust to Vladimir Putin”.

Several more regions are ready to join the action. Rzhev is to host the forum of Putin’s supporters on November 2; Vladikavkaz has scheduled the forum of North Ossetia’s public movements in the president’s support for November 3, and Yakutsk hosted on Wednesday the first session of the Pro President movement.

Activists of the latter already gathered over 5,000 people in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky a few days ago, so as to ask the president to stay for another term. The Fair Russia party believes that rally was so largely-attended due to the United Russia’s administrative resource. “The mayor gave orders to schools and kindergartens to gather for the rally. All employees there were disgusted. Naturally, the United Russia is behind all that,” said Sergei Pavlov, leader of the Fair Russia’s branch in Kamchatka. “Heads of city administration departments personally telephoned the directors of schools and kindergartens,” said Mikhail Smagin, second secretary of the Communist party’s regional committee. Smagin said the rally was organized by Vladislav Skvortsov, mayor of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and member of the United Russia’s regional political council. Meanwhile, one of SPS leaders Boris Nemtsov, referring to the experience of his campaign visits to dozens of cities, called people’s initiatives “pure grovelling”. “The most ecologically clean site in Russia is Putin’s body: it’s polished by licking,” said Nemtsov.

However, local rally organizers deny the United Russia is mixed in the action. “I am the United Russia’s supporter, but I’m not its member. They didn’t help us,” said Igor Zolotar, one of the co-founders of the Pro President movement in Kamchatka. Volgograd’s mayor (who is a candidate for the United Russia’s membership) said that the rally has no relation to the election, because there were no hints at any party during the event.

Valery Ryazansky, member of the United Russia supreme council’s bureau, denied that the party is mixed in the wave of rallies as well. “It is people’s initiative. We openly declare that the upcoming election is a referendum in support of Putin. Yet, we should keep in mind that people in the regions can have their own initiative. People feel the situation and understand that Putin means social stability,” he said. Ryazansky also reminded that the calls on Putin to stay for the third term have already occurred before, and “were articulated by regional parliaments as well”.

In spring 2007,Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov promoted the idea of prolonging presidential powers. Mironov suggested that regional lawmakers should discuss whether it is possible to introduce amendments to the Constitution. The United Russia said it is ready to discuss the issue as well after Putin personally agreed with Mironov that the presidential term can be reconsidered. By the way, the draft constitutional amendments have already reached the State Duma thrice: from Magadan’s lawmakers in 2002, from Ivanovo’s – in 2003, and from Chechnya’s – in 2006.

Regional lawmakers are ready to join the current wave as well. Deputies of Chelyabinsk’ and Tyumen’s regional parliaments plan to adopt the address to the president asking him to stay for the third term, initiated by local United Russia members. On October 16, Putin received the same request from the people of art: in The Russian Newspaper, on behalf of 65,000 art professionals, Russian Academy of Arts president Zurab Tsereteli and Russian Foundation of Culture president Nikita Mikhalkov asked the president to stay after 2008.
The Kremlin refrained from commenting on the nation-wide movement in the president’s support. A high-ranking source in the presidential administration said the Kremlin has no relation to the numerous regional rallies. Vladimir Putin’s personal reaction to the events is unknown as well.(Kommersant)

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Some days I get in a political mood. These articles are for Americans to see what is going on over here. You see, while America is deciding who the next President is, so is Russia!

I want to add something:
The same games in Politics are played in Russia as in the USA. I find it amazing the similarities in Political structure. In many ways the Russian Political System seems less corrupt than the American Political System.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia in Need of Democracy?

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and was reading an article on the democracy issue in Russia. Here is the article to read. It is written by a Russian for Americans. (So the whole story may not be what it seems?)

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When Americans start teaching democracy to Russians,

It only irritates the majority of Russian citizens. I doubt that US advice and suggestions can improve the state of democracy in Russia. Moreover, Washington’s criticism is an extra argument for the Russian authorities to accuse the U.S. of interfering in Russia’s domestic affairs and to crack down, saying “keep your hands off sovereign democracy”. Although US criticism of Russian reality often is superficial, imprecise or one-sided, it does not mean there are almost no faults with democracy in Russia. These faults are graver than the Kremlin imagines them in its on-going dispute with the West concerning where Russia is headed.

I’ve recently traveled all over Russia and met thousands of people. I can confirm: the congressmen who criticize Russia, and who don’t see it closely, have no idea of what goes on here. And here is what’s going on: as the Duma election approaches, the preparation for falsifying its results is in full swing. At the local level, officials have already received quotas stating where and how much the United Russia party should get. Somewhere it is 69 percent, while somewhere else it is complete 100 percent. Governors lean over backwards to secure the required result. They have a lot to lose and to fight for, because it is the president who appoints governors.

On that background, a movement in support of the third presidential term for Vladimir Putin is growing. Under the threat of F-grading or salary non-payment, students, teachers, and doctors are forced to attend the rallies, collectively imploring the president to stay: “Don’t leave, Father, we’ll die without you”.

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