MetaFilter posts tagged with Putin

Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky has been found dead

triggerfinger — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:29:15 -0800

Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky has been found dead One of the first Russian oligarchs and once one of the richest, was found dead in his home today. It is suspected that he may have committed suicide after losing much of his fortune following a drawn-out lawsuit which he ultimately lost against former protege Roman Abramovich over the sale in shares of oil company Sibneft and other assets. Berezovsky helped to orchestrate Vladimir Putin's rise to power before a falling out, which turned him into a lifelong and very vocal critic of the Russian president. Berezkovsky was also close to former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko, who died in London from a mysterious poisoning in 2006 (later determined to be polonium) (previously). Both men has been granted exile in Britain and were very vocal critics of Putin. Berezovsky had been paying Litvinenko's legal costs up until very recently. Litvinenko (and his widow) accused Putin of poisoning him before he died. The Russian media pointed fingers at Berezovsky. Litvinenko's father has also recently accused Berezovsky of being behind the poisoning. Ten things to know about Boris Berezovsky.

“What you cannot do, a Cossack can.”

Fizz — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 06:33:19 -0800

The Cossacks Are Back. May the Hills Tremble. [New York Times]

"In his third term, President Vladimir V. Putin has offered one clear new direction for the country: the development of a conservative, nationalist ideology. Cossacks have emerged as a kind of mascot, with growing financial and political support."

Putin and the Cranes

Cloud King — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:08:28 -0800

President Putin leads a flock of rare cranes in hang glider

“Mother of God, Blessed Virgin, drive out Putin!”

Fizz — Fri, 17 Aug 2012 05:22:21 -0800

Pussy Riot found guilty of anti-religious ‘hooliganism’ for church protest. [NYTimes.com] Previously Previously.

closing statement

flapjax at midnite — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 10:39:29 -0800

"I now have mixed feelings about this trial. On the one hand, we now expect a guilty verdict. Compared to the judicial machine, we are nobodies, and we have lost. On the other hand, we have won. Now the whole world sees that the criminal case against us has been fabricated. The system cannot conceal the repressive nature of this trial. Once again, Russia looks different in the eyes of the world from the way Putin tries to present it at daily international meetings. All the steps toward a state governed by the rule of law that he promised have obviously not been made. And his statement that the court in our case will be objective and make a fair decision is another deception of the entire country and the international community. That is all. Thank you." - Yekaterina Samutsevich: Closing Statement at the Pussy Riot Trial

Russia and Syria

beisny — Tue, 24 Jul 2012 12:08:18 -0800

"The Western observer tends to split the Russian press into two camps: evil statists and martyrs. But for their part, members of the Russian press are convinced of their superiority over their Western colleagues, at least when it comes to Syria. Russian journalists aren’t under the illusion that they are more objective than their Western counterparts, but they are convinced of their ability to convey a more realistic, complex picture of the events in Syria." - The New Republic: In Russia, Even Putin’s Critics Are OK With His Syria Policy

With him, it will be safe

Mister Fabulous — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 09:36:28 -0800

"You’ll be happy with him. He’ll protect you like a stone wall." First time, only for <3. Via. Includes translation. Russian backers of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin for president are appealing to "virgin" voters with racy advertisements nudging them to make him their "first." Others: And it's about right that you want it for love. I fully support your choice. You should not be afraid of this. Also: Candid video about the "First Time"

Doll 'protesters' present small problem for Russian police

KokuRyu — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 09:55:14 -0800

Lego figurines, Kinder surprises and other toys played the role of 'demonstrators'. Police in Siberian city ask prosecutors to investigate legality of protest involving display of toy figures holding miniature placards. "Political opposition forces are using new technologies to carry out public events – using toys with placards at mini-protests," Andrei Mulintsev, the city's deputy police chief, said at a press conference this week, according to local media. "In our opinion, this is still an unsanctioned public event." The Guardian article features a number of links to other quirky Russian protests, plus some background on (d)evolving free speech rules in that country.

Letter from Moscow

beisny — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 04:45:02 -0800

David Remnick: How far can the resistance to Vladimir Putin go? (SLNewYorker)

In Plutocratic Russia, Kremlin Tweets You

jeffburdges — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 00:16:10 -0800

There were thousands of Russians protesting the widespread ballot stuffing discovered during the elections last sunday. Russian police arrested hundreds of protesters who had gathered in Moscow’s Triumfalnaya Square, including Alexei Navalny. Protestors raised awareness using Twitter hashtags like #триумфальная (Triumfalnaya), but pro-Kremlin spammers were prepared to drown them out using 2000 automated twitterbots they'd created earlier this year. (related, recently)

The Most Interesting Man In The World… Is Russian

Bora Horza Gobuchul — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 11:23:51 -0800

He rides with biker gangs! He shoots whales with a crossbow! He does piano recitals for charity! He bends frying pans with his bare hands! It's Vladimir Putin, Action Man. Video of the whale shooting (tagging, for science!) and some background. Via.

Vladimir "Fats" Putin

Huplescat — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 09:52:58 -0800

Vladimir Putin sings "Blueberry Hill" - SLYT

You're going to be very popular in the corrective labor camp.

lullaby — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 14:23:11 -0800

Vladimir Putin Action Comics

Haven't had a burger in a while. Lunch with Obama at Ray's Hell Burger.

grobstein — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 16:21:43 -0800

Russian President Medvedev is tweeting his trip to the US (English, Russian). So far, no comment on Putin belittling him to the French press. He also likes to post pictures.

GQ bans Moscow blast article, bloggers catch up

megob — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 12:17:28 -0800

It took spontaneously crowd-sourced translators less than 24 hrs to make an article on the FSB's (former KGB) alleged implication in the Moscow 1999 apartment blasts accessible in Russian. Before, distribution of the issue of GQ in Russia had been banned by the editor himself. The topic (although the allegations are anything else than new) became an instant top in the russian blogosphere today (dynamic listing, will change with time)

Multilateral Mahjong Madness

HotPants — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:49:42 -0800

George Bush's Mahjong Secrets: Revealed! The Legend of Koizumi manga, featuring both Georges Bush, Putin, Pope Benedict XVI, Thatcher, et al, has had its first chapter translated into English.

A New Thaw for Russia?

nasreddin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 16:01:31 -0800

The global financial crisis has severely affected the Russian economy. The unstable situation in the country has contributed to a growing rift between Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and President Dmitry Medvedev. As increasing numbers of Russians become disillusioned with Putin's promise of comfort and security in exchange for authoritarianism, Medvedev has shown some willingness to take the country in a more liberal direction. Some analysts, however, remain unconvinced.

Medvedev Sworn in as new Russian President, names Putin as Prime Minister

psmealey — Wed, 07 May 2008 06:55:24 -0800

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

Did Vladimir Putin really turn around Russia's economy?

gregb1007 — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 02:34:30 -0800

Did Vladimir Putin really turn around Russia's economy? Washington Post's Fred Hyatt attempts to refute the conventional wisdom that Putin was responsible for Russia's turnaround from the economic instability of the "disastrous" 90s by offering a thorough counter argument to prove that Putin's effect on the economy was just the reverse. Hyatt believes that Russia's astonishing economic recovery should not be credited to Putin, but in fact to the fiscal solvency brought about by the reforms that were carried out in the late 90s by Yeltsin's prime minister Yevgeny Primakov.*1. Furthermore, he argues that Putin's crackdown on the free press and on independent businesses has had a disastrous impact on the economy by discouraging foreign investment. The result was stalled economic growth whose rate has dropped far behind that of the other former Soviet republics despite enormous growth in oil revenues. *2 *Primakov served as Yeltsin's prime minister in 1998-1999. *Russia's rate of growth used to be the 2nd best out of all former 15 Soviet republics when Putin took power in 2000, but dropped to 13th best by 2005. It can be argued that the Russian economy grew under Putin, but the rate of growth was highest just when he came to power and that his rule had the effect of dampening it.

A Tsar Is Born

XQUZYPHYR — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 06:23:30 -0800

A Tsar Is Born. For his "extraordinary feat of leadership in taking a country that was in chaos and bringing it stability," Time has announced Vladimir Putin as Person of the Year. Al Gore and J.K. Rowling are runners-up.

Kasparov Detained By Russian Police (check)

mrzarquon — Sat, 24 Nov 2007 10:20:07 -0800

Garry Kasparov, chess grandmaster, and presidential opponent to Putin, has just been detained on charges of organizing a protest and resisting arrest. We have discussed Putin before.Journalists are also being targeted. Will there actually be an election in March 2008, when is Putin constitutionally required to step down? (Or will there be a March Surpise?).

Союз нерушимый...

Krrrlson — Sat, 18 Aug 2007 23:13:15 -0800

Newsfilter: Someone is clearly nostalgic for the good old days of the Iron Curtain.

Bizarre geopolitical posturing filter

ClanvidHorse — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 08:46:11 -0800

Russians plant flag on North Pole Sea bed. Russia has attempted to assert it's sovereignty over the North Pole by planting a Russian flag 4,200 metres under the ice. Norwegians, Danes react with amusement.

High spirits in Heiligendamm

Skeptic — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 05:27:55 -0800

The Heiligendamm G8 summit just ended. While some stuck to alcohol-free beer, fresh French President Nicolas Sarkozy clearly had something a bit stronger before his press conference.

Policing Putin's Russia

nasreddin — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:53:41 -0800

"OMON knows no mercy and forgives none. This is the way it is, was, and always will be." The Russian OMON (Otryad Militsii Osobovo Naznacheniya), or Special Purpose Police Squad, is one of the most elite police units in the world. Formed in the mid-1980s to combat urban riots, the 20,000-strong OMON now tackles terrorists, protesters, and soccer fans. What drives former soldiers to join the beefy brigade? "Risk," says Major Viktor Kommissarov, "Working in the OMON always involves the risk of death." _{(in Russian)}