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Democracy Russian Style
Oct. 14th, 2007 07:49 am♠
“This is the first time in post-Soviet history when only the Kremlin decides who can participate and who can’t,” Mr. Ryzhkov said. “The Kremlin decides which party can exist and which party cannot. For the first time in post-Soviet history, a wide specter of political forces cannot participate in this election. I call it selection before election.”
-- Clifford J. Levy for The New York Times
Putin enjoys continued success in ruling Russia under his hand and in returning the country to one-party rule. An optimist can hope that this is still just an arguably beneficial transition until Russia can better handle multi-party democracy, and that Putin is Russia's providential overseer in these tough times. The rest of us can marvel over how much things stay the same in this old world.
And you know Dick Cheney is envious.
( article )
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“This is the first time in post-Soviet history when only the Kremlin decides who can participate and who can’t,” Mr. Ryzhkov said. “The Kremlin decides which party can exist and which party cannot. For the first time in post-Soviet history, a wide specter of political forces cannot participate in this election. I call it selection before election.”
-- Clifford J. Levy for The New York Times
Putin enjoys continued success in ruling Russia under his hand and in returning the country to one-party rule. An optimist can hope that this is still just an arguably beneficial transition until Russia can better handle multi-party democracy, and that Putin is Russia's providential overseer in these tough times. The rest of us can marvel over how much things stay the same in this old world.
And you know Dick Cheney is envious.
( article )
