Something In The Way She Moves

Round-Up

2009-06-17T21:06:00.004-05:00

because my internet keeps going in and out... so annoying...

First is this fun story about Vologdo (sure wish I knew more about Russian geography, I have no idea where this place is), where the regional authorities are practically giving away lumber to help people during the crisis. And some people are actually taking advantage, but feel that "they should do more." Well, one can't have everything, I guess.

Second, Oleg Deripaska apparently feels the same way (even after he has stuffed his pockets with money from the Gov, and been tight-fisted about sharing it).

Third, Boris the Bor-Ring has finally provided some entertainment for the masses (since he literally is like a corpse during the Duma sessions he presides over) by writing a song about... (drum-roll please)... football! Here are some of the words according to The Moscow Times: Russia, go ahead!/ Our turn has come!/ Russia, go ahead!/ Victory is awaiting us!" I kid you not.

And finally, the Georgian Mafia is alive and well in Moscow, according to Robert Amsterdam's blog. This is just entertaining because it reminds me of study abroad days, and the amazing Georgian restaurant in Moscow that had guards with guns out front.

Facebook & Yuri Milner

2009-05-30T16:30:00.002-05:00

The most interesting thing about all of this (or to me at least) is that no one has mentioned the connection between Yuri Milner, and Slava Surkov. Obviously, I am interested in this because of my (very slight... j/k) crush on Slava (still planning on doing a PhD on him). And I think (though I cannot remember exactly) Milner and Slava share a mutual connection to Alisher Usmanov (who is also connected to Kabayeva, strangely enough).

Mostly, however, this seems to be a continuation of the buying up of media outlets in an effort for control. Though Mr Milner basically claims to be in it for the money... but why would you claim anything else?

Okay, so Chadayev is, but he seems to want to be the next Fidel Castro (even going so far as to steal some of Fidel's uniforms, apparently).

Andrei Babitsky

2009-05-10T17:45:00.002-05:00

appears again... new article at Prague Watchdog. All about the so-called end of CTO in Chechnya (though as someone recently pointed out, it was never called CTO until it was over). Basically what I have wanted to say for several weeks but was too lazy to come up with. Also, his writing style is about 10 times better than mine.

P.S. I am really enjoying the articles by German Sadulayev at PW. Check him out if you get a chance.

Safonov Sacking

2009-05-10T17:19:00.003-05:00

A little late, but rumour has it that Safonov was a victim of a fight between Yuri Chaika and First Deputy Prosecutor General Alexander Ivanovich Bastrykin (biography in Russian: here). According to an article by Brian Whitmore from about 20 months ago, this battle has been going on for about that long. Presumably, Chaika is getting desperate.

Also, interesting note: Safonov may be related by marriage to Viktor Ivanov (the head of the Anti-Narcotics Agency).

Victory Day

2009-05-10T16:59:00.003-05:00

I am not sure who wrote this latest video blog post for Dmitry Medvedev, but it was pretty convicting. Mostly because, for some reason, I feel a great affinity for the feelings behind Victory Day. At the same time, it was filled with a lot of moralising that was, quite frankly, a little sickening.

As a bit of a side note, I am curious to know who has been coaching DAM. His presentation continues to improve. One assumes it is one of my favourite people (whom I am still thinking of doing my PhD on). On the other hand, Natalya Timakova has been credited with DAM's transformation, so who knows?

Pavel Kuznetsov

2009-04-25T19:54:00.004-05:00

cannot make up his mind. First story from Reuters: "Russia's Kudrin received U.S. court subpoena..." According to the article, a subpoena for the trial of Misha Khodorkovsky was handed to Alexei Leonidovich as he was heading to a meeting in DC.

Then, some time later, RFE/RL posted a story where Pavel Kuznetsov stated: "The Russian delegation is not aware of any facts of handover of any documents with lawsuits against the Russian Federation or Finance Minister Aleksei Kudrin during his stay in Washington..."

CRAZY!! This is just another reason I love Russia.

Or...

2009-04-24T09:03:00.003-05:00

they will crash because they have trouble reading the signs. Nice! But we are not Wahabbi! No way!

Repetitive Complaint

2009-04-22T16:56:00.003-05:00

Where is Andrei Babitsky? Liz Fuller just does not cut it for me...

But her basic point is true: Ramzan Kadyrov wants the best of both worlds, and at this point he has it. But what happens when he goes? Because he definitely will. Will there be a vacuum, or will Adam be able to fill Ramzan's shoes?

Meanwhile, Paul Goble has a piece today entitled: "No Chechens To Be Drafted This Year."

"...Moscow’s decision to set higher draft quotas in predominantly ethnic Russian areas than in historically Muslim ones an arrangement that means ethnic Russians are more likely to have to serve."

Why would you do that to yourself?! You are already suffering a population decline! What idiots!

Anne Applebaum's

2009-04-21T12:29:00.003-05:00

latest piece here. All about Moldova's so-called "Twitter Revolution." I do wonder sometimes how much she and her husband influence each other...

Alexei Malashenko

2009-04-20T09:40:00.003-05:00

has a piece over at Carnegie (why does my computer not recognise the name Carnegie... weird) that makes some reference to the issue of Dmitry Medvedev's involvement in the "End of the Counter-Terrorism Operation in Chechnya". Some, though not as much I would like. Actually, I am more inclined to believe that the official announcement was set up by Slava. Maybe I give Slava more credit than he is due, but I rather doubt it.

On The Same Note:

2009-04-19T22:35:00.001-05:00

Dear Boris Gryzlov, I find it hard to believe that you do not know what a tazer is.

Things I Want My Parliament To Do:

2009-04-19T21:37:00.001-05:00

allow me to use a firearm in a mental hospital... that's right up there with freedom of speech for me.

Dmitry Muratov

2009-04-19T18:27:00.005-05:00

The interview with Dmitry Medvedev, and Dmitry Muratov said more about Dmitry Muratov, and Russian society as a whole than it did about Dmitry Medvedev.

Again, I respect Dmitry Muratov a whole lot. He's got guts. But I do not agree with much of his attitude.

I Repeat

2009-04-19T15:48:00.001-05:00

I adore Misha Saakashvili...

SOON after taking power in a pro-Western uprising in Georgia, President Mikheil Saakashvili journeyed in February 2004 to Moscow, his country’s former taskmaster, for his first talks with Vladimir V. Putin.
Here would be the climactic face-off: on one side, a young and impulsive modernizer who fancied himself leader of so-called color revolutions that would sweep away unsavory holdover regimes from the Soviet years. On the other, a dour and calculating ex-K.G.B. spy who saw much to like in the old ways and wanted to restore his nation to its proper glory.
Only one problem. Mr. Saakashvili at first didn’t show up.
He supposedly lost track of time while doing laps in his hotel pool, arriving at the Kremlin half an hour late and leaving Mr. Putin seething, according to three Georgians who were there.
“I hope that you had a good time swimming,” Mr. Putin told Mr. Saakashvili. It would not be hard to imagine the look on Mr. Putin’s face.

New Medvedev Blog Entry

2009-04-19T15:02:00.002-05:00

is a portion of his interview with Tatiana Mitkova at NTV. I will post a commentary on the whole interview later, but I do want to say one thing: Tatiana must have had to submit her interview questions beforehand, because there is no way DAM made that stuff up off the top of his head.

P.S. I know I have said this before, but he is doing really well as regards the nervousness thing.

The Question

2009-04-16T21:35:00.003-05:00

nobody seems to be asking with the end of the so-called "counter-terror operation" in Chechnya is this: what does this mean for Dmitry Medvedev as President? This declaration was made (as far as I can make out) over the heads of both the Russian Security Council, and the NAK. And that marks a major change in Medvedev's policy regarding the siloviki. Is this only the first of many decisions, or is it a blip on the radar?

Stories Like This

2009-04-15T18:21:00.002-05:00

make me so sad. It is also what makes me support the Chechen Republic of Ichkeria.

Speaking of Chechnya

2009-04-15T17:35:00.002-05:00

Sulim Yamadayev is reportedly still alive, but in some kind of witness protection programme. If true, this is what they should have done in the first place (though he does not exactly deserve it). And what the police in Dubai get out of this, I have no idea.

Speaking of Fun...

2009-04-15T17:16:00.003-05:00

Paul Goble had a post yesterday on how Putin's "pro-natalist policy" may end up backfiring on him. Specifically in Chechnya. Good read.

This is fun,

2009-04-14T09:58:00.000-05:00

isn't it? I hope Obama becomes the next Carter. It would serve all of us right.

In the annals of

2009-04-13T21:15:00.004-05:00

Dmitry Medvedev's career: another attempted power play taking place. This time a classmate of DAM's has been nominated to the Moscow District Arbitration Court. Fun times!

Isa Yamadayev: Insane?

2009-04-13T21:11:00.002-05:00

In denial? Or telling the truth? I am not sure what he would have to gain from lying. But why would he tell the truth if Sulim needed to be protected? Basically, this just proves that nobody will take Isa now. Who would want him?

Newsweak

2009-04-13T13:04:00.003-05:00

Yes, I know this is the incorrect spelling, but it is the way I feel about the magazine. And this interview of Misha Saakashvili is just another reason for me to hate them. These so-called interviews never come up with anything substantial. They don't ask the right questions, and therefore they don't get the right answers. Natan Sharansky's interview comes to mind. Of course, in that case, it was very obvious that the interviewer... (Owen Matthews, if I am not mistaken) had not read a single page of Natan Sharansky's book.

Plus, the headline is ridiculous. Maybe Misha (the love of my life!) does feel that way, but there are other things he said in the interview that would have made a better headline. Not to mention the fact that he then cites four different Americans whom he feels support him. Not that I think Hillary Clinton, or Richard Holbrooke are going to stick their necks out for him (though I rather get the impression that he knows that they won't).

But, I like the fact that Misha remains upbeat, and positive in the face of all of this. And that he is refusing to back down. And the crush will not die...

Weimar II

2009-04-12T15:26:00.002-05:00

Finally realised that Weimar is not a fear. Weimar is a threat. When Weimar is brought up, the message that is being sent is, "Leave us alone with our authoritarianism, or we will be Weimar (with nukes), and then you'll be sorry."

German O Gref

2009-04-10T00:11:00.004-05:00

I know I have said this before, but German Gref works up to these moments. For some reason he has decided to speak up for Alexei Kudrin. This strikes me as odd, because Alexei Leonidovich is totally on his way out. Why speak up for someone who is going to get guillotined? On the other hand, German has his moments. This is why he was sent to Sberbank in the first place.

Anyway, congrats to German for sticking up for Alexei Leonidovich (even though you are both being super depressing right now).

On Corruption:

2009-04-09T23:15:00.003-05:00

Antikompromat has a table (wow, I still translate Таблица as "Table"... sorry) chart entitled "License of Corruption: Senior Officials, and the Businesses of Their Families". I have translated about half of the chart so far, and will try to finish it up tomorrow. Then will post!

I Wish

2009-04-09T23:09:00.002-05:00

people would stop invoking Weimar! Not that I do not believe in it to a certain degree, but it is just so old hat. It has been invoked for something like 20 years now. Can't people come up with something better?

Two good articles on the subject. First from Paul Goble, and second from Brian Whitmore over at The Power Vertical.

Kind of on the subject, but with a bit of a twist, Robert Amsterdam has an exclusive translation of an article entitled "Demonstrations of Power for Putin."

Why Does

2009-04-09T20:04:00.006-05:00

Stanislav Belkovsky get quoted on everything by everyone? It is extremely vexing! Seriously, just look at the evidence! I am going to put him up on my Google Reader, and see how many hits I get. I bet he ends up getting more than Igor Ivanovich Sechin (but probably not more than Alexei Leonidovich Kudrin).

Also, what does "a political analyst with close Kremlin ties" mean? That could mean anything! Mostly, though, I just want to know whom he is tied to. Slava, or Igor Ivanovich (aka: Big Brother).

Sulim, and Ramzan,

2009-04-09T00:10:00.004-05:00

More stories coming out on the murder of Sulim Yamadayev. Of course, Isa is still in denial, as I said earlier.

(1) Movladi pulled a story on the murder from Al-J, but with nothing really new in it.

(2) Probably the most interesting is Dzhambulat Are's story about the "golden gun" found at the murder scene. You really have to wonder about this one. What kind of person murders so callously, and believes they can get away with it? Actually, the parallels between this and the Litvinenko murder are truly horrifying. The only difference is that Putin (most likely) did not sign off on this one. Which means that Ramzan is really overstepping his boundaries (literally, as well as figuratively).

(3) Speaking of Ramzan, Liz Fuller (whom I am not the biggest fan of, but with whom I must bear because Andrei Babitsky doesn't do much writing anymore) has an article on whether or not the Kremlin can reign him in.

At this point, I would say it is highly doubtful. What I do wonder, however, is what this means for Slava Surkov (if anything). Presumably, Slava promised that he could control Ramzan. I mean, that was probably the guarantee that Slava made so that Ramzan could become President of Chechnya. But it appears that Slava has lost control of Ramzan. Unless it is all a bid for power on Slava's part. But I also find that highly doubtful.

P.S. Isa keeps talking about this so-called hit list of Ramzan's. Well, where is it?

Currently Reading:

2009-04-08T23:50:00.005-05:00

(1) Oleg Kozlovsky's thoughts on Moldova. I know three things about Moldova: (A) President is Vladimir Voronin; (B) they have a reputation for good wine; (C) before I knew where I was going with PC, a friend said, "Well, you don't want Moldova." Okay, I know more about Moldova than that, but Oleg has some good stuff to say (as always).

(2) Other Love Of My Life's premature statement on the end of the "anti-terrorist operation in Chechnya". Sadly, DAM has not got a single vote in the Security Council, and was therefore shot down.

Jamestown

2009-04-08T19:05:00.004-05:00

has an advert when you go to their site:

"Don't be "Overcharged" for Expert Insight into Eurasia"

Picture of Hillary Clinton's "Reset" button.

"Help keep Jamestown's Publications Free"

"Donate Now!"

I love it!

Oh...

2009-04-08T16:51:00.006-05:00

actually a reference to the War of 1812. Man! It would have been so cool if it were in reference to Somalia. Here is a picture of what appears to be the original flag.

On the subject of the pirates, sis asked today if they were pirates or privateers. Meaning are they sponsored by the Somali gov?

News people keep referring to them as pirates, so I assume... plus, it is not like Somalia actually has a government.

Confederate Flag People

2009-04-08T16:40:00.003-05:00

have new flag: "Don't Give Up The Ship". Of course, my first thought was that it was a reference to Somalia, but it seems a little over the top. On the other hand, they are the Confederate Flag People, so who knows?

Oh America

2009-04-08T12:10:00.001-05:00

This is why we rock! Sorry, just have to gloat for a moment.

Two New Articles On

2009-04-08T10:35:00.005-05:00

Sulim Yamadayev's murder. Apparently, Isa (who, I just discovered, looks oddly like several of my students... very Slavic) is claiming that Sulim is not actually dead. Of course, I still have my doubts (three years on) as to Shamil Basayev's death (and I am not even related to him).

Anyway, two articles from The Moscow Times. Nabi Abdullaev's article gives mostly background, and an overview of recent developments (including Dubai's accusation of Adam Delimkhanov, Ramzan's cousin).

Yulia Latynina's article on how Chechnya is now an independent state that Moscow has no control over. I do not argue with Yulia's opinion. Her experience with and knowledge of all of this is much greater than mine. But her point does beg the question: what role, if any, does Slava play anymore?

Searching

2009-04-08T09:22:00.002-05:00

But without success, so far. I have found an actress named Olga Shuvalova, but she lives in Italy.... will keep looking for Igor's wife.

More Declarations:

2009-04-08T09:14:00.003-05:00

All this means is that Yuri Trutnev is an idiot, and doesn't know how to hide his earnings. Hint to Yuri: pay someone to do it for you!

P.S. What does Olga Shuvalova do?

Check Out

2009-04-07T20:44:00.001-05:00

Anne Applebaum's latest article in Slate! All about Obama's fake foreign policy.

A Little Bit of This,

2009-04-07T20:39:00.002-05:00

A little bit of that... reminds me of the song from Fiddler on the Roof. This seems to be the policy of Putin's government. Throw a bunch of economic theories into a pot, and hope for the best. I doubt it will work.

Love

2009-04-07T20:28:00.003-05:00

love, love Alexei Pankin's article in The Moscow Times today. Comparing Alexei Kudrin's pessimism to trends in dog ownership? Classic. Also, Pankin points out that not only is Ignatyev distancing himself from Alexei Leonidovich, but Igor Shuvalov is as well. Of course, Shuvalov is probably the one who wrote Putin's 19 pages (Times New Roman, 10) of lies, so there you go.

P.S. I feel I must repeat my previous prediction, Alexei Leonidovich is out by Victory Day.

Edit to previous post

2009-04-07T12:35:00.005-05:00

I meant to say that Boris Gryzlov is bo-ring. Extremely so. VVP is boring too, I suppose. But there is this weird element that makes him seem so fascinating. And no matter how much I learn about him, the fascination will not die. I could study him for years (and I guess I have), and not be bored. And that is why I will be going through the speech and analysing it today. 19 whole pages of lies. I cannot wait!

Prime Minister's

2009-04-07T10:58:00.002-05:00

speech to Duma on Monday. I wonder how Boris Gryzlov held up. The man is so bo-ring. The speech itself was something like 90 minutes long.

P.S. On Mr Putin's concluding remarks: I am kind of confused. I was under the impression that Boris Yeltsin's Constitution (funny that I cannot write just Constitution. In my mind it is "Boris Yeltsin's Constitution") made Government reports to the Duma mandatory. I guess not.

Ramzan Kadyrov: Insane!

2009-04-06T19:12:00.003-05:00

You have to be pretty crazy to come up with something like this! Especially because even Anya Politkovskaya believed that Ramzan was involved in the assassination of Akhmad Kadyrov.

I am not defending Sulim Yamadayev or anything he did. I think that I have said before that Sulim was just as bad as Ramzan. But he is dead, Ramzan! You (or your bosses) have murdered him! Why must you persist in defaming the man when he cannot defend himself?

P.S. Great job, Dubai! Keep up the good work!

Commentary on Burger Article:

2009-04-06T18:44:00.003-05:00

There is so much I want to say here. Mostly, I disagree with this. Don’t get me wrong, it is well researched, I just don’t think that taking out the inner circle will be as easy as they make it sound. You know that they all have so much dirt on each other, that for Medvedev to attack one of them would bring out a whole ton of dirt on top of Medvedev.

(1) ... his [Putin's] loyal protégé of 20 years

Ummm... I am not questioning this exactly, but that would be 1989, and I am not sure that they were working together in 1989. Need to pull up concept map! Okay, just checked! The date was actually about 1990, so it has been almost 20 years.

(2) Medvedev, a lawyer by training and instinct, offers perhaps the only realistic hope of turning Russia around, but he can't operate freely while Putin is still effectively in charge. Seemingly aware of this, Medvedev has, in recent weeks, taken steps to distance himself from his mentor and might be setting the stage to force him out of government.

The first part might be correct, but if the second part is true, then DAM is proceeding very cautiously (not that I blame him).

(3) ...public approval of the country's political leadership fell. Although public opinion polls do not yet show massive discontent or unrest, they do show a pronounced downward shift.

Medvedev has always styled himself as something of a reformer.

Memo Folks: Dmitry Anatoly'ch is not a reformer!

(4) Medvedev has made official statements on the assassinations of human rights advocates Anna Politkovskaya, Stanislav Markelov, and Anastasia Baburova that differ markedly in tone and substance from Putin’s responses. Medvedev strikes a different, less nationalistic, and more tolerant tone than Putin on questions of Islam and national security.

And he has got no one to back him on such issues. Not a single person on the National Security Council!

(5) Medvedev’s popularity is growing. According to a February 2009 national survey, 73 percent of those polled said they trust him, compared with 56 percent in 2006. Although it is impossible to predict what will happen, one thing is certain: The current power dynamic is shifting, and shifting fast. If the trend continues, Medvedev will undoubtedly begin asking himself why he is still playing second fiddle.

I believe you, Ethan, but I am not sure how much I buy into your so-called polls. You are talking about Putin’s Russia, for pity’s sake!

(6) Stanislav Belkovsky, the Russian political analyst and insider, gave sensational interviews in November 2007 to Die Welt and The Guardian, stating that Putin was worth approximately $40 billion. He said Putin was the beneficial owner of 37 percent of Surgutneftegaz ($18 billion), 4.5 percent of Gazprom ($13 billion), and half of a Swiss-based oil-trading company Gunvor ($10 billion), run by a former St. Petersburg KGB agent. If true, this fortune would make Putin one of the richest people in Europe and probably the world.

If that's true, it makes Putin even more of a wanker than he already is. Do you ever wonder what Belkovsky gets his information? The man is so shady, I swear! Who do you think backs him? Igor Sechin, or Slava? I guess my money is on Slava.

(7) So for Medvedev, the new anticorruption law, which he shepherded through the Duma in December 2008, presents a potential opportunity to intimidate Putin and his supporters.

I get where they are going with this, I just don’t agree. See note 10.

(8) Medvedev is also distinguishing himself from Putin, appointing 1,000 new top managers to fill key government positions. This recruitment drive, announced last summer, is a response to the difficulties the state is facing in identifying and recruiting competent personnel for public service.

What key government posts? And these people are not competent! They are boot-lickers! Argh!

(9) Although some of the “Golden 1,000” were prominent during Putin’s presidency, the list does not appear to contain close Putin advisors.

Why should they? All Putin's cronies are already in positions of power.

(10) Medvedev might decide to use the new anticorruption law against a proxy. He would likely choose someone reasonably close to Putin with a similar KGB or law enforcement background...

Like who? Igor Sechin? Nikolai Patrushev? I mean, seriously, Ethan, get real. You know that between those two right there, they could take out the entire Government, and PExO. And if Medvedev seriously tried something, you know that they would take him out.

(11) Unless there is some fall guy for Russia's economic fiasco, the whole regime could topple.

Okay, this is weird. Why don’t they mention Alexei Leonidovich? BTW: Sergei Ignatiyev started distancing himself from Alexei Leonidovich yesterday (April 5^th). It’s like ALK has the plague.

Commentary on Surkov's Speech:

2009-04-06T18:09:00.002-05:00

Dear Mr Surkov,

A few points that I would like to comment upon.

(1) It is the Biblical Isaac, who, as is well known, gave up his right of primogeniture (which was connected with many privileges, including the privileges of a free man) in exchange for a mess of potage.

“I think that when our intellectuals permit themselves -- although this is part of our traditions, unfortunately -- to liken the entire people to one of the most despised Biblical characters, they should summon up a sense of tact and be more careful in their statements.

First of all, it was Esau, and not Isaac. Second of all, he is not one of the most despised Biblical characters! That would be Judas! If you’re going to use a Biblical reference at least get it right! And what does Esau’s story have to do with anything? I mean, I guess it kind of makes sense but still...

(2) Roosevelt said: “A poor man is not free.”

I have a feeling that he is misquoting here, but I will check it out. It’s not exactly a misquote, but it is not the full quote either. Here is the full quote: “True individual freedom cannot exist without economic security and independence. People who are hungry and out of a job are the stuff of which dictatorships are made.”

True to a certain degree, I suppose, but hardly appropriate under the circumstances. And since Slava is so big on quoting FDR, I am going to quote FDR right back at him. “Freedom of speech is of no use to a man who has nothing to say and freedom of worship is of no use to a man who has lost his God.” Think about that one, Slava!

(3) People who are free are always, first and foremost, those who possess property and material advantages. Democracy became a mass phenomenon only in an era when, thanks to technological progress, basic material goods became available on a mass scale. Freedom has a material dimension, and the prosperity of citizens increased in recent years not in order to take away people’s freedom, but in order to make people free.

Is this a political theory? If so, I have never heard of it. And it doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.

(4) “Reread President Medvedev’s message: Freedom, justice, patriotism, family love.... What is it possible to reject here, which of these values can we forgo? And most importantly of all, for the sake of what?

You can advocate any value you want. I could say that I am for pizza every day. That does not mean that I am going to get pizza every day. And you can say that you advocate “freedom” and “justice”. But just where are those things taking place in your society, Bro? The second trial of Misha Khodorkovsky is incontrovertible proof that you are not backing up your words with actions.

(5) So much trouble would be kicked up that, afterward, someone who greatly dislikes freedom would come along and would impose order for the next 100 years. You know, we could try again one more time doing what we did in the nineties: If we all drank our fill and went on a spree and smashed furniture. Or maybe we have had enough? Maybe be we should try somehow to get by without wrecking furniture and without rampaging?

I don’t get it. Isn’t that what you guys are doing?

(6) “I would like to say once again that the system works, that it will cope with the crisis and get through it. It will of course change, it will be modernized. It must be modernized, but, on the whole, it requires that we handle it cautiously; it is necessary to accustom ourselves to social institutions whether we like them or not.

No, Slava, the “system” does not work! That is the whole point!

(7) Because democracy consists of institutions, and institutions have boundaries.

Yes, they do, but I don’t think that you realize that.

(8) I would like to call on everyone to think about how we can, together, make our political system more effective, instead of thinking about how we can disengage from it and forget about it.

Okay, that’s true. But, at the same time, that is the way you set up the system. So to go around complaining that people disengage is a bit hypocritical.

Dear Georgia:

2009-04-05T12:04:00.004-05:00

Guess what? We don't care. You could do just about anything, and we would not care. President with authoritarian tendencies? Not interested. "Increasing restrictions on media freedom"? "Political interference in the judiciary"? "Erosion of private property rights"? The Russians do it, and we are not speaking out, so why should we care if you do it?

The Russians invaded your country, and we did next to nothing! What makes you think that we would take action on the issue of a TV station?

P.S. This is obviously not my own opinion. I think that the West should take action on Georgia. It is the Munich of the 21st century. Again, I hope Pavel is right, and we are forced to take action. But I doubt that we will.

Finally!!!

2009-04-04T16:18:00.001-05:00

Found full text in English of Slava's speech to "Strategy 2020 Forum". Now to analyse.

I Am Not Complaining

2009-04-04T15:23:00.001-05:00

or anything, but I do wonder how much money Silvio forked over this time.

Laura Linney Dance

2009-04-04T14:44:00.002-05:00

taking place right now in my living room. YES! YES! YES!

I Thought

2009-04-03T22:29:00.002-05:00

the Russians had talked the North Koreans out of this. Also, there is an element of deja vu for me here. I just cannot remember why.

Pavel

2009-04-03T14:48:00.002-05:00

is still pushing a spring flare-up in Georgia. Kind of hope he's right.

Dmitry Rogozin

2009-04-02T14:29:00.001-05:00

is a G-E-N-I-U-S! No wonder VVP exiled him to NATO. Commentary forthcoming...

By The Way:

2009-04-02T14:25:00.003-05:00

am I the only person wondering (1) why a person on "Kadyrov's Hit List" would "hide" in Dubai; and (2) where Sulim Yamadayev got enough money to live in a place where apartments cost 5,000 USD a square metre?

Being a warlord is lucrative, that's for sure. Too bad you don't live long enough to enjoy it. Mostly I just keep thinking, 'Those who live by the sword, die by the sword."

Working "Together"

2009-04-01T13:44:00.003-05:00

This article is all about what we (the US) should do. There is nothing here about what Russia plans, or wants to do. How is that working "together"?

Slava Surkov

2009-03-31T21:14:00.002-05:00

just keeps getting cooler, and cooler. Latest: Surkov is half-Jewish, and half-Chechen. Only in Russia, people. This also totally explains why his folks did not stay together.

Still More On Sulim

2009-03-30T17:43:00.002-05:00

(1) From Caucasus Blog in two parts: Part One and Part Two;

(2) Isa Yamadayev's statement;

(3) Axis Globe's analysis;

And, finally, (4) Stratfor's analysis.

One More

2009-03-30T16:20:00.000-05:00

Yamadayev story (this one from RFE/RL).

Sulim Yamadayev

2009-03-30T15:54:00.006-05:00

is rumoured to have been shot dead in Dubai. However, there are conflicting reports, and nobody seems to agree on anything.

Initially, Reuters reported on Saturday evening that the victim was "Suleyman Madov, born in 1973".

Kavkaz Center picked up the report a few hours later with no additional information to report.

But by the following afternoon, Kavkaz Center was reporting that "Local Chechens say that the killed is Sulim Yamadayev."

Additionally, the Finnish-Russian Civic Forum reported, "The Russian Consul in Dubai, Sergey Krasnogor, confirmed on Monday that the Chechen killed on Saturday in Dubai was indeed Sulim Yamadaev."

Finally, Prague Watchdog's Dzhambulat Are gives the most comprehensive information so far. However, Are concludes by advancing another theory than the most plausible one (that the FSB finally caught up to Yamadayev). Are states, "Yet another theory has been advanced, one which for all its exoticism seems quite plausible. The avengers could have come from neighbouring Saudi Arabia. The well-known Arab field commander Abu al-Walid, who fought on the side of the Chechen guerrillas and died at the hands of Vostok battalion fighters, was a citizen of that country."

NOTE: Sulim Yamadayev was the leader of the Russian military's Vostok Battalion in Chechnya until this past summer, when he went into hiding. His older brother, Ruslan, a former Duma Deputy, was shot dead in his armoured car while waiting at a stoplight in Moscow last September.

I Wonder

2009-03-27T18:09:00.002-05:00

sometimes if Ramzan Kadyrov actually believes what he says...

Zakayev's Response:

2009-03-21T14:58:00.003-05:00

According to North Caucasus Weekly:

The press service of the separatist Chechen Republic of Ichkeria (ChRI) government posted a statement on the Chechenpress news agency’s website (Chechenpress.info) on March 18 denying European and Russian media reports that Akhmed Zakaev, the London-based ChRI prime minister, refused to participate in a session of the European Parliament in Brussels over fears the Belgian authorities could extradite him to Russia. The ChRI government’s press service said that the question of creating a European Parliament initiative group for “the right of the Chechen people to self-determination” was discussed in the European Parliament with Zakaev’s participation last year and that Zakaev and members of the proposed initiative group met in February and decided to reschedule its founding conference until this autumn because of elections in the European Parliament this summer. ChRI Interior Minister Usman Ferzauli attended a European Parliament meeting on Chechnya on March 18, Chechenpress reported. Gazeta.ru on March 17 quoted Russia’s ambassador in Brussels, Vadim Lukov, as saying Moscow expected Belgian authorities not to let Zakaev into their country. Meanwhile, Chechen Parliamentary Speaker Dukuvakha Abdurakhmanov on March 19 strongly condemned the European Parliament members’s plan to create an initiative group on Chechen self-determination, telling RIA Novosti that the Chechen people “have not asked anyone to solve non-existent problems on its behalf.”

The official statement in Russian.

Zakayev Update

2009-03-19T19:19:00.003-05:00

Latest extradition attempt... this time from Belgium. Unfortunately, rather than laughing in the Russians' faces, as every other European country has done in the past, the Belgians have caved.

My knowledge of European Union law is limited. However, I suspect that the only thing this will accomplish is to prevent Akhmed from meeting with the European Parliament. This may have been the Russians' ultimate goal, but who can say for sure?

New Blog

2009-03-13T18:19:00.002-05:00

I just discovered. Tag-line: All Things Alexei Kudrin. I am on board, and definitely excited by this.

A Fun Race

2009-03-13T13:04:00.002-05:00

I know these things tend to be jokes, and I can already predict the likely outcome, but I am kind of excited about the race for Mayor of Sochi. Boris Nemtsov versus Alexander Lugovoi. Keep watching here for updates.

Matryoshki

2009-03-13T11:57:00.002-05:00

I was going to write more thoughts on Slava Surkov (who seems to be popping up in the news a lot lately), but decided that my 400th post should be dedicated instead to all the matryoshki sellers and producers in Russia.

Here is a question: who buys matryoshki? Answer: tourists.

Second question: who is allowed to be a tourist in Russia? Answer: practically nobody. At least Eurovision will provide some tourists.

I understand that people are hard hit by this crisis, but bailing out matryoshki producers is practically the end of the slippery slope. In any case, there is hope for those of us who are too cheap to pay for matryoshki from Russia.

Fun Website

2009-03-12T19:22:00.002-05:00

Administrative Reform in the Russian Federation.

New Ag Minister (finally)

2009-03-12T19:04:00.006-05:00

is a woman.

And only in Russia (or in the FSU) would the following be (a) said aloud; (b) repeated in a legitimate newspaper; and (c) not be condemned.

"She has intuition, maybe because she is a woman, and women tend to do things that only intuition can explain,"

Excuse me? Is he serious? But it appears that Mr Shirshov is indeed serious. He also seems to believe that he has complimented Ms Skrynnik. Well, if she's happy, then I will be happy for her. Sadly, however, whenever a woman gets a post in this government, my first question is usually, 'I wonder who she slept with.' And according to this article, the most likely answer to my question is... Viktor Khristenko!!!

Memo to the Moscow Times: Viktor is married to Tatiana Golikova. That'll be a fun working relationship.

Ms Skrynnik's biography to follow.

Falling On Your Sword

2009-03-06T09:12:00.003-06:00

Nikolai Petrov seems to believe that Medvedev is drawing attention away from Putin in an act of selflessness. Perhaps selflessness is the wrong word... presumably Medvedev will be rewarded for falling on his sword.

My real confusion comes from Petrov's conclusion. "But now the country is faced with another problem: Who can rule the country besides Putin?" Why is it necessary to replace Putin if Medvedev is going to sacrifice himself for Putin? Medvedev and a few others sacrifice, Putin comes back on a white horse, saving the day and the world.

And if Petrov is really casting about for a replacement for Putin, why not look to Slava? Slava would be happy to be the replacement, I am sure.

This Begs The Question:

2009-03-05T20:06:00.004-06:00

where is the list of 300 we keep hearing about?

Kind of funny that Movladi posted this after Ramzan's recent attack, where the latter called Movladi a liar.

P.S. Why did I think Shaa Turlayev was dead?

Surkov Speech

2009-03-05T19:21:00.003-06:00

I am a little worried by this. Of course, I have my own views on Slava (mainly that he has his eye on the Presidency). But at this point, he is being made out to be just an attack dog for Igor Sechin.

Unfortunately, anything on the actual speech seems to only be in Russian so far. However, I will keep looking for a translation. Here is a link to the speech on YouTube. I could spend a lot of time analyzing body language, and so on, but don't want to bore you. Also, Slava seems to have gained some weight.

The thing is, in my mind, I know I should not like Slava Surkov. But for some reason, I do. There is just something about him that seems so likable. And that is why (along with his genius PR work) I think that Slava is a threat.

Yukos Farce: Part 2

2009-03-05T09:47:00.003-06:00

Good article from Yevgeny Kiselyov on the farce that is the Yukos Trial Part 2. For the most part, he said what I have been thinking. However, I would like to add that in this instance the Kremlin is looking ahead. They are looking ahead to 2012, and they are scared that Misha could potentially take the election. I am not sure that I believe that Misha is all that interested, or that he could win. But perhaps the Kremlin sees it differently. They think that everyone is just like them. They cheat at elections, so surely everyone else much cheat at elections too.

On the subject of points from the West that Yevgeny brings up, I must repeat: brownie points don't get you anything but a cute little patch. You cannot even resell the patch for cash.

P.S. I am interested in his comment about Slava: "But Russia's current regime has shown no desire to change. Kremlin deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov publicly said as much recently." I am going to look for this article now.

What Is The Learning?

2009-03-05T09:36:00.005-06:00

Don't assassinate in a "politically docile" region? Just kidding. Good article from Boris Kagarlitsky.

EDIT: Sorry, I thought I linked, but I did not.

I Cannot Decide

2009-03-05T09:28:00.003-06:00

if Dima Medvedev is a genius, or totally ignorant of his country's history. This is nomenklatura (or at least my understanding of it).

I understand why he is doing this. And I (almost) admire his efforts. But first of all, it is too late in the game for this to be successful. And second of all, he would have better luck appealing to the public than trying to build up a base.

Vladimir Frolov: The Saga Continues

2009-03-03T09:56:00.003-06:00

Latest Vladimir Frolov attack on... guess who... Yes, The Scapegoat. Every crisis must have one, and Alexei Leonidovich seems to have been chosen this time 'round. If that is true, then maybe Dmitry Medvedev will not be sacrificed at this time, and my 9th of May prediction will be wrong. I may stick with 9th of May as a date for Alexei Leonidovich, however.

Addendum

2009-03-01T21:14:00.003-06:00

to the previous post. It would not surprise me if Slava set this up, and wrote it. The man is a PR genius. It is just too bad he doesn't use his genius for something worthwhile.

Ramzan Kadyrov: Television Producer

2009-03-01T13:26:00.004-06:00

Is there anything the man doesn't do? He kidnaps, he rapes, he tortures, he murders, he drinks, he upholds Sharia, he rebuilds, and now he produces television shows.

In his latest role, he has manipulated the former members of the Ichkerian Government into publicly committing self-flagellation. It must be nice, to have so much power to manipulate people like that. It must be nice to have no compunction for anything you have done.

... Ramzan Kadyrov won a convincing victory, and to round it off he compelled his former captives to admit that if he wished to do so he could destroy them all. Only good will prevented him.

That, unfortunately, is totally true. And everyone knows it. Then why was this show so convincing?

It is also possible that today Kadyrov suffers from a desperate lack of respect on the part of his fellow Chechens. What he wants is not flattery and genuflection, but a serious, deep recognition of his services to the Chechen people.

The first part, I think, is absolutely true. The second part, however, is a little... well, ridiculous. If he really wanted that, he would not be doing what he is doing. On the other hand, the article only makes me even more convinced that Ramzan Kadyrov is certifiably insane.

Kadyrov sees himself as a replacement for the Chechens’ former idols. The logic of his vision is that the country’s previous rulers were no better than he, and even far worse.

I refuse to believe that Aslan Maskhadov was a rapist, or that he committed either fratricide, or patricide.

This whole article just makes me sad. The poor Chechen people? That they have been reduced to this.

P.S. No mention of Akhmed Zakayev was made in this article. Presumably, he was not mentioned on the show, either. Kadyrov/Slava are still courting him, I guess...

Freedom: An Essay by Me

2009-02-26T13:24:00.000-06:00

FREEDOM

“I love my country, but I would rather live in the West.”

“Why?”

“Because in the West, you are free.” She said simply, as if it were obvious.

She went on to cite examples. Honour killings. Doctors murdered because they could not save their patients. But the most poignant were those six words, “...in the West, you are free.”

I thought later, “This is what we are fighting for. Freedom. Freedom for women to leave their homes without fear. Freedom for members of both genders to get an education. Freedom for them to practice their chosen profession without repercussion.”

But how many of us truly understand that? We take for granted our right to do any of those things. We may be constrained by our circumstances, or people. You may not have enough money to go to the school you want to go to. Your parents may want you to be a surgeon, while you want to be a teacher. But will they actually disown you if you choose to follow your heart’s passion?

And how many of us will be murdered because we practice our profession? The fact is that the number is so miniscule that it need barely be mentioned.

But we still complain at the constraints placed upon us. I wrote an essay once that made the claim that we are never truly free. I still believe this. Freedom is as much a state of mind, as it is a state of being.

I do not mean to say that by believing yourself to be free, you are free. A boy in Iran could believe he is free, while a girl in LA believes she is not. Which of them is correct? The boy in Iran who is allowed to wear eyeliner without being harassed? Or the girl in LA who believes herself constrained by society’s standards of dress?

The example seems silly, and maybe it is. But that does not make it untrue. What are we fighting for? Are we fighting for the right of Hollywood to tell us how to dress? No. We are fighting for the right to choose how we dress. The right to choose our profession. The right to practice said profession without fear.

We are the bastion of hope. People the world over believe this, and we fail them when we forget, when we lay down our arms, or when we refuse to speak out.

Deportation Day

2009-02-23T17:50:00.003-06:00

Today is the 65th Anniversary of the Chechen-Ingush Deportation. Words seem so inadequate when talking about events like this. Here are two speeches on the topic. First from Ivar Amundsen. Second from Akhmed Zakayev.

Also, from Kavkaz Centre.

Two New Websites

2009-02-22T11:13:00.003-06:00

that I will add to my blog.

The first is the Polish Economic Forum. Their stated goals are as follows: (1) To create a conducive atmosphere for development of political and economic cooperation between the EU countries and their neighbours. (2) The Forum is independent and impartial in fulfilment of its mission.

The second website is in Russian, and is called "Antikompromat". "Kompromat" is a Russian word meaning something like "compromising evidence". Anyway, the good thing about this site is that it has all kinds of biographies and information on Russian politicians.

Two big items that I found: (1) The Khristenkos were married in 2003 (way later than I thought). (2) Oleg Safonov (the Presidential Envoy to the Far East Federal District) is married to Viktor Ivanov's daughter.

Yuri Luzhkov

2009-02-19T14:20:00.004-06:00

is an idiot. Also, "conservative"? Since when? The man is a xenophobe!

On the actual topic of the article, however, Alexei Kudrin is on his way out. There is no way he can hang on much longer.

The real reason these people (Sechin, Yakunin, Luzhkov, etc) are upset is because they wanted that money, and by setting it aside, Kudrin kept them from getting to it. Think of it, all that money, just sitting there, waiting to be taken, and they couldn't touch it. It must have been such a hardship. Never mind that Luzhkov's wife is the richest woman in Russia, and that he has piles of it himself. Nope. It's the money you don't have that annoys.

P.S. Apparently Vladimir Yakunin is still head of Russian Railways. Maybe he has ambitions to be the new Min Fin.

VVP

2009-02-18T18:39:00.002-06:00

is taking on Alexei Gordeyev's project. Nice!

Nice to see

2009-02-18T18:14:00.004-06:00

Alexei Gordeyev is working now that he got transferred (fired is such an ugly term, isn't it?).

"Publicity Stunt"

2009-02-17T11:15:00.004-06:00

but I did a Laura Linney Dance, anyway. I never really liked Alexei Gordeyev. He was a waste of space. He only seemed to have two sound-bytes: (1) whining about WTO, and the fact that Russia was not a member; and (2) complaining about chicken imports. I doubt that the yet-to-be-named replacement will be any different, but at least we will have a new face.

It does seem that there has been some recognition of the fact that Agriculture is a problem. A Deputy Agriculture Minister got transferred too. So maybe there is some plan to reform the Agricultural Sector (though I somehow doubt it).

Great quote from Slava, though. "Kremlin deputy chief of staff Vladislav Surkov, who oversees domestic policy, told reporters Monday that the latest rotation of governors would not evolve into a "campaign" to shake up regional administrations.

"This doesn't mean that there is a certain plan," Surkov said, Interfax reported. "One should not believe that such a plan is being developed.""

If that is not stating the obvious, I do not know what is. Also, "oversees domestic policy" is a little vague, and not really an accurate description of what Slava actually does. Oh, I am sure it is in his job description, but... I think I have described and discussed Slava's duties plenty here.

Will keep you updated on Gordeyev's replacement.

Polish Catholic Church

2009-02-14T23:58:00.002-06:00

This article made me kind of sad. I am Polish (though not Catholic), and I think that the Catholic Church really saved Poland. At the same time, though, the Catholic Church is not about "progress", or most of the things that make up modern Western culture. And, let's face it, the Catholic Church is not going to reform on the celibacy of the priesthood issue. But is that really the problem, or is it something deeper?

I guess I think that the Catholic Church is a necessity during a certain period in a nation's history, but then, because it is not about "progress", something has to come along to take its place. In America, that something became Protestantism. In France, secularism. The question is: which will Poland choose?

P.S.

2009-02-14T13:23:00.006-06:00

Perestroika 2? Sounds more like what Brezhnev did to Krushchev. Boris Nemtsov should read his own history before making statements like that.

I Feel Violent

2009-02-14T13:08:00.003-06:00

when I read things like this. I really do. It is times like this that I wish I had some kind of skill to make myself feel better (like kick-boxing, judo, or throwing knives).

Let me be perfectly clear. I admire the fact that Boris Nemtsov is speaking out. But his only solution to the current problem is a fantasy. It is not going to happen. And I cannot believe that Nemtsov is stupid enough to believe that it will. So why bother? What is Nemtsov's goal? Nemtsov's goal seems to be "brownie points" from the West. To which I reply, "Brownie points do not get you anything but a cute patch; you cannot even resell the patch later for cash."

Akhmed Zakayev

2009-02-13T17:03:00.002-06:00

article from RFE/RL. Basically just reiterating what he has said before. Akhmed does say that Kadyrov contacted him, but does not say how. If that is the case, then that means that Slava is getting a little desperate. And that's not good.

New Video Blog Entry

2009-02-13T16:20:00.003-06:00

From Dima Medvedev. First of all, he looks terrible in the mock turtleneck. On the other hand, I cannot actually think of a single male of my acquaintance (or anyone famous, for that matter) who could pull that kind of shirt off.

A few comments on the actual text. (1) I think that DAM's intro is funny because I read somewhere recently (possibly on LaRus) that there are only about 50 people who subscribe to the blog. I have been thinking of making myself 51, just for fun, but have yet to do so. Maybe there are more than 50 people who watch these (admittedly, rather lame) videos, and maybe they all comment on them, but somehow I rather doubt it.

(2) The basic premise of this entry is obviously to address the issues that the Kremlin feels students face. There is the threat that when all of this blows up (as it will), the students will be the ones to take to the streets. The Kremlin recognizes this threat as real, and is taking steps to prevent that from happening. However, the solutions proposed do not address the real issue. And that real issue can be summarized thus, The Kremlin does not currently have (nor has it ever had) a real ideology. They have used money as a substitute, and never thought about what would happen when the money ran out. Enough students, I believe, realize this, and are not stupid enough to believe that any of the promise made in DAM's video.

(3) The fact that DAM neglected to mention the major bribery problem makes it obvious that the Kremlin/whoever wrote this speech does not understand the issues students face.

(4) DAM's presentation has improved considerably in the past year. I am most impressed. Too bad it won't help him any when he gets sacked in 3 months.

Comparing the Interviews

2009-02-12T20:07:00.002-06:00

First of all: Movladi is a liar. His headline states: "Kadyrov, Zakayev confirm the fact of contacts between each other". But one of the first things Akhmed Zakayev says in the interview with the BBC is: "I have never discussed with him any promises from my side or conditions
for my return."

Movladi also brings up the April 2008 rumour (that I believe Movladi started) that Khassan Baiev was involved with the rebel government. A fact which Akhmed Zakayev has denied.

The claim that Akhmed's brother returned to Chechnya was not addressed by BBC (a gross oversight... but typical).

What I find interesting is that Movladi deliberately cut out some of the things that Akhmed said in the interview. For example, Movladi accurately quotes: "...my position differs principally from the position of those who today entrust themselves to the Russian leadership..." But he skipped the rest of the quote, which was equally as important: "and actually terrorize their own people." Why would Movladi deliberately leave that out? It is not like he disagrees with that statement. As far as I can tell, Movladi also believes that Ramzan Kadyrov is a murderer (among other things).

Mostly, Akhmed is just repeating what he has said a million times before. However, BBC did ask about the "armed units in Chechnya" that the FSB accused Akhmed of organizing. Akhmed denied it, and called it "the latest propaganda from the FSB". He then repeats (for the millionth time) that "the Russian Chechen conflict has no military solution".

Possibly the most interesting quote in the whole interview, however, was this one:

"I don't know if Ramzan Kadyrov trusts them, but I won't trust them if I were in his place. Because Ramzan Kadyrov knows perfectly well who was behind the murder of his father. To trust them in this situation and to guarantee my safety on their behalf is totally erroneous, I think."

I understand where Akhmed is coming from, but I think his premise is mistaken. I know I am a little too big on conspiracy theories, but I definitely believe that Ramzan at least had some role in the murder of his father.

Link To

2009-02-12T15:12:00.002-06:00

Akhmed Zakayev interview on BBC's Russian Service that Movladi quoted at length (see previous post). I do not have time to analyze it or do a comparison between what Movladi's version and the real interview right now, but will do so later.

Discrediting Zakayev

2009-02-12T12:25:00.004-06:00

This is a strategy. But what was initially incomprehensible to me was whose strategy. At first I thought it was a two-pronged strategy to force Zakayev home. Part One: Discredit Zakayev using Movladi. Part Two: Urge him to come home by promising him a post in the puppet government (I am biased, and I do not deny it).

However, thinking about it some more, I realised that the truth is probably that there are two factions within the Russian Government trying to gain a foothold in Chechnya. The first "group" has only one real member. And that member is, of course, Slava Surkov. Slava is very important because he is the only person who Kadyrov seems to listen to. He is also the one who convinced Putin to appoint Kadyrov in March 2007.

The second group is, as near as I can make out, headed by Igor Sechin. I am not sure how much control Sechin exerts over the GRU, and the MVD in Chechnya, but I assume he wants more. I also believe that he tried to block Ramzan Kadyrov's ascension, but failed. Because of this loss he seems to be working harder to gain a foothold. The steps he has taken to gain this foothold include, (1) getting backing from the FSB (Sasha Bortnikov); and (2) giving funding to Kavkaz Centre/Dokku Umarov. The latter is pure speculation, but it seems to make the most sense.

So, Sechin's group is threateningly waving the stick by doing the discrediting. And Slava, in the guise of Ramzan Kadyrov, is offering the carrot. Fortunately, I do not think that either of them will be successful.

The problem with this theory, of course, is that it has other implications beyond Chechnya. It has implications in how the tandemocracy is run, and how it will, ultimately, fall.

Garry Minkh

2009-02-12T09:50:00.002-06:00

Some information about Garry Minkh: Appointed on the 9th of February. Former head of Government's Legal Department since 2004. Was Presidential Envoy to the Federation Council from 2002-2004. Graduated from Tomsk State University with a degree in law. Will add more as I find it.

I Saw This

2009-02-12T09:35:00.002-06:00

article yesterday, and wanted to comment, but my internet was not working so well. A few weeks ago at Davos, Vladimir Putin gave a speech. I and many others commented on the speech, but one quote that I do not recall getting mentioned was this one:

There is a certain concept, called the perfect storm, which denotes a situation when Nature’s forces converge in one point of the ocean and increase their destructive potential many times over. It appears that the present-day crisis resembles such a perfect storm.

Okay, fine. Makes sense to me. Not a big deal. And not really necessary to comment on it. However, yesterday, I saw this headline: "Obama: We are in a perfect storm of financial problems".

I hope that Vladimir Vladimirovich had a temper tantrum. I hope he was on the floor, kicking and screaming over this. Because that is not acceptable. If Obama had said, "As Prime Minister Putin said..." or even "as somebody, somewhere, sometime once said..." (I miss GW), that would have been fine. But to quote without acknowledging that it is a quote, is just not cool. You get marked down for it at Uni, so why is it okay for a politician to quote without citation?

Finally!!!

2009-02-12T09:14:00.002-06:00

Have a name for the new Presidential Envoy to the State Duma. No biography, and no picture, but we have a name! Garry Vladimirovich Minkh. I will see what I can find out about him from other sources.

Also, the time stamp is broken. It is still dated 08.12.2008 22:00. This is why I was so confused.

Oh! And we have a picture of Nikolai Vinnichenko, but still no biography in English. Nice. They have entered his biography in Russian, however.

I Don't Usually

2009-02-09T14:23:00.002-06:00

do analyses on photos here, but this one strikes me as weird. There is something different about Sergei Ivanov, and at first I could not figure out what it was. Then I went back to some old photos I have, and I realised two things. (1) Sergei is actually smiling. Something that I do not recall ever seeing him do. And (2) He has gained some weight. I am not sure how much weight. But he has definitely gained some weight (particularly in the face).

Read Robert's post, too. It's pretty good.

Contract Killing?

2009-02-06T10:16:00.002-06:00

Most likely. This article is annoyingly vague, though. Gilani Shepiyev left Grozny over 2 years ago after an assassination attempt. He was obviously pro-Kadyrov at one point, but was he tied to the Yamadaevs? And if so, what are the chances that he knew where Sulim is hiding? My gut tells me it's all connected to Solntsevo (something that would make a great dissertation).

Only Goes To Show

2009-02-06T09:40:00.002-06:00

that...

(1) some people are liars;

(2) bribery is always the way to go;

(3) there is always money to stick it to some imagined enemy (even if you don't have enough to keep your economy going).

Is It Just Me

2009-02-05T10:43:00.002-06:00

or has BBC become more like a tabloid recently? Look at these headlines:

(1) No Kissing Please, We Are Indians;

(2) Boy Born With 24 Fingers & Toes;

(3) L-Test Hell For S Korean Driver;

And this is just a sample. Makes you wonder.

Memo to Dmitri Medvedev:

2009-02-05T10:16:00.001-06:00

Georgia is more "democratic" than you will ever be!

German O Gref

2009-02-04T09:09:00.004-06:00

can be funny. Who knew? It also surprises me whenever he sticks his neck out like this, because it happens so rarely. I think he has to work himself up to it. He doesn't really like the spotlight either. I will never forget an interview I saw with him where he spent almost the entire interview wringing his hands because he was so nervous.

As regards the nervousness thing, Medvedev seems to be doing a lot better.

The Assassination Saga

2009-02-03T21:30:00.002-06:00

continues. Again, what ever happened to good old-fashioned firing? It's like, it's not enough to murder someone. Let's defame them, too!

Still nothing on why it took 2 days... 2 DAYS! to find them (oh, wait, the authorities didn't find them, the pilot found the authorities).

And still no replacement for Mr Kosopkin... thank you, Presidential Administration.