“It’s a turning point,” said Andrei Piontkovsky, a political analyst and critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Either we head toward an openly fascist regime, or we stop it now.” [Washington Post]
IN RUSSIA, President Vladimir Putin is giving new meaning to the phrase you are either with usme or against usme.
Leonid Razvozzhayev tried to seek asylum through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees less than one week ago, however, suddenly Russian authorities are saying he turned himself in and served up a 10-page confession of crimes he allegedly committed. He now sits in Lefortovo prison, aka Putin’s old haunts, the infamous KGB dungeon, where he recently told a public oversight committee that he was abducted on the streets of the Ukraine by Putin’s thugs.
Russian authorities are dramatically escalating the pressure on the opposition that emerged on the streets last December, going so far as to abduct an asylum-seeker in Ukraine in order to force him to testify against others, human rights activists say. Russian officials deny the abduction. But the United Nations’ refugee agency has demanded an investigation and the United States has expressed its concern. Leonid Razvozzhayev, the man who was allegedly abducted, is in prison, and Sergei Udaltsov, the leader of their socialist movement, is expected to join him there Friday, charged with inciting mass disorder. – Russian opposition says activist kidnapped, as Putin government steps up pressure
Cleverly, the Russian Foreign Ministry cited CIA torture, when the news of this Ludlum like drama surfaced.
It’s clear that dissent is systematically being crushed Putin’s Russia. Not long ago, you’ll remember, that the girl punk band Pussy Riot was tried, convicted and jailed for singing against the Russian government.
I’ve been watching this guy for years. USA needs to be very wary.