From Russia With Love: Putin Expected to Speak Out About Protests
Posted by Gateway Guest Blogger on Thursday, December 15, 2011, 5:00 AM
Posted by Layla Mars
Russia’s Prime Minister, Vladimir Putin, is expected to address concerns regarding last week’s alleged voter fraud. Putin is expected to field phone calls from the opposition and discuss their main demand; that there be an annulment of a December 4th parliamentary vote, which places Putin and his party in power for a third term.
The protest is the largest public show of discontent in post-Soviet Russia. | AP Photo
From the Guardian:
Vladimir Putin is expected to break his silence on Russia‘s protest movement on Thursday, when he hosts an annual televised call-in show that has become one of the hallmarks of his rule.
The programme, which usually lasts for hours and is a forum for Putin to promote his cult of personality, comes as the prime minister faces an unprecedented challenge to his 12-year domination of Russian politics.
He has so far remained silent on the growing protest movement, which last weekend saw 50,000 in Moscow and thousands more around the country gather to demonstrate over disputed elections. A second Moscow protest, set for Christmas Eve, was approved on Wednesday.
Undoubtedly, Putin will effortlessly field a number of planned and well orchestrated questions. Questions which will explain exactly what he wishes to say rather than address what the people are demanding to know.
Free media being influenced by its leaders and politics… sounds familiar.
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Published May 23, 2012 at 4:57 am - 63 Comments
Evil Otto commented:
The protest is the largest public show of discontent in post-Soviet Russia.
Wonderful. The hammer and sickle, the Che flag, the communist icons… y’know, if these are the protesters, then as far as I’m concerned Putin can put his boot on their necks.
Male Silverback commented:
Hey look, a Che flag from the people protesting against a repressive communist government. I think the people have the wrong hero.
Lady Mondegreen commented:
Actually, this question and answer show (which sometimes goes on for hours) is not orchestrated the way our political “Town Halls” are. But Putin will still ignore the seriousness of the opposition. The questions will be real and honest, but the answers wont be.
Hedgehog commented:
Controlled opposition. It’s all show business. It is designed for Western consumption and will lead to nothing in Russia.
Bttrflyefkt commented:
It’s sad the Russians don’t know any better trading Authoritarin leadership for Communism – either way most people have squat.
B commented:
Another perfect illustration of the failure to teach “journalists” what marxism and communism is in our “schools.” These are simply leninist-marxists protesting transformational marxists.
tommy mc donnell commented:
evidently the people in that picture would like a return to the old russian elections, a one party kind.
pst314 commented:
Are you sure that photo is from Russia? The people look an awful lot like your typical Madison WI liberal.
BuddyG commented:
Brought to you by the country that killed off their royal family.
Christopher Taylor commented:
Russia’s government never really changed. They just got rid of the ideology of Leninism, they thuggish criminal corruption remained. Now instead of a communist dictator, they just have a particularly brutal mob boss.
Christopher Taylor commented:
At least when these idiots fly the Che picture in their red flag, its consistent with their stated principles and history.