Ukraine

Ukraine Bans Stalin Billboards

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Uncle Joe was back to threaten the people of Ukraine this week…Kiev Ukraine News Blog reports that the Stalin billboards exhorting people to pay their utility bills has been pulled after protests from rights groups and nationalists:An ad campaign featuring billboards and commercials with images of the Soviet dictator Josef Stalin exhorting people to pay their bills was pulled on Monday after protests from rights groups and nationalists.The campaign in the eastern Ukraine town of Donetsk came after utility rates in Ukraine increased markedly last year and people stopped paying their bills.Irina Taran, a spokeswoman for Donetsk governing council, said dozens of billboards featuring Stalin appeared in the city last week; commercials featuring old film clips of the Soviet leader also appeared.Ukrainian media reported that the mayor’s office initiated the ad campaign, then backed down in the face of protests.

Russian Jet Goes Down in Ukraine, 170 on Board

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The crash follows another crash two months ago that killed 124 in Irkutsk in Siberia.Here are the initial reports from the plane that crashed in Eastern Ukraine:The Tupolev-154 was flying from southern Russia to the country’s second city of St Petersburg when it disappeared from radar.

UN Votes on Human Rights Council Members Today

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**Updates & Results Below**Please send a congratulations to multi-millionaire Fidel Castro and Cuba for making this year’s UN Human Rights Council!”The time has come for a truly global rededication to the principle of justice for all.”Jimmy CarterThe Carter CenterAfter successfully and actively campaigning against the United States in the urging quick adoption of the new UN Human Rights Council.

World! Please Welcome Your New Human Rights Leaders!

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“The time has come for a truly global rededication to the principle of justice for all.”Jimmy CarterThe Carter CenterAfter successfully campaigning against the United States in the urging quick adoption of the new UN Human Rights Council.

Russia's "Sexiest" Politician Gets Nasty with Condi

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The outspoken Zhirinovsky, who was recently voted Russia’s sexiest politician, must think that makes him an expert on women and sex.The ultra-nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky from Russia took offense to Condoleezza Rice’s comments on the Russia-Ukraine energy crisis earlier this month.

Ukrainian Shuffle

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The Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko dismissed the entire government this week of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Walesa Pushes for a Belarus Revolution

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Walesa is still championing democracy…Solidarity founder and Nobel peace prize winner Lech Walesa sits below an original banner for Solidarity at the exhibition center at the shipyards in Gdansk on Thursday Aug.

Carnival of the Revolutions

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This is the sixth week of the revamped “Carnival of the Revolutions”!Democratic reformers living in “fear societies” don’t necessarily need guns or large wads of cash to succeed.

Ethiopia Cries for Help!

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** I have updates on Monday’s violent protests further down in this post **”All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know…the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors.

Azerbaijan Demands Freedom!

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** Supporters of several opposition parties chanted “Freedom!” and “Free Elections!” while holding placards with such slogans as “Down with robber government!” Some carried a picture of Bush with the inscription: “We want freedom!” **Thousands March for Freedom in Baku, Azerbaijan…A young protester sends a strong message to President Bush!

Bush Speaks at Naval Commencement

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You will feel comforted that our nation is in good hands after watching this video clip:PRESIDENT BUSH AT NAVAL ACADEMY VIDEO HERE(if you like seeing the “traditional hat toss” it is shown in this clip)ENTIRE COMMENCEMENT SPEECH IS HERE (around 30 minutes)Bush at Naval Academy Graduation Midshipmen and women play host to President Bush:”Every midshipman I’ve spoken with is quite excited that the president is coming,” academy spokesman Judy Campbell said this morning.

Hundreds Dead in Uzbekistan

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MORE BBC VIDEO HEREThe wife of a slain protester embraces her daughter during funeral services in Uzbekistan’s eastern town of Andijan on Sunday.

GW Rocks Georgia

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MUST SEE VIDEO OF BUSH DANCING HEREVIDEO OF BUSH TRIP TO GEORGIA HEREWaiting for Bush in Freedom SquareWow, these are the moments that define the epic story of George W.

The David of the Microchip

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A reader sent in this comment earlier last week to a post I had up on an injured Belarus demonstrator:And here, in Cuernavaca, México I get to know about it…along with a big bunch of people in a lot of other places.

No "Citrus Revolution" in Belarus

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A Belarus official accused the US and the West of financing democracy protests in his country and declared that there would be “No Citrus Revolution” in Belarus:Asked by newsmen Friday whether unsanctioned rallies in Moscow and Minsk were financed from the West, Vladimir Grigoriev, Belorussian ambassador in Moscow, answered in the affirmative.

Youth Protesters Arrested in Belarus

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Protesters Burning a Picture of Lukashenko in Minsk A rally in Minsk commemorating the anniversary of the Chernobyl nuclear incident landed 40 youth demonstrators from Belarus, Ukraine and Russia into jail:Among the detainees are the leader of the All-Ukrainian youth public association “National Alliance”, deputy of Lutsk city council Ihor Guz, the chairperson of Minsk regional branch of the United Civil Party Maryna Bahdanovioch, the leader of the Belarusian youth organization “Young Front” Zmitser Dashkevich, and activist of the Young Front Pavel Lisichonak, the leader of the Freedom Party Syarzhuk Vysotski and others.As we have informed, about 40 protesters were arrested yesterday for the attempt to deliver a petition to Alyaksandr Lukashenka with a demand to pay attention to aftermaths of Chernobyl catastrophe.

Rice Speaks Against Belarus Dictator

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As you read this ask yourself, “Could this event happened today if it were not for the bold resolve of the US and Allies in confronting Saddam’s Iraq?”US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice spoke about “the last true dictatorship in Europe” in Vilnius, Lithuania, today as she met with Belarus Opposition Leaders:US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice prepared to meet members of the Belarus opposition after urging change in the former Soviet republic she calls central Europe’s remaining dictatorship.

Bashkortostan Opposition Petitions Moscow

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Dilmukhametov, Bignov and Russian leader Anatoly Dubovsky with boxes of signatures at a rally Thursday More on the Bashkortostan rally in Moscow demanding the Bashkor president to resign:Advocates of human rights from Bashkortostan have gathered at a commemoration stone to victims of Stalinist repressions in Lubyanka square in Moscow on Thursday, demanding the resignation of Bashkortostan President Murtaza Rakhimov.

Rumblings in South Ossetia

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There were more protests in South Ossetia earlier today:The authorities of the self-proclaimed republic of South Ossetia on Thursday protested against the continued operation of a Georgian reservist training camp in the community of Dzevera in the Gori district, which is located within the Georgian-South Ossetian conflict zone.

Political Trial in Belarus

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Klimov On Trial for Insulting Remarks Interfax is reporting that the prominent Opposition Leader in Belarus, Andrei Klimov, who is believed to be behind the March 25th protest in Minsk, was put on trial today:Prominent Belarussian opposition member Andrei Klimov has been put on trial for insulting the country’s president.

Kazakhstan Uneasy

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Kazakh President Nazarbeyev may be feeling a bit uneasy with neighboring Kyrgyzstan having new leadership:The overthrow of President Askar Akayev in Kyrgyzstan is emerging as a powerful catalyst for the Kazakh opposition, which already was inspired by popular uprisings in Georgia and Ukraine.

Belarus Update

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Protesters yesterday gathered on the anniversary of the founding day of the People’s Republic of Belarus in “October Avenue” opposite the presidential compound and chanted slogans like,”Damn you Lukashenko!”This didn’t go over to well with the authorities!Today, the protesters were charged with breaching the peace:Prosecutors opened a criminal case Saturday against more than two dozen protesters arrested in a rally demanding the ouster of authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko.

Liberalism: Byproduct of Freedom

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More Street Violence No, the picture above is not from Kyrgyzstan, although there were reports of looting and fires yesterday during and after the collapse of the Akayev Regime.

The World Reacts to Kyrgyzstan

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From The UK Independent:Yesterday morning, President Askar Akayev ruled Kyrgyzstan, and vowed to see down protesters.

The New Kyrgyz Government

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On Thursday Kyrgyzstan’s opposition declared itself in power after seizing key government buildings as veteran president Askar Akayev vanished from view following days of violent protests.

Destruction & Violence in Kyrgyzstan

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Southern Kyrgyzstan Protests Erupt Kofi Annan Weighs in on Kyrgyzstan:Kyrgyzstan’s government and opposition must exercise restraint after violent protests in southern towns over the results of this month’s parliamentary elections, said United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan.

Heavy Unrest in Kyrgyzstan

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President Askar Akayev said he had a plan to prevent a “Tulip Revolution” like what he saw in Ukraine and Georgia.

Do Not Forget Kyrgyzstan

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**Parliament to Gather for Emergency Session**Kyrgyz Opposition Leaders are asking for early presidential elections and for a revote of the flawed parliamentary elections:”The authorities are losing control of the situation.