Re: the bottom line on the Russian elections

On Dec 7, 1:24 am, Eugene Holman <hol...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
<snip>
The same regime that persecutes opposition and meddles
with the affairs of the neighboring countries directly (political
pipeline repairs) or indirectly (financing of shady structures) has
won. We still have painful memories of that.

However, despite Russia's inexcusably outrageous behavior towards
Estonia over the bronze soldier statue last spring, things have been
quiet along the Russian-Baltic borders. Consider what Russia has been
doing with regard to Georgia, Moldova, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.
Baltic membership in the EU and NATO shields Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania from the most flagrant types of interference from Russia.


I am not sure about that. Perhaps there are no violations of air space
any more.

However, consider financing schemes related to Mr. Paksas & Y.Borisov;
or a very long absence of Mr. V.Uspaskikh in Moscow.

Consider all the sabre rattling and actions related to oil companies
or terminals both in Latvia and Lithuania.

Consider that according to some newspaper articles the Russian embassy
in Lithuania has as many staff as the one in Britain. As a response a
lot of EU operatives are there too - that helps, but does it protect
us from economic or other kinds of meddling in our affairs? Why in the
world do you think this is happening?

Consider the non-Russian businesses that are being pushed out of
Kaliningrad oblast either by criminal structures or bureaucrats. There
even have been obductions and dissapearances of Lithuanian businessman
with no result of the militsya investigation.

In my view the situation is such that there is virtually no meaningful
cooperation in any area - the trade balances are heavily influenced by
oil and gas trade at prices that are at the Western levels. There is
no good will on Russian side - political pipe repairs and things like
that because Mazeikiu nafta went to PNK Orlen and not to Lukoil. The
politicians there consider the Baltic states - to put it in the words
of Mr. Putin - small chips in some great game - along with their own
citizens, of cours.

Lithuania has been very forthcoming with the transit regime to
Kaliningrad oblast, but I think this is a wasted effort that will not
change the attitudes in Russia.

So, I expect more of the same, and this is no big reason to cheer.
Barring a military intervention, things could scarcely be any worse.

I think to many Russians this would sound like a blasphemy, but would
you not agree that Russia would be a happier country (I am talking
about its people) if the states of that Federation had more rights -
even if this means weakening of this "great" state?

No, I don't.

Knowing that you are a big fan of Estonia's success, don't you think
that once free or more free - these federal states would be more
successful as they would be able to use their strengths and resources
more effectively? Much like Estonia or the other Baltic states did?


OTOH, the question is flawed. If there was no certain brainwashing and
intimidation by the state and Kremlin loyal media outlets, the other
parties might have had more chances to come higher in the elections
than they did.

Given that the second and third most powerful parties are the Communists
and the LDPR, I am not overly disturbed by the political dirty tricks
played by the current regime. In a real democracy, parties that fail to

You should. Consider M.Khodorkovsky and a lot of exiled businessmen.
Why the ones who are guilty exactly of the same crimes are still free
and powerful, and some others - who were not so happy with the current
regime and dared to voice their opinion are prosecuted?

<>

Regards,
Eugene Holman

Best regards,
EZ
.

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