Blogging the democratic revolution
David McDuff posts the translated political declaration on his blog. The topics it covers are both broad and general, positive and negative. The negative is quickly reinforced with the positive, however. It looks pretty sober, in any case.
Let the laughing at Putin ensue: Belgium ???????? President Bush scolded Russia for backsliding on democracy Monday and dined on lobster risotto and filet of beef with French President Jacques Chirac (search ). Three days before seeing Vladimir Putin (search) in Slovakia, Bush admonished the Russian leader to “renew a commitment to democracy and the…
Nathan has got the news roundup for all of you. The parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan are on February 27. Luckily, that is a Sunday, which means I will have plenty of time to be posting on it as well. If there’s anything the tin-pot despots there know, it is when to pick a good day…
Sure, I could just go to the Kyiv Post or Maidan and wrap up all the news for you guys. But Discoshaman just does it better!
For some reason, JerseyGOP has Yulia Tymoshenko has their 80th Babe of the Week. This is not surprising to most of us why she would be up there, but I am posting this because there are pictures.
For those who don’t know, the Jackson-Vanik Act was basically an embargo that restricted trade between them and the United States. I’ve written McCain about this and I’m glad to see something happening. From the Action Ukraine Report: WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) and Representatives Henry Hyde and Tom Lantos today introduced…
Discoshaman has posted his news roundup and promises a more full one tomorrow. Out of the links was an editorial in the Kyiv Post regarding the reprivatization reviews: The process of reviewing shady privatization deals, recently announced by President Viktor Yushchenko????????s administration, makes us a bit nervous. It????????s true that some recent ???????privatizations??????? of valuable…
I was just made aware of this website created by Marcin Skubiszewski, a man from Poland who participated as an election observer in Ukraine during the December 26 rerun. This website deals with his experience, including his impessions of the voting process and any irregularities that occurred. It is very detailed in all regards, and…
In a sweeping post, The Faces of G comments on the new alignments: Several key anti-U.S. states have been more public in their movements and alignments. A week ago, North Korea boasted of its nuclear weapons. Syria and Iran get together to build a ‘common front’ Änothing new, just a PR stunt reallyÅ. Today, Russia…
Ukrayinska Pravda comments: The biography of Yulia Tymoshenko can be learnt not only by the official chronicle, but by her photos as well. At the same time, every stage of her life can be distinguished exactly. The reason for this is that every stage of Yulia Volodymyrivna????????s life is indicated with the change of the…
In particular, some executives of YUKOS and MENATEP testified to the Senate, a huge blow to Putin in a hearing that is entitled “Democracy in Retreat in Russia”: The U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Relations held a hearing yesterday (February 17) on “Democracy in Retreat in Russia.” The star witnesses were Steven Theede, the embattled…
Lyndon Allin notes at once that Putin’s government is losing legitimacy and stomping on its own support, but a strong democratic movement doesn’t exist to topple him any time soon. Bright People in Senate Will Not Save Kremlin By Nikolai Petrov, Thursday, February 17, 2005. Page 9. Ä…Å Political stability now hangs by a thread….
Veronica Khokhlova reports that she is not exactly sure why he wants to resign, but it seems to be about oil. Roman Zvarych said this on Channel 5 yesterday: I won’t allow any businessmen, who are also Ukrainian parliament members and hold very powerful positions in the oil refinery sphere, to interfere directly in the…
Previously it was unknown how many companies the government was going to review, but One Eyed Cat report that at least 3000 deals will be reviewed by the government for fraud. That’s definitely getting the job done quick! UPDATE: From the comments, a link to a similar article, but with a picture of Yulia.
Aussiegirl posted some excerpts out of an article giving some background on Kateryna Yushchenko. I believe I’ve seen this article before, or one like it, back around December. It details a lot about how she worked in the U.S. government and has always held a deep commitment to seeing a free Ukraine. Check it out.
David McDuff posts what a Russian MP says about Russia-Latvia relations being the worst out of all near abroad countries. Here is the part he posted, and what I consider very interesting: “This isn’t Russia’s choice, it’s Latvia’s,” he stressed. He said “calls to normalize relations have not been heeded by the Latvian side”. “We…
Yulia Tymoshenko was handed her first major victory against the oligarchs when the courts anulled the previous sale of Kryvorizhstal. 7 February 2005 — A Ukrainian court today ruled that the privatization of the country’s largest steel enterprise, Kryvorizhstal, was illegal. The decision paves the way for the 2004 sale — for a reported $800…
Aussiegirl says it’s because the new government is going to go forward on persuing the Gongadze case, as well as taking away Kuchma’s pension. I, on the other hand, believe she is wondering when us boys on the internet will leave her alone.
Andy has posted all news Russian for the week, covering domestic, international, near-abroad, and economics issues.
Discoshaman has got it all summed up for you today, so check it out. UPDATE: Dan McMinn notes that the honeymoon period is over. And Aussiegirl posts the entire transcript of a speech by Ambassador John Tefft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, on the challenges ahead for the United States…
If there ever was a dedicated fanboy of older women, it is me. Well, maybe not, but Orange Revolution posted a good picture I seemed to have missed from Yulia’s photo gallery. Karate chop!
Abdymok has a map of the governor appointment in Ukraine.
Andy notes that the only opposition party in Russia today is the communists. Actually, the KPRF has been the main opposition party in Russia for most (if not all) of the last decade. I haven’t followed it’s fortunes all that closely for a few years but, several years back, it seemed to have comfortably reconciled…
That’s what Daniel Drezner is asking, and as easy as it is for us to discuss theory on these issues, it is much harder to put into practice. Personally, just looking at a map of the region, I take hope in that it is surrounded on three sides by now-free countries. When the time comes,…
Andy notes that rallies are taking place all over Russia, from both sides of the Putin/Pensions issue. Young members of the Young Yabloko party wearing orange scarves and bandannas also attended the rally. “The orange I’m wearing does not mean that I support the current Ukrainian leadership, but it is a symbol of freedom and…