A Hit on Russia's Opposition

[lordtiberius]

I heard they retracted the story.

[mendeleyev]

Helpful video in understanding part of the reason why it is important to Moscow that Ukraine remains under the thumb, and the paranoia over fears that Ukraine would want to join NATO. It is not the only reason, as the whole of Ukraine is valuable to Russian economic bloc.

In regards to the Ukrainians desire for independence and self determination, it is also important to note that the principle illustrates how important it is for Ukraine to not lose any more Black Sea territory.

[lordtiberius]

This is why Russia needs Ukraine:

[lordtiberius]

Kadyrov killed Nemtsov because of a letter he wrote last year about Kadyrov. 

http://www.interpretermag.com/russia-update-april-14-2015/#7912

Kadyrov wants to secede Putin.    A month after the assassination the Kremlin awards Kadyrov medals.

http://www.informator.su/kadyrov-za-misyats-otrymav-shist-nahorod-vid-kremlya/

The FSB is no closer to finding Nemtsov's killers than they are of establishing an office inside Chechnya (which is technically Russia?)

With or without Ukraine, this is another Russian civil war . . .

One alibi, Vice News reporter Simon Ostrovsky interviews Kadyrovsky (Chechen scum) claiming to be from Lugansk



One of them says "Salaam bro"

[JayH]

 

Putin-style investigation: Political component excluded from Nemtsov's case



"It is well established that the murder of Nemtsov has nothing to do with his political and public activity. For the qualification under Article 277 of the Criminal Code of Russia (attempt on the life of a state or political figure), the murder should have been committed in order to stop such activities," the investigator said.

"It is well established that the murder of Nemtsov has nothing to do with his political and public activity. For the qualification under Article 277 of the Criminal Code of Russia (attempt on the life of a state or political figure), the murder should have been committed in order to stop such activities," the investigator said.
Read more on UNIAN: http://www.unian.info/politics/1222580-putin-style-investigation-political-component-excluded-from-nemtsovs-case.html

Read more on UNIAN: http://www.unian.info/politics/1222580-putin-style-investigation-political-component-excluded-from-nemtsovs-case.html

[JayH]

There seems to be one certainty in Russia-- being a critic of Putin and you will not be leading a long life !
And people still come and tell us all how popular Putin is-- all the polls say so ! sheesh!!

Prominent anti-Putin writer is found dead in his apartment at the age of 59

Vladimir Pribylovsky, the author of numerous anti-Putin books and a popular blogger who wrote about the Russian elite, was found dead in his Moscow apartment earlier today. He was 59 years old.

http://meduza.io/en/news/2016/01/13/prominent-anti-putin-writer-is-found-dead-in-his-apartment-at-the-age-of-59

[mendeleyev]

I don't know if this have been covered on the forum, and apologize if it has, but it seems that Russian Army commanders who led the Crimean invasion are dying off at an amazing rate. Supposedly three so far in the span of about two months.

[JayH]

I don't know if this have been covered on the forum, and apologize if it has, but it seems that Russian Army commanders who led the Crimean invasion are dying off at an amazing rate. Supposedly three so far in the span of about two months.

There  so much of it that you lose track!!  Also in the Donbass.There seems to be a concerted attempt to bury recent history and leave no witness's.
Dont let the possibility of it already being touched stop you posting-- threads can easily be adjusted!!

[JayH]

Still more!!


Poison Puzzle: A Search For Answers In Kremlin Critic's Mysterious Illness
WASHINGTON -- Shortly before noon on May 26, 2015, the Russian political activist Vladimir Kara-Murza, Jr., left his apartment in central Moscow for a typical workday: huddling with colleagues to discuss challenging President Vladimir Putin's authoritarian rule. He took the tram to a nearby restaurant, where he met a fellow member of RPR-Parnas, the liberal opposition party founded by slain Putin critic Boris Nemtsov. He ate a buffet-style lunch, washed down with a glass of cranberry juice. He appeared "energetic and happy," his dining partner recalled two days later.


http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-kara-murza-poisoning/27490121.html

[JayH]

And More !!  With a friend like Putin - .......   !!

Kremlin critics getting killed in occupied territories

A number of separatist militants who had a falling out with the Kremlin and its puppet leaders in eastern Ukraine have been reported killed in recent weeks.
To some, the killings have all the markings of the Russian leadership trying to establish control among its proxies in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region.
Kremlin-backed separatist leaders have denied responsibility while Russia continues to deny direct involvement in eastern Ukraine.
Political analyst Vitaly Bala, head of the Situations Modeling Agency, said the Kremlin may want to eliminate opponents of peace talks with Ukraine. Or they could be attributed merely to infighting among separatist leaders.
The recent visit to Kyiv of Russian negotiator Boris Gryzlov, a Putin confidante and former parliament speaker, is seen as a positive step in bringing an end to Russia's war.
With Russia's economy ailing, the Kremlin is seen as keen to reaching a peace deal that would lead to the removal of Western sanctions, Bala told the Kyiv Post

http://www.kyivpost.com/article/content/kyiv-post-plus/kremlin-critics-getting-killed-in-occupied-territories-405900.html?utm_campaign=traqli&utm_source=traqli&utm_medium=traqli&source=traqli

[mendeleyev]

On Tuesday night Russia's leading opposition figure, former Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, was attacked at a restaurant in downtown Moscow. A member of Kasyanov’s People’s Freedom Party, RPR-PARNAS, Natalya Pelevina told The Daily Beast that around 20 men arrived in vehicles with blue flashing lights, surrounded Kasyanov and smashed a cake on his head.
"The attackers spoke Chechen," Pelevina said. "Mikhail Kasyanov is the only former Russian prime minister who is not provided with federal security guards. He is using his own private security; but they were too few to protect him from the Chechen attackers tonight," she told The Daily Beast.



http://www.thedailybeast.com/cheats/2016/02/09/former-russia-pm-attacked-in-moscow.html

[BC]

A cake??

20 men, obviously multiple vehicles with flashing lights, despite private security and a cake toupée is the result?

Sounds to me more like an insult and quite tame at that....

[BillyB]

A cake??

20 men, obviously multiple vehicles with flashing lights, despite private security and a cake toupée is the result

If they were a little smarter, they could've rolled back the number of delivery boys sent and used vehicles that doesn't have the fancy lights to save on delivery charges or at least have the delivery team send out additional items with the cake like ice cream and party favors. Was there a clown involved? A party isn't a party without a clown.

[BC]

ahh.. The Daily Beast... something like those grocery shop news stand articles reporting UFO's...

[mendeleyev]

Saturday was the one year anniversary of Boris Nemtsov's murder and several thousand marchers took to Moscow's streets. The full report is here.

[Irina-Rina]

First, a personal note.

It may seem morbid to some, but one of the first things a managing journalist does upon arrival to a new post is to update the "obits" as we call them--the obituary files. Nothing riles editors back home as a sudden death, and you find yourself unprepared. Obits also serve as a collection point for lots of things. Sure, there are the family notes, factoids that one learns about important people over time, and the basics such as dates of birth, etc.

It is the little things in those files that can set your stories apart from others. Things like fun facts on their personal lives--people have the most interesting hobbies, love or hate pets, have unique tastes in food and music, etc. Filing away an off-hand comment a politician made about another leader, whether complimentary or negative, can come in handy, even years down the road.

It is those same things however, that tug at your heart when someone passes. This is when knowing the name of their dogs isn't fun anymore, or when you wish you didn't know so much about their children. Such are the moments when the personal feelings tempt to cross into the professional. Supposedly, we are not to grieve in times like these because we should remain detached.

I didn't really know Boris Nemtsov very well until the protests began in 2010 and moving forward. It was my friend Alyona Popova who helped me get to know this fascinating fellow. He was brilliant--with a PhD in the sciences, and thus certainly above my league. Yet, in his trademark blue jeans he was just as comfortable with a little ole babushka, as he was discussing economics with (now former) Treasury Minister Aleksi Kudrin.

I have a black and white photo taken by another journalist during Nemtsov's early days in the national government. The scene is a field, and there is a group of old men and women pensioners holding banners calling for his resignation. I have learned that Boris Nemtsov was the kind of guy who wasn't afraid to meet with such groups, and to listen to their concerns.

Was he perfect? Likely not--he came up through the Soviet system. Yet, he was brave enough to write about Mr. Putin's connections to organized crime. Perhaps that is why he remarked just a few weeks ago that he feared being murdered by those in power.

Oh, if only one could learn to be cold and detached about such events. Not having to care would be a luxury about now.

He will be missed, but perhaps his death will be a catalyst for change. That is all one can say at the moment.

Thank you for the very detailed post.

[mendeleyev]

You are welcome, Irina.

[JayH]

Ahh--to be a friend ! Who needs enemies!


Accident killed Putin ally
The circumstances of the accident are being investigated.

Deputy Duma of Stavropol Krai (Russian Federation) from the "United Russia " Vasily Mashkin died in a road accident. This was reported by a representative of the Legislative Assembly

http://hronika.info/