IHT Article: Whose Kremlin is it?

[WmGO]

Today in IHT:

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/02/20/europe/letter.php

Inteereesna.

[WmGO]

Today's NYTs:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/world/europe/24putin.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

Also, take a look at the slideshow. Great photos. ***Pay particular
attention to the comments of the United Russia politcal party leader for
N.Novgorod  about elections!!!***

If the link takes you to the log in page, just go to the front page at
www.nytimes.com
 

[Misha]

I love this quote from the article: "in far-flung places like Nizhny Novgorod, 250 miles east of Moscow." What is is 250 miles for a country like Russia? Nizhny Novgorod is still in central Russia and relatively connected to Moscow in terms of transportation. They should have sent the author to the Sakha Republic or Magadan to truly experience far-flung 

[WmGO]

Good point gabaub.

In case anyone did not read it in the photo section, the
local party leader in NNgorod for United Russia said
that " in the future elections won't even be necessary in Russia"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jet]

You guys might also take a moment to read through Russian reaction to the article, translated here:
http://community.nytimes.com/article/comments/2008/02/24/world/europe/24putin.html

Having family in Nizhniy Novgorod region that follow politics very closely (FIL was a mayoral candidate once, and Uncle-in-Law is head of the regional Hwy. Patrol) I can say there are some fairly glaring inaccuracies which seem to be designed (or at least slanted) to incite outrage. According to Liliya's former colleagues, the part about public school teacher coercing students is patently false, at least in her town. So at best, it's a gross exaggeration of what's actually happening. The other thing to remain aware of, is the divisiveness of local politicians pushing their own agendas, and jockeying for position in the changing political landscape.   

[Jet]

" in the future elections won't even be necessary in Russia"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Actually the quote was:

Sergei G. Nekrasov, the leader of Mr. Putin's party in Nizhny Novgorod, said elections were unimportant in Russia today. "It may sound sacrilegious, but I would propose to suspend all this election business for the time being, at least for managerial positions."