Russian press in peril

[flying_unicorn]

1/6/2002

BECAUSE RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin served in the Soviet-era KGB and headed its post-Soviet successor four years ago, it is a bad sign that Russian security services continue to treat as treasonous spies journalists, ecologists, and other citizens seeking to exercise basic rights of free expression.

http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/00...n_peril+.shtml

[Ritta]

[quote]Originally posted by flying_unicorn
[b]1/6/2002

BECAUSE RUSSIAN President Vladimir Putin served in the Soviet-era KGB and headed its post-Soviet successor four years ago, it is a bad sign that Russian security services continue to treat as treasonous spies journalists, ecologists, and other citizens seeking to exercise basic rights of free expression.

Hi, Flying_Unicorn!
There is no any peril for press in Russia! Everyone can read, write or show everything he needs, if such press information or TV shows aren't any kind of slogans for a war, national inequality, terrorizm, etc. or if this information does not contain any secrets of the State. You can see such rules available in every democratic country, not only in USA.
As to the previous job of Mr Putin, Russian President, I can tell you that that was only a PREVIOUS place of his job, which gave him an opportunity to acquire such traits of his character as honesty, firmness,highest capacity for work.
With best regards,
Ritta

[Ragnvald]

Yes, that's true, Ritta.
I wouldn't say same about western press.
There is no place for alternative opinion here.

When Serbia was bombed, not a sigle voice of doubt was raised. Try to print something in US that isn't along official line, forget about it.

I wonder, can someone that used to work for CIA become president of USA?
What about NSA?
FBI?
IRC?
Pentagon?

Any restrictions at all?

[Ragnvald]

The meaning of that war still escapes me.
I found explanation for myself and still hold on to it, that it was punishment for Bosnia.

Because, KLA are not freedom fighters. I've seen them on TV, people spoke German, English, Italian, with accent of course. They were mercenaries. Who moved them there, who gave money and weapon and why?
It was a land grab by Albanians.
They provoked Serbs all the time. And ugly scenes were from both sides. Serbs were just stronger.

[Ritta]

Hi, Ronbo!
It's a great pity that you are not a Secretary of State however! But, may be, you can ever fill this post - America is a real democratic country! - and no wars and bombings will be in the world then!
My best regards,
Ritta

[Ritta]

Hi, Ragnvald !
Thank you for your response. I would like to express you my gratitude for your support as I am a "new User" at this forum and it is quite difficult for me to take my bearings here...
As to the silence of the western press while Serbia was bombed and Kosovo was occupied firstly by the "Albanians" terrorists and then, after NATO's invasion, I would like to note there is no wonder, to my view, that at present they are keeping its silence while very many natives in Afganistan were killed by NATO's bombs...
My best regards,
Ritta

[Wendist]

Hello

If the information in the Boston Globe article is true then I think that both the FSB as well as the russian government is making a mistake.

Russia today is,at least in principle, a democracy where the russian people elect both the members of the Duma as well as the President. How is the people supposed to have an opinion on things if they are not informed?

I agree that a country has the right to protect its military secrets such as the blueprints of a new weapon or its plans for handling various threats but in this case the information was about the dumping of nuclear waste. How can the publishing of such material possibly compromise Russias ability to defend itself?

This case reminds me of the Belona-affair, where Cmdr. Nikitin was given pretty much the same treatment as Captain Pasko. I hope things turn out well.

Regards Thomas