Why is Russia killing it's dissidents?

Question

I thought all that cold-war BS was over!!

Answer 1

you always test the limits...u do what you can get away with...people do it...countries do it...russia and china do it...russia is a master of getting away with a lot and no one will do anything cos they're scared of them...simple...

their not scared of embargoes or military blockades as they have thousands of nuclear weapons...they sure aren't scared of bad media and they aren't scared of attack...

when russia has a problem with politicians in countries next door they poison them(ie, ukrainian president), when they have problems with spies, they poison them too(like the guy that died in london this week)...then get upset in media when they are accused of the crimes...
...no one messes with russia...when a russian nuclear sub sinks...no one is asked to help as it's full of secrets...forget the nuclear fallout...

when 500 kids are taken hostage in russia(a few years back)...the russian special forces send a message...they killed more than half the kids and all the terrorists...there have been no plots against the govt since...when the world media is outraged, russia tells them to f**koff...no one messes with russia...not NATO, not China, not the USA...

The Serbo-Croat conflict had the US send the F117A NiGHT Hawk as the top shelf stealth bomber - sent into Europe in the '90'S to hit tragets in Serbia with precision...nothing could shoot it down...yet it was specially targeted with high tech whatever and shot down...by the Serbs!?!...or their Orthodox Christian brothers-Russia...of course the USA called it a malfunction in the media...
It's Russia just making their point loud and clear that they can do as they please...
...the govt is extremely corrupt...the usa pays them to keep their big technology away from preying eyes...and invests in russia, and they spend it on more weapons instead...when the muslim Chechneyan dissidents annoyed them...they attacked with horryfying weapons that incinerated the atmosphere in the vicinity of the weapon and the Chechyans with it...world response...?! as expected...condemnation...and then nothing...apparantly 100-300,000 people may have been killed in the '90's-ethnic minorities in Russia, cos it's not one country linked by culture...it's several different identities and nations...when Russia kills these people, the world complains and lays silent...why? cos Russia does what it wants...sure they are embarrassed about losing their great empire but they still like to make their points loud and clear...

Russia is killing it's dissidents cos they aren't russian and because they can...or if u r talking just about lividenko - cos that's how they handle their problems...as per above examples...

the cold war may be over, but u don't go and mess with Russia...

Answer 2

Despite Russia's emergence in the last 15 years as a new democracy, Russia has become less open than it was at the end of the Soviet period.

The Russian presidency holds more power than in most democracies, including the United States. Putin can make laws by decree, and has ultimate control over the government, with little to no resistance from other branches of government (whereas in the US the Congress can impeach the president, in the UK Parliament can call for a vote of no-confidence in the Prime Minister, etc.)

In addition to the government, Putin also has control over the local media in Russia, so his administration can determine what information is available to the public. Yeltsin also had influence over the media. He had a heart attack before a run-off election in 96, but it was not reported in the Russian media until after the election. (Partly because journalists were afraid of what would happen to them if Yeltsin's opponant, a Communist was elected.)

So Putin has a pretty firm control over politics in Russia, is immensely popular there, and can do pretty much whatever he wants. So why would anyone be surprised that Russian dissidents are dying off?

Answer 3

Not dissidents, but traitors. It's not wise to be so categorical saying that it is Russia who kills. Mr. Litvinenko was a"cheap low-class traitor" and even not a spy - too unimportant for Russian secret services. There are several other people like Kalugin and Gordievsky who deserve punishment. Anyway, traitors should be treated like this.

Answer 4

Cold war is never over, only the participants change: before it was US and Russia now is US and N. Korea, Iran, ..... and basically the rest of the world! One thing is consistent thou: one side is always US!

Answer 5

Because Russia is not a democracy, never been and will never be. I bet you 1,000 dollars. The country is too big, too wild, too diverse and too alcoholic....Tempers flare for a yes or a no....

Answer 6

it hard to break old habits