Russia to make dissent treason
posted at 10:33 am on December 18, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
For those who think America has hearkened back to Great Depression economic solutions, cheer up — it could be worse. While Barack Obama seems to want to become the next FDR, his counterpart in Russia has taken a giant leap towards becoming the latest version of Uncle Joe Stalin. Vladimir Putin and his puppet Dmitry Medvedev have pushed through a new definition of treason that will include any information given to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that Moscow doesn’t like, setting the stage for a new tyranny by the former KGB master:
Under Soviet dictator Josef Stalin, people who fraternized with foreigners or criticized the Kremlin were “enemies of the people” and sent to the gulag. Now there’s new legislation backed by Vladimir Putin’s government that human rights activists say could throw Russia back to the days of the Great Terror.
The legislation, outspoken government critic and rights activist Lev Ponomaryov charged Wednesday, creates “a base for a totalitarian state.”
Government supporters and Kremlin-allied lawmakers said the bill — submitted to the Kremlin-friendly parliament last week — will tighten up current law. Supporters say prosecutors often have trouble gaining convictions because of ambiguities in the definition of state treason.
The bill would add non-governmental organizations based anywhere in the world that have an office in Russia to the list of banned recipients of state secrets. The government has repeatedly accused foreign spy agencies of using NGOs as a cover to foment dissent.
What’s an NGO? Well, the Red Cross is an NGO. Election observers work for NGOs. Let’s say Russia holds an election and Russians give information to election observers that the government has corrupted the voting process. That’s a ticket to the gulag for anyone caught doing it, and guess what? They won’t even get a jury trial:
In a separate development Wednesday, Russia’s upper house of parliament passed legislation that would end jury trials for those facing charges of terrorism and treason. Instead, they would face a panel of judges.
A “separate development”? Who is the Associated Press trying to kid? Does reporter David Nowak really see no connection between the push to broaden the definition of treason to include talking with NGOs and the removal of the right to trial by jury for those accused? Gee, how serendipitous of the Duma to pass that law just as Putin and Medvedev made treason a catchall to stop dissent!
At least David Nowak and the AP reported the story. I scanned the World section feeds of the New York Times, LA Times, and the Washington Post, and they seem very disinterested in the return of the police state to Russia. Thank goodness the LA Times managed to cover the story about sexually-harassed women in Egypt speaking out instead of this minor development in Moscow.
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Well comrade in line with my posts on Treadwell…hell hath little fury like a hungry Bear and Ivan is gonna be a hungry bear if oil prices don’t climb.
sven10077 on December 18, 2008 at 10:35 AM
Does Blago have any Russian Mob connections?
bbz123 on December 18, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Gulag Archipelago should be required reading in high school.
BadgerHawk on December 18, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Where’s alphie? I need him and his compatriots telling me how Russia is nothing like the old Soviet Union.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 10:38 AM
The dims will be following suit with the fairness doctrine soon.
grapeknutz on December 18, 2008 at 10:39 AM
Obama doesn’t think it feasible to do a Joe Stalin, just yet. By his fourth term, he will be fine with the gulags and other entrapments of Joe Stalin.
Want to see how it’s going to work, watch the Frontline video of the Democrats best friend Hugo Chavez, whose failed state of Venezuela is the template.
Only dumb people elect communists …
tarpon on December 18, 2008 at 10:39 AM
That’s a good question. I haven’t seen him in quite some time.
BadgerHawk on December 18, 2008 at 10:41 AM
I guess Putin didn’t get the memo about dissent being patriotic.
Farmer_Joe on December 18, 2008 at 10:41 AM
…and Barry is asking Vlad for his notes.
Vashta.Nerada on December 18, 2008 at 10:43 AM
This is Fascism, not Bolshevism. I don’t think that comparing Putin’s Fascism to Stalin’s multi-million-murder Bolshevism is the right thing to do, morally and objectively.
There are plenty countries in the world that have strict treason laws which include agencies who’s objectives can harm state interests.
Total free Democracy like in the US, where the ACLU and Code Pink can operate freely is almost unprecendented.
Aristotle on December 18, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Glasnost this! – you capitalist pig.
whitetop on December 18, 2008 at 10:43 AM
Putin must be getting very close to having Europe by the balls by controlling most of the OIl that goes into Europe.
Will they wait till the Russian Winter is over before taking Georgia next year?
jp on December 18, 2008 at 10:45 AM
To be perfectly honest, I wouldn’t mind a little tightening up of the definition of “treason” here in the Obamanation. The NYT, USA Today, Code Pink, Baghdad McDermott, Syria Nan and a few others have crossed the line in my mind.
Not to this extent, but still….
Rogue on December 18, 2008 at 10:46 AM
Time to reconnect the red hotline phone to the Kremlin.
Shy Guy on December 18, 2008 at 10:47 AM
He’s gunning for Walter Duranty’s old Pulitzer.
rbj on December 18, 2008 at 10:48 AM
……. and if you throw a single shoe it’s 15 years, both… DEATH!
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 10:48 AM
Bush is the real terrorist, remember?
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 10:49 AM
remember Samir Khan, operating freely in Charlotte, NC a AQ propaganda website? We are even allowing that(stupidly) during war time.
during the past, all the way back to John Adams, that guy would be locked up.
jp on December 18, 2008 at 10:49 AM
oh yeah, we also allow 9/11 Truther moron dissent, Alex Jones profiting by telling people 2/3′s of the world are about to be exterminated by the Bildbergers, etc…
jp on December 18, 2008 at 10:51 AM
F.I.F.Y.
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Those Mongoloid Russians never change.
Patton was right.
NoDonkey on December 18, 2008 at 10:51 AM
Interesting news. Shame that Ed’s posts are so boring. How about telling us something we don’t know, for a change.
Allahpundit is the real reason to read this site.
Seven Seas on December 18, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Things such as this remind me how lucky we are to live in the US. Sure we have a bunch of lefty dupes running the country, shortly to be replaced by even more lefty dupes. But, I’ve never really questioned where the hearts are of most of my liberal friends. Their heads may be stuck in an uncomfortable cleft that has not bathed since the 1930s, but they are all believers in democracy.
On the other hand, you can’t hardly take a few steps outside the US when you find the Nazis/socialists are back in charge. Worse, they have the support of the so-called intellectual elite.
doufree on December 18, 2008 at 10:52 AM
Shame that you don’t comprehend that you don’t have to read his posts.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Time for Gumby the Messiah to go on a fact-finding tour of Mother Russia. Upon his triumphant return he will proclaim, “I have seen the future, and it works.”
whitetop on December 18, 2008 at 10:54 AM
Bloody hell. Who pissed on your cornflakes? That was a tad uncalled for….
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 10:54 AM
actually Putin and the Russians are big supporters of unlimited “free Speech”…..in the USA that is. They love our Useful Idiots and realize how they help their cause.
Never forget that the ACLU was founded by Commies and probably KGB spies, that they tried to take over HOllywood for its influence…..and the DNC is litered with them. I’d about bet there are still plenty of Russian spies operating in the US to this day.
jp on December 18, 2008 at 10:55 AM
There’s yer problem ;)
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 10:55 AM
Gosh, it’s a darn good thing that we live in a country with a media that doesn’t suppress any ill-will to our leaders.
It’d be a shame if that sort of thing would happen here, wouldn’t it?
ExUrbanKevin on December 18, 2008 at 10:56 AM
Indeed. Baby steps towards tyranny.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 10:57 AM
I love Allahundit’s stuff. But I find Ed’s written posts to be pretty clean. The site doesn’t need two Allahpundits “There is no Allahpundit but Allahpundit!” It’s Ed’s radio shows that give me the Zzzzzs.
doufree on December 18, 2008 at 10:57 AM
And how is Putin’s position so different from the left in this country?
rplat on December 18, 2008 at 10:57 AM
This marks a distinct lurch toward totalitarianism. Uncle Joe would be proud.
CP on December 18, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Speaking of “Free Speech” and Useful Idiots, remember last year when Time passed over General Petraeus and named Putin was Man of the Year in 2007?
McCain was right when he said:
“I looked into his eyes and saw three letters: a K, a G and a B.”
INC on December 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM
That’s a business decision, if a crappy one. Big difference between a floundering business using its death throes to shine Obama’s shoes and government legislation imprisoning those who speak out. Keep perspective.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM
So start your own newspaper.
aengus on December 18, 2008 at 11:02 AM
Слава Сталина!
Realist on December 18, 2008 at 11:04 AM
A Merry Christmas from Putin’s Russia!
forest on December 18, 2008 at 11:04 AM
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:00 AM
Come on folks, please let me in on the joke… This guys IS a troll, right? He can’t really be a Conservative. I just don’t get it…
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:05 AM
I think you’re underestimating the significance of a media that has evidently sprinted towards compliance with a political entity.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:05 AM
one of many mistakes in the election was not making Russia more of an issue and replaying McCains quote
jp on December 18, 2008 at 11:06 AM
I suspect he’s really a talking Ann Coulter doll.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:06 AM
Why? Because I don’t see one of the failing media outlets sacrificing valuable advertising revenue as the downfall of the republic? Get a grip.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:08 AM
You’re assuming there’s not a link. Myself, I believe that with the old media pleading with The One for a bailout and the return of the WPA (which financed some first-rate propaganda it’s 1st time around), I’d say there’s strong evidence for a link.
ExUrbanKevin on December 18, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Nope… It’s because you consistently take an opposing view to most of the true Conservative positions articulated here at HA. I know, I know, your a fee thinker…
:)
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:14 AM
I won’t disagree with you that the government, regardless of party, has been bailout-happy recently, and it’s a disgrace. However, while powerhouses like Fox News and the WSJ and the Washington Times manage to slide along on greased rails, I’m not too afraid of an actual Pravda rising anytime soon. The New York Times is close enough, and they’re on life support. The blogosphere also doesn’t make it easy for them. All of these things have had pretty tight controls in places like Russia and China for a long time, and people are fine with the complacence. It’s not the same here.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:14 AM
Add deaf and blind to that.
MBuck on December 18, 2008 at 11:15 AM
Ah, another arbiter of what is “true conservative”. Yeah, a few nuts like you have pegged MM, AP, and Ed as not “true conservatives” as well. We had a lot more of them a year ago when Ron Paul was still in the running. You keep it up. We need chew toys around here.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:16 AM
I’d be interested to know what a “true conservative” position is. I haven’t been able to discern a coherent definition from anything here at HA, or elsewhere, for that matter.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Sounds like the Russians are dusting off their old Article 58.
RushBaby on December 18, 2008 at 11:20 AM
“I looked into Putin’s eyes and saw KGB” ~noted Presidential election loser.
BKennedy on December 18, 2008 at 11:20 AM
yet
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Ed, you are being overly simplistic in how you define a NGO. They aren’t all innocent groups like the Red Cross. They are often leftist groups. And let’s remember that one man in charge of a group providing election observers is Jimmy Carter, a man who would get a sexual thrill in turning an informer over to the Kremlin.[*] I’m not saying the Russian government isn’t evil. It is, but I’m saying that we shouldn’t imagine that NGOs are innocent little lambs.
[*]For the record, I mean this sentence as literally true and not as some exaggeration using sexually crude imagery.
thuja on December 18, 2008 at 11:22 AM
Obam is very thin skinned and doesn’t take the slightest criticism well. This ought to be an interesting 4 years
Bevan on December 18, 2008 at 11:23 AM
I feel that positions as articulated by Mark Levin, Rush and ManlyRash… Reagan positions would be what I call “real Conservative” ideals. Social values, strict limited Gov., strong Military, ect. (Ihave listed them many times) are my strong positions that are not open for debate or watering down.
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Well, one of the beauties of conservatism is that it’s supposed to be up for consideration. We’re able to debate what is fundamentally conservative without being tossed out for not towing party lines, or religious lines, or other such lines. We go on the base principles of freedom, and personal responsibilities of freedom. By contrast, Democratic Underground bans people who dare to question the leftist agenda, and banned all Hillary Clinton supporters because they did not fully and utterly worship BaraChrist Reborn.
So all this “true conservative” BS sounds a little too familiar to certain other sites.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:26 AM
Would that include amnesty? Or expanding social security?
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:30 AM
If you mean because I believe in Reagan principals and listen to Rush and Levin that somehow I’m a fringe-nut-conservative, then I’ll say ok… your call… Nothing I have ever stated here is any different then that posed by RReagan and much smarter folks at The Heritage Foundation. So if your calling Reagan, Rush, Mark Levin and ManlyRash along with the Heritage Foundation “fringe” elements, then I’ll accept your definition willingly and proudly.
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:30 AM
No one will ALWAYS agree with everything any one person believes. I do not blindly believe every word of Rush, nor every single position of The Heritage Foundation. Do you follow to the letter all that Alla, Ed and MM? I agree whit a large portion of all of the above mentioned, yes, sometimes even YOU.
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I never mentioned Rush, Levin, or Reagan when addressing your viewpoints. I mentioned your regular challenging of commenters and posters as “conservative”. I mentioned your cross-post comment spam in all caps. Don’t try to blame your fringe approach on mainstream conservative voices. By the way, what are Rush’s and Levin’s conclusions on birtherism? Haven’t heard them ranting like you about it.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:35 AM
dude, 9/11 truther “movement” ,Alex jones and his website, and the Ron Paul campaign are/were part of a “controlled opposition” operation ran/run by Homeland Security to collect names.
What better way to control dissent than to “own” it?
equanimous on December 18, 2008 at 11:36 AM
I also agree with a large portion of the above. Amazing how you still manage to challenge the conservatism of those who don’t reach bombastic levels of pique over something like a private business make their own private business decision to screw themselves out of money over ideology. I’m pretty sure Reagan was a free-market guy.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:37 AM
Can we blame Bush for this somehow?
Come on, kids, you can do it…!
commenter on December 18, 2008 at 11:42 AM
Mark seems very concerned, he’s vocal on Constitutional matters all the time on his show and talks about the Courts. He has stated that he feels “standing” will be the issue, he thinks the Courts will avoid the issue like the plague. He has, to my knowledge, openly stated his personal view.
BTW, you keep pointing out my “multi-thread spams”, I did that once upon first joining, maybe twice… I was talked to about it and have never do it since, so give that old worn out line a rest. I appologized for it, it was wrong and I stopped. But, your selective memory must be failing.
I also have stopped using caps in any major way… I use them, as I have stated before, not to “yell” but for emphasis. So if style is your issue with me, great, get over it. Been typing like this for years, not changing to be “correct” to acceptable “standards” set by people like you. If you choose not to read my opinions due to style, shame on your shallow mind, if you choose not to read because you disagree with my views… cool. If it’s content, we can continue to debate.
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:43 AM
Wow – a conspiracy about conspiracies. Did your head just asplode?
commenter on December 18, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Y’see, this to-and-fro is adding to my confusion. What’s the point of a label if it cannot be agreed to apply to anything particular?
I never did see the attraction of wanting to ‘belong’ to a group identity. If I happen to accrete with others on a particular issue, fine…if I’m flying solo, just as good.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 11:45 AM
Speaking of the New Totalitarianism, the US is only two states away from approving a constitutional convention, so, take heart.
Akzed on December 18, 2008 at 11:47 AM
Good point, I have no retort.
I never mind being shown my faulty thought process on any subject.
A good question, a good argument that is posted to make someone re-think his / her position is what this blog is all about I though.
Point / Set / match to Limey
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 11:48 AM
Then give the “true conservative” line a rest, and we’ll all be cool.
Style is important. As mentioned earlier, Ann Coulter suffers from a style deficiency. She often makes good arguments, but when they are punctuated by nervous laughter when someone challenges her, or she responds by interrupting over and over with inane quips, she doesn’t really keep my interest. Hence why I’m glad Hannity has a show and she doesn’t.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:51 AM
This is not new legislation. They have had laws like this on the books for ages and many have been prosecuted for working with the British Council and other foreign missions in Russia. They also target foreign corporations as well as NGOs. This has been going on for years. That is probably why it is not receiving any coverage.
lexhamfox on December 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM
Funny how that keeps coming up.
Akzed on December 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM
This really underscores the need for a good education system. Liberals have infiltrated our schools/universities so kids are raised with a very biased, one-sided perspective.
I was educated at a liberal university and was once a Chomsky fan, until I realized I had been brainwashed by the left/communists. I then began educating myself on the conservative side-the education denied to me by university and realized how skewed my views were previously. Now I can’t stand Chomsky and his blind knee-jerk hatred of America
Presently I think there are good and bad ideas on both sides of the political spectrum so I’m now centrist. However I think conservatives need to become more aggressive/proactive and demand that their views are given equal time in our education system.
Its a great disservice to the next generation if they’re given only a one-sided (left or right) education which will eventually turn us into a totalitarian state like Russia-a nightmare we should avoid allowing ourselves to fall into at all costs.
thinkagain on December 18, 2008 at 11:53 AM
What’s the point of a political ideology that cannot adapt to new issues, changing cultures, and new approaches? The Elian Gonzalez matter was, I believe, the perfect example of how labels mean little compared to principles. Conservatives disagreed on separate levels. Some said the boy should be with his father, and that politics shouldn’t interfere with that, based on conservative family values. Others said that the boy should be kept away from Cuba, and that his father should come to the United States so that the boy can be free.
Both were based in conservative principles. It was hotly debated, and I’ve noticed people still debate it to this day. The label is not important, because we’re still working from base concepts that are agreed upon between us.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 11:55 AM
Vlad the Impaler.
ronsfi on December 18, 2008 at 11:56 AM
Who said the USSR was dead, komrade?
DL13 on December 18, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Give the Messiah time.
He will get there.
notagool on December 18, 2008 at 11:58 AM
Funny how that’s still neither accurate nor clever.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 12:03 PM
This thread seems to be in hijack mode.
Back to Russia- After reading much history lately on the Russians & their govt, along with the Gulag etc. I have formed the opinion that your typical Russian who survived the Cold War is apathetic & probably even reminiscent of the old Communist Russia.
They forget what happened to people when they long for the old Strong Mother Russia.
These people seem to have a real hard look on life in general.
It’s evidenced by the way they behave in public-i.e. loudmouthed crazy party types (the ones with $$) & they seem to offend everyone wherever they go with their arrogance.
I think their pride is hurting & they want to be back on top again. That means digging up all the old propaganda.
No morality. They had no room for it in the Gulag days.
China seems to have the same problem-their morality suffers, too.
They’re all apathetic to a dangerous degree.
Badger40 on December 18, 2008 at 12:03 PM
And may I add prideful to a dangerous degree.
Badger40 on December 18, 2008 at 12:04 PM
Once you’re on board with “changing cultures” (plural?) then whats left to conserve except rights? In a leftist-controlled culture you won’t even be able to do that.
aengus on December 18, 2008 at 12:05 PM
For the AP it’s like one long bad scene from the movie “Reds”…
They’re so busy trumpeting the glory that is the free people’s revolution and re-emerging workers paradise that they can’t see that it is simply a return to the bad-old-days of the KGB run amok…
RocketmanBob on December 18, 2008 at 12:13 PM
I think it was a classic South Park epsisode that pushed that theory well.
jp on December 18, 2008 at 12:14 PM
I don’t see how ‘a capacity for change’ is a necessary criteria for an ideology to be useful. I can see how it would relate to its longevity, however.
The ‘Elian’ episode really underscores my point. Along came a particular situation (abortion would arguably be a perennial favorite too) that exposed how self-contradictory & incoherent this ‘conservative’ movement really is.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 12:14 PM
rofl, now that’s funny… wish I’d thought of it…
Madison
ConservativeI’m all happy on the inside now…
Mark Garnett on December 18, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Another good example. Conservatives as a whole are interested in seeing less abortions, I think we can agree. However, some would have it outlawed federally(for the sake of eliminating abortion), others would rather have individual states have their residents vote on whether it will be legal in their own state(for the sake of taking power away from the government and putting it back in the hands of citizens). Both are conservative principled stances.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 12:20 PM
I’m torn. If Obama became more like Stalin, people like Harry Reid could be tried for their treason against the United States.
Putin may be on the right track.
grdred944 on December 18, 2008 at 12:20 PM
*sigh* Enjoy yourself, troll.
MadisonConservative on December 18, 2008 at 12:21 PM
Available at Amazon.com, New Lies for Old by Anatoliy Golitsyn, 1984.
Predicted the past twenty years of Red retrenchment and re-emergence.
Akzed on December 18, 2008 at 12:23 PM
That’s the only thing that stopped McCain from giving him a green card.
DFCtomm on December 18, 2008 at 12:25 PM
That’s a good point Mad. I love to read Ann Coulter but her presentation in public irks me.
DFCtomm on December 18, 2008 at 12:29 PM
Yikes. I smell civil war. For real, this time.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 12:32 PM
It will be like that here soon. Disagreeing with The Holiest of Holeys will earn you a stint in the gulag.
mr.blacksheep on December 18, 2008 at 12:34 PM
I do wonder how many government agents would be willing to risk being killed enforcing such a fascistic regime’s policies.
LimeyGeek on December 18, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Real indeed. The CSA was not fighting to take over Washington, hence, it was not a civil war at all but the War of Northern Aggression, or, the War Between the States.
My favorite those is Granny Clampet’s epithet for it: “When the Yankees invaded America.”
Akzed on December 18, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Whats fascistic about prosecuting people for passing state secrets to foreign NGOs?
aengus on December 18, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Well, their kids will be your kids’ schoolmates, so there’s that.
Akzed on December 18, 2008 at 12:41 PM
I guess now the long suffering people of Russia won’t even be allowed to cling to their Gladnost and Religion. This is very sad news for everyone who believes in freedom.
Done That on December 18, 2008 at 12:45 PM
Did they skip the hate speech laws, or is that the next step?
petefrt on December 18, 2008 at 12:54 PM
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