In the way that these things happen, there were two stories from Russia that caught my eye in the last few days.
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| Medvedev–Putin Tandemocracy |
The first was that the Russians will hold Parliamentary elections on Sunday the 4th December, and there are allegations and fears that this will be the least 'free and fair' election since the fall of communism appeared to usher in 'democracy' in 1991 ... Vladimir Putin is leader of the ruling United Russia, but the incumbent President is Dmitry Medvedev (also from that party).
During Stalin's, and the later Red Tzar's rule, there were 'elections' in the USSR, but there was only one party ever standing. In the region of Tambov for example, some residents can remember attending elections in the 1930's and voting for the cowherd to become a deputy to the local council. Now, in an irony that can't escape anyone, its the rump of the old Communist party that challenges the results in elections, in an effort to defend the weakening democracy in the Russian successor to the USSR.
In the Tambov region they have evidence of the United Russian Party being given extra votes and of ballot stuffing ..... and what with Putin and Medvedev seemingly about to swap the roles of President and Prime Minister again, some things it seems never change.
In the Tambov region they have evidence of the United Russian Party being given extra votes and of ballot stuffing ..... and what with Putin and Medvedev seemingly about to swap the roles of President and Prime Minister again, some things it seems never change.
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| Svetlana and Stalin |
Which brings me to the other story, Svetlana Stalin (Svetlana Alliluyeva, aka Lana Peters), daughter of Josef Stalin died this week. She holds a fairly unique position by first denouncing Communism and her father, following her defection and asylum in the USA in 1967, and then calling her father "a moral and spiritual monster".... and she lived to tell the tale!
Then later she returned to the Soviet Union and denounced the USA (although she actually returned to live there in 1986 until the end of her life) .... she must have wondered in the end what the difference was supposed to be between the USSR of her father, and the Russia of today?
Then later she returned to the Soviet Union and denounced the USA (although she actually returned to live there in 1986 until the end of her life) .... she must have wondered in the end what the difference was supposed to be between the USSR of her father, and the Russia of today?
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