Universal human rights à la Kremlin
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Balqis08 Jan 2011 10:19
We've seen in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and other places, how importing the Western model and forcing democracy, worked
Toomas Merilo11 Jan 2011 13:51
Well, Balqis, why don’t you just come out and openly state your admiration for the countries which practiced murderous campaigns of ethnic cleansing in the 1990’s? I refer specifically to Croatia under Franjo Tuđman, Serbia under Slobodan Milošević, and Slovakia under Vladimír Mečiar.
to Balqis11 Jan 2011 14:18
Be specific, Balqis.
Are you trying to say that the Western concepts of human rights, civil liberties and democracy shouldn't be introduced to countries currently ruled by mafia-style thugs or megalomaniacs?
Balqis11 Jan 2011 22:33
My point is that importing democracy is wrong, first of all because democracy is not a unique model but a word that can describe different ways of government and secondly because each reality needs its own path
Which is why I embrace Vladimir Surkov ideas and president Medvedev statement
Democracy must come naturally, cannot be imposed
And a sudden passage from the soviet era to anarchy, that would have just messed up things
That is what happened in countries we europeans, together with americans, literally invaded
We just damaged them
About the mafia state, this is a huge accusation done to the kremlin for which there is no evidence whatsoever
The west wants just to overthrow the regime to be in control, and that is why they happily support the likes of Nemtsov and Khodorkovsky
Peter16 Jan 2011 04:57
Toomas, your condemnation of Tudjman surprises me. Was he not a patriot who fought against both communism and Serbian agression and became the father of a free and independent Croatia? Don't forget that those were difficult times and we were very lucky that similar violence did not occur in Estonia.
Max12 Jan 2011 08:47
Unfortunately even Francis Fukuyama has toned down his overly positive comments on Democracy-or rather the end of it. Many people lightly assume that democracy possesses all the seeds needed to overturn almost all of the injustices that seemed to be a stumbling stone towards future progress. This is a highly misconstrued idea and the blame rests squarely at the feet of those people who deliberately override tribal and national interests in favor of forcefully incorporating peoples into some sort of wishy-washy global community.
Toomas Merilo12 Jan 2011 12:09
Balqis’ assertion that “democracy is not a unique model” is correct. That said, note that Liberal Democracy revolves around the concept of human rights. Individual liberty is primary. The democracy aspect involves fair elections, universal suffrage, the existence of an effective opposition, an independent judiciary, etc. Less important is the form of how this is implemented. Russia does not shine in any of these areas.

Putin’s enunciated “sovereign democracy” is utter nonsense. It is a smokescreen for authoritarianism. She mentions Vladimir Surkov, but probably means Putin’s top aide Vladislav Surkov. Go figure. If one is going to be someone’s mouthpiece, at least get the name right.

She claims there is no evidence that Russia is “a mafia state.” What there is no evidence for is her assertion that “the west just wants to overthrow” Putin’s regime “to be in control [of Russia].

As for Max, he seems confused (just like Maxim always was). He can’t even articulate the Harvard PhD Fukuyama’s main thesis in Fukuyama’s 1992 book, “The End of History and the Last Man.”
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Toomas Merilo (13:51)
we need a new unit of speech..12 Jan 2011 11:47
...to define the longest possible period of time that a person can speak without saying something sensible.

We could call it the Balqis (abbreviated as Bs) or the Max (that's short for Maxim de la Trine).

If anyone wants to what democracy is, they should consult a dictionary instead of vapouring about it.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: to Balqis (14:18)
Toomas Merilo12 Jan 2011 12:26
And, oh yes, if Fukuyama has committed a sin, then it is a sin of omission… he does not mention Rule of Law in his book. And guess what… Russia doesn’t exactly shine in this area either.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Toomas Merilo (13:51), Toomas Merilo (12:09)
You don't get it13 Jan 2011 09:16
The Kremlin is using the negation of a western style democracy to justify repression - the arrest of the political opposition, the elimination of untrustworthy journalists, the conviction on dubious charges of anti-Kremlin businessmen etc. Of course democratic institutions must be fine-tuned to fit local needs. But the basic tenets of a democratic system - equal and unfettered access for all to participate in deciding who governs, right to voice a personal opinion (within reasonable limits), right to form a political opposition, a judicial system that adheres to the rule of law etc. Naturally one respects ethnic traditions and mores, but these cannot be used as self-righteous mechanisms in applying suppression of the individual. Practically all countries are signatories to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Let's not intellectualize with a subject that means life or death to others.
Whats the problem13 Jan 2011 12:18
I don't think Leivat was intellectualizing at all. He made good points.
Balqis15 Jan 2011 00:58
if by arrest of opposition leaders you mean Nemtsov and comrades behind bars, well he deliberately passed from a sanctioned rally to an unsanctioned one, ignoring the orders of the police
That is a crime and has nothing to do with politics
Evidence is that ludmila alexyeva, human rights activist, refused the call of opposition to join unsanctioned rallies in the future because as she put it, she wants to negotiate on legal bases
About Khodorkovsky, well is better you open a newspaper and UN reports on recycling and read what he did exactly
He looted russian people leaving them in poverty plus ordered killings in mafia style
We can argue that he was not the only one, but which investigative and legal system is perfect on this earth
Manivald13 Jan 2011 13:14
"The Kremlin’s ideologist Vladislav Surkov advocates for restricting the influence of international law"
------------------- Laas, have you ever watched Fox News ? Have you any idea what they think about "influence of international law"? Or perhaps you want to write next article about USA and its "Kremlin" ?
Balqis14 Jan 2011 02:11
Mr Merilo
I am nobody's mouthpiece and definitely mr surkov doesn't need my help
Allow me to make a mistake at 6am in the morning and discuss facts if you can without personal attacks
But this is a tecnique well established against Russia, isn't it ?
Still you must give evidence that there is no democracy in Russia
Max16 Jan 2011 11:30
Toomas has the uncanny ability to see everything to do with Russia in straight black and white colors. He sees no progress in Russia, though ask him why Russia is economically not as hard hit as the rest of the globe and he will always avoid answering! Ask him about shortfalls in democracy and he will always scream in your ear with a voice of autocracy which is usually reserved for genuine dictators. Toomas is just plain scared of giving credit to anyone except the lunatic fringe on the right.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: Max (08:47)
nice comment, Max!17 Jan 2011 14:14
It's proof on a platter that you see things via a fun-house mirror.
You are to be pitied and, indeed, you would be if you didn't work so hard at being provocative and obnoxious.
Samalt IP numbrilt on siin varem kommenteerinud: to Balqis (14:18), we need a new unit of speech.. (11:47)
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