Putin approves sweeping new law as iron curtain descends on the heads of Russians

Since Putin's re-election, preceded by the largest protests in his 12 years in power, parliament has rushed through laws tightening controls on the Internet, increasing the penalties for defamation and expanding the definition of high treason. These laws are aimed at silencing his growing number of critics.

President Vladimir Putin has signed a law redefining treason in Russia amid fears it may be used to stifle dissent. Now not only Russians working for foreign intelligence can be convicted but also citizens who pass state secrets to any foreign organization. It is enough for defendants to provide consultancy or "other assistance" to a foreign state or international body "directed against Russia's security". 

 The maximum punishment for high treason remains 20 years in prison but under the changes, Russians can now be jailed for up to four years if they have obtained state secrets - even if they have not shared them. They can be jailed for up to eight years if they obtain them with the help of special surveillance equipment. Human rights campaigners believe the aim of the legislation is to scare Russians into cutting links with Western non-governmental organizations.

"There is an effort to recreate an old sense of fear," Denber said, adding that the new legislation was apparently aimed at discouraging Russians from joining protests. "One of the aims is surely to never have that happen again and to demonize any ... people or organization that might be associated with that." It is part and parcel a slide towards the fear felt by the people during the USSR.

One of the laws passed this summer required non-governmental organizations in Russia that receive foreign funding and engage in political activity to register as "foreign agents," which aims to destroy their credibility among Russians.In October, Moscow ended the U.S. Agency for International Development's two decades of work in Russia, saying the agency was using its money to influence Russian elections — a claim the U.S. denied.

As of November10, licenses held by companies who are at least 48 percent foreign-owned is forbidden. Liberty, known locally as Radio Svoboda, receives funding from US Congress and was set up to cater for countries where there are restrictions on information. “The aim is to inform people, because there’s no free access to information, there’s no freedom of speech. Everything is controlled by the Kremlin.

Radio Liberty will now concentrate on digital platforms, causing job losses for more than 40 people and, according to some, muffling criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Political Winter Descends on Russia  Putin seems to be taking a big political step back to the Soviet Union. For now, these conservative new laws seem to be having a chilling effect.  Lipman and others say the goal is to return Russia to the apolitical days during the boom years of the 2000s. 

During this decade, Russians largely traded their political freedoms for the freedom to travel, to buy, and to make more money. Oleg Kashin, a radio analyst for the Russian daily Kommersant, says get used to it. President Putin, he says, is taking Russia down the road of neighboring Belarus, a nation run for 18 years by Alexander Lukashenko, often called "the last dictator of Europe."

Russian's have much to fear but so doesn't the world. With the return of Putin to the Russian Presidency I am again very concerned and see an end to a partner country whose leaders words and actions we can trust and a return to a confrontational relationship with Russia. I do not like the man, I do not trust the man, and I am very concerned as to which direction Russia and the United States are headed now and at a time when China is surging militarily.

We must maintain a balance as we try to move progressively and successfully through the 21st century! Being in a superior position puts one in a unique position of power and that power must be handled gracefully, with humility, responsibly, and not abused. That is something I taught all my sons and America under Bush did a lousy job of handling.

We need Russia on our side. I am a little worried that China too is getting a little too heavy handed and abusive with her new position of power and beginning to take what she wants instead of being content with what she has which is what I constantly lecture has to be the case if we are to have a future. 

The time when man and the planet could handle war is over, period or else! Be very concerned for our future! Not just Russia but the world is headed to a very violent future and hopefully not a very violent end.


James Joiner
Gardner, Ma

http://anaverageamericanpatriot.blogspot.com