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© Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.Putin to seek another presidential term in Russia, extending his rule of over two decades
By JIM HEINTZ©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
50 Comments
ok1517
Since it will be yet another manipulated, fake, as good as decided election, PUTAin doesn't have to worry.
The result will be 95% participation, 98.9 for PUTAin.
Oh and by the way, what's up with this:
"......including in four regions of Ukraine partially and illegally annexed by Russia"
Let me correct the sentence just a little:
"including in four regions of Ukraine *partially, temporarily, and illegally* occupied by Russia"
Just changing 2 words makes such a big difference!
Ukraine prevails!
PTownsend
But that's the Russia system, when the state and Putin himself control media and jail opposition it's pretty clear, at least from my outside perspective that Russia will perpetually remain a feudal state, Unfortunately it will remain a state with imperial aims and a leadership that's shown it's willingness to go to war to achieve those aims. Russia and its partners China, Iran, North Korea and others including some Gulf kingdoms have used their media influence to convince people around the world that their systems (economic and political) are better than the 'western' democracies variations of democracy and western 'market' economy', it looks like those anti-democracy hordes want a big brother somewhere, even from Moscow, Tehran or Beijing to tell them how to live their lives, and as long as they get cheap petrol for their vehicles they'll willingly obey their new masters, and accept their warmongering.
Sven
Why wouldn't he? It's not like the EU mired deeper and deeper in debt while barely growing at all. The Russian economy is right now growing at about 5.5% and for the year, it will be about 3.7% growth. While debt is at 0.5% and falling. As opposed to USA debt at about 130% and growing rapidly.
Sven
Apart from Assange, what other journalists have been jailed in Russia?
JJE
He is popular. The 90s was a disaster under Yeltsin - people got poorer.
Now with economic growth his popularity grows.
Interesting photo montage. Joe and Bill. Third last photo is him at the Kremlin last Christmas drinking champagne with the troops.
John
He has Quaddafied himself. He can wear the crown via an election where his opponents are jailed, poisoned or fall out of windows.
He can meet with the thugs, dictators and filth among world leaders.
But he will never be welcome in the family of nations again.
And he is going to lose in Ukraine.
Fighto!
May as well appoint the shaky tyrant for life.
He'll be there most likely until the Parkinsons gets him. I fear for the advocates of democracy and freedom in Russia - and his opponents. Zero criticism allowed.
This is what fascist totalitarianism looks like. Count your lucky stars you aren't Russian.
JJE
Surely he wouldn't meet with the "thugs, dictators and filth" that Joe Robinette meets.
JJE
The first photo (at bottom) shows him congratulating troopers too. The Order of Courage/s is evident. Also Hero of Russia Star both - one Airborne Forces (VDV) and Air Force (VVS).
First15
What "popularity"? The Ruskies hate Putin. Hell, when the invasion first began, there were protests up and down the country. In addition to that, there was an all-but-officially-announced mandatory draft implemented a year later that resulted people fleeing Russia to wherever will take them. There's even been innumerable reports of Russians being among the "asylum seekers" crossing the U.S./Mexican border because they want nothing to do with Putin's war.
That's not to mention that Russia's "strong economy" only exist because they're friends with West Taiwan (You know, the SAME territory that's having every single industry going up in flames). If it wasn't for that relationship, you'd be hearing about how Russia is suffering from the same exact problems plaguing every other first-world nation.
ok1517
JJE,
congratulating and decorating marauders who killed innocent civilians.
Marauders who raped innocent women and children!
Marauders who deported / abducted thousands (all had years ago!)!
Marauders who destroy civilian infrastructure!
Marauders who loot even toilets!
Marauders who shoot at ambulance vehicles!
Guess I don't have to continue.
History is repeating itself - except this time it isn't NAZI Germany!
Ukraine prevails!
Sven
The logic of the "free" press.
Russia is bad because Putin is extremely popular.
Any election held in Russia is staged and unfair and therefore, Putin is a dictator......
The "free" press definitely has contempt for the critical thinking of the general population.
JJE
Russian economy has 3.5% or plus projected growth this year (best in Europe). Low inflation and high job placement.
How's it going elsewhere?
2020hindsights
Sven
Putin himself control media and jail opposition
Aleksandr Valov, Rashid Maysigov, Abdulmumin Gadzhiev, Aleksei Slobodenyuk, Dmitry Ivanov, Vladislav Malushenko, Aleksandr Dorogov, Yan Katelevskiy, Ivan Safronov, Artem Prokhorov, Yevgeny Moskvin, Aleksandra Bayazitova, Denis Shaikin, Maria Ponomarenko, Vladimir Panfilov, Igor Kuznetsov, Andrei Novashov, Mikhail Afanasyev, Sergey Mikhaylov, and Evan Gershkovich.
JJE
Evan Gershkovich is an American, caught red handed with Langley encrypted devices.
They do they same state side.
wallace
Two terms are enough for any president.
Kuku
How can you be so sure? Wikipedia-level information:)
First15? The nik is new, but the the tricks are old:)
HonestDictator
See, the problem with propaganda, especially with Putin's Russian propaganda is that REALITY always wins. Lies will never defeat the truth, because the truth always will align with REALITY and FACTS. Putin is a corrupt, kleptocratic, power hungry, manipulating person backed by an equally corrupt, kleptocratic, power hungry, manipulative government. The vast majority of people in the world see the truth and call it for what it is. Keeping up Putin's lie and deception will never help Russia's standing in the world. Actions speak louder than words. Putin has kept up his evil, wicked, selfish actions for his own ego. Russia as a country gains nothing.
Kuku
Dear experts, who is this "veteran"?
UChosePoorly
JJE and other Neutrals - if Putin and Russia were so great, you guys wouldn’t have to be here every single day singing their praises. You guys are trying too hard.
proxy
Work to free Julian Assange before you gripe about reporters in Russia. Pot, this is kettle.
JJE
Back to the article - apart from the idiocy that Putin has cancer and is dying, they now insinuate the congratulating a war veteran is odd.
Anyone can look up a plethora of photos of western leaders congratulating veterans, current and contemporary. Difference is they didn't pick on villagers in a third world country.
Kuku
Ivanov, Petrov,Sidorov...
Too lazy to check, but offhand: Gadzhiev sponsored terrorism and called for participation in illegal formations...so
JJE
"fascist totalitarianism" is a tautology.
Witness the events that leaders will unfold for us.
2020hindsights
Kuku
Yeah, trumped up charges, so...
https://cpj.org/2023/09/russian-journalist-abdulmumin-gadzhiev-sentenced-to-17-years-on-terrorism-charges/
Kuku
To the point, what are you doing here ? In Tokyo the weather is fine:)
theFu
If any country needed term limits, it is Russia. The last 2 election ballot counts have had Putin very close to 80% of the votes. It is so predictable, as to be obvious.
Sven
I looked into the first 3 of these.
No.1: Sentenced for extortion.
No.2: Caught red handed distributing illegal drugs.
No.3: Caught red handed recruiting and raising funds for ISIS.
Julian Assange is however jailed for exposing war crimes.
Fighto!
The Cowards of Russia Star would be more appropriate.
Being awarded medals for invading a sovereign nation and murdering innocent Ukrainian children, women and men.
Kuku
I read not only your biased publications...so
Sven
You may decide that is true because the "free" press told you it's true but Russians, according to the same "free" press, don't and for Putin, that's what matters.
What are you qualifications to speak for the vast majority of people in the world? I can tell you for a fact, the vast majority of Europeans don't think that.
Sven
The cowards of Russia? Like Russians generally and Russian armies having proven themselves over the last 1500 years to be cowardly? May I ask what country full of brave men you hail from?
englisc aspyrgend
Who wants to run a book on whether Poo tin will win with 95, 96, 97, 98, 99 or 100 percent of the vote?
JJE, you are demonstrating your ignorance of even basic economics. Their economy is failing, their main source of income has been severely cut (admittedly not as much as it should be but still very considerably) they produce very little them selves and are dependant on Importing virtually all high tech and much basic goods (now almost wholly reliant on their new masters in China). Meanwhile more and more of the state budget is committed to the 3 day invasion of Ukraine at the expense of health, education, social welfare, infrastructure and everything else. Not that the Muscovite empire was doing all that well before, outside of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the areas where the elite mafia live they struggle to even provide paved roads or toilets (possibly why the invading troops were so keen on stealing these rare luxuries that in contrast are so everyday and common in Ukraine?
The only segment of their economy that is booming is the military industrial complex, but that is a zombie economy, and even there Mitch of the money poured in vanishes in the endemic corruption and inefficiency.
Moskollo
Wonder who’s going to win that one!?
Kuku
You forgot to add: for rape with a spoon... This is bitter sarcasm, but such nonsense was stated by the Ukrainian ombudswoman at the UN walls. Not the point. Russians have never purposefully killed civilians. I do not see in any Ukrainian public that there was at least one court for such crimes (although there was one!). But in Mariupol, Rostov nearly every day, the Azov servicemen are being judged for their crimes against the civilian population!
2020hindsights
Sven
Aleksandr Valov, Rashid Maysigov, Abdulmumin Gadzhiev,
I looked into the first 3 of these.
Valov said his arrest was "an attempt to shut down the major and only independent [media] project of Sochi ahead of the [March 18, 2018] presidential elections and [June-July] World Cup — 2018," in an article he wrote from prison that his colleagues published on his website, blogsochi.ru.
No. The drugs were "found" at his apartment.
At Fortanga, Maysigov contributed to reports on alleged corruption, unemployment, and human rights violations in Ingushetia, a representative from the website, who requested anonymity citing fear of reprisal, told CPJ via messaging app. Maysigov told his employer that the FSB had tapped his phone, and he believed agents were following him, prompting him to suspend his journalism activities in June, the representative said.
Russian authorities have detained Gadzhiev since June 2019 and accused him of participating in three militant organizations, including the Islamic State group, and transferring 16,000 rubles (US $245 ) to Islamic State.
So he is sentenced to 17 years for transferring $245 to IS. Does that sound right to you.
In a courtroom statement on September 7, Gadzhiev said that the case against him had been “a ‘fake’ from start to finish” and that the four years he spent in prison were “the most productive years” of his life, during which he published “hundreds of reports from behind bars.”
So, don't believe the Russian justice system. It exists to silence independent journalism, among other things.
JJE
Certain new sources (in America) are reportedly insinuating Washington has been lobbying Moscow for a "peace settlement" on Kyiv's terms. Kremlin told them they have lost the plot and they are upset.
The plot is this: Moscow will decide the terms when it decides.
JJE
Cowards is the Assange-leaked FLIR video of the Apache helicopter gunning down civilians (including two journalists).
They gave them a medal for that.
2020hindsights
wallace
The constitution in Russia allows only two consecutive terms for President of Russia, requiring officeholders to leave office after term limits have been reached, but allowing them to seek the office again after one term of separation.
Putin would have again been ineligible for the 2024 Russian presidential election, but a 2020 amendment to the Constitution of Russia, added by Putin, exempted him from presidential term limits until 2036.
Kuku
You said we heard. In the democratic world everyone can have their own opinion.
To the point once more: 16000rubles is not so little, Journalists in Russia have low salaries. Question: why did he transfer money to ISIS at all? Second::16000 is only a proven amount.
The most serious thing is that he called for joining illegal formations.
Maybe enough for him?
JJE
Fiona Hill is referenced in this article. Nothing she has said or says has never come true. Trump booted her out in 2016 and even the current administration and Nuland didn't want her back. That's a hint right there.
JJE
The soldiers of the Russian Federation are not cowards.
englisc aspyrgend
No, he was jailed for breach of bail conditions. As he is deemed a flight risk he has been detained while his interminable legal wrangling and manoeuvring has been processed through the courts, entirely his own choice. He could have been out of gaol years ago but for his own actions.
2020hindsights
Kuku
*So, don't believe the Russian justice system.** It exists to silence independent journalism, among other things.*
He didn't.
He didn't.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/10/03/bogus-terrorism-charges-against-russian-journalists
englisc aspyrgend
rapists, murderers, paedophiles and child killers, looters and drunks they have been proven to be.
2020hindsights
JJE
Well, her testimony led to the impeachment of Trump...
Mark
Why NOT?? when you got NO oppositions or challengers?
Sven
FFS....... You are right. A warrant was issued for him on ridiculous rape charges, where the charge wasn't initiated by the "victim" but by a right-wing politician just after he exposed US war crimes. As soon as he was in custody, those patently ridiculous charges were dropped and the US indictment was announced.
Basically it amounts to Sweden, the UK and USA being violently against a genuinely free press and willing to go to almost any length to hide US war crimes.
To this day, those who committed the crime or those who ordered it haven't been punished. Only the person who revealed the crimes has been punished.
US-style freedom circa 2024.
bass4funk
I don’t think he really cares. Many European countries are dependent on Russia, not to mention he’s made new powerful allies.
You are joking, right?