Comments on: Russia is a “criminal state”? Er…

By: Politicalguineapig

Politicalguineapig — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:46:09 +0000

For the record, I’m not a supporter of the Iraq war, and I personally think it was extreme. But endangering hundreds of people for the sake of eliminating one man is also quite extreme. I’m still not sure Putin is behind it-for one thing, I’m sure he’s not that dumb, but someone high up in the food chain signed off on it.

By: Natalia Antonova

Natalia Antonova — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:55:56 +0000

The BBC would never run a headline with “The U.S. is a criminal state.” Browder would never have the balls to make pronouncements like that on such a large platform. The U.S. doesn’t get flogged like Russia does, and it won’t get flogged like Russia does, no matter who is president.

I’m well aware of the context of Browder’s comments, and I can’t help but notice that he was a cheerleader for the new regime in Russia… for as long as it benefited him. We all make our compromises, that’s just the way life works over here – but don’t pretend you’re a sheep when you run with the wolves.

I also notice how he speaks of Magnitsky as a “hostage.” And what exactly did he do to save this hostage? He was safely back in Britain while Magnitsky was dying in jail.

Perhaps what Browder really needed was a martyr. And he got his martyr.

By: Lindsay Beyerstein

Lindsay Beyerstein — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 22:45:04 +0000

People have rightly called the U.S. a criminal state for its secret prisons, its indefinite detention of alleged terrorists at Guantanamo, and its torture of said detainees. Rightly so because we know these abuses were ordered by then-president George W. Bush and his closest advisers.

Browder has alleged that his lawyer was locked up for political reasons. Here, he’s implying that authorities killed the attorney or deliberately allowed him to die.

It’s important to consider the context in which Browder made these comments. IIRC, Browder is fighting a takeover of his company multimillion dollar company by tax collectors and state security forces. We’re talking forged registration papers, secret bank accounts, the works… He says the authorities framed his lawyer was framed in order to retaliate against him.

If Browder’s charges are true, and he seems to have a lot of evidence to back them up, then he’s got some pretty good grounds for regarding Russia as a criminal state. He’s allegedly being oppressed by very high-level federal authorites.

By: Revelation

Revelation — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 08:44:43 +0000

Polonium poisoning is extreme? And occupying Iraq is not? gimme a break.

By: Politicalguineapig

Politicalguineapig — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 15:34:31 +0000

I think part of this is privilege. Lawyers are usually quite privileged, and arresting them and keeping them in jail is unheard of in American society. (Unless they’ve actually committed a crime like embezzlement or something.) Another part and parcel of this is the horrifying extremes Russia has been known to go to. The Polonium poisoning, anyone?

By: joy

joy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:52:05 +0000

And yes, you’re absolutely right about the hypocrisy of Americans criticizing the Russian penal system when ours is rife with atrocities.

By: joy

joy — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 03:51:22 +0000

Also worth mentioning is the fact that Bill Browder’s credibility on this topic is low. He was a cheerleader for Russian business and an apologist for many social and political problems as long as he was still allowed in to make money. Once they came after him, his tune changed.