CarlHainze + 12 KH July 1, 2020 Russia gave families financial windfalls on Wednesday on the final day of a vote on constitutional changes that could allow Vladimir Putin to stay in power until 2036, a prospect that prompted a small protest by Kremlin critics on Red Square. State exit polls have suggested more than two thirds of voters will back the changes. They have been encouraged to vote with prize draws offering flats and an ad campaign highlighting other amendments with popular appeal. Putin, a 67-year-old former KGB officer who has ruled Russia for more than two decades as president or prime minister, made no mention of how the changes could affect his own career in an eve-of-vote speech on Tuesday. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pavel + 384 PP July 1, 2020 Point of reference for all dictators. Putin is the best example how is everything possible. Counted by the KGB. 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
francoba + 93 fb July 1, 2020 The Tsar is dead, long live the Tsar. (Imagine living almost half of your life under the same ruler ...) 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ThunderBlade + 231 TB July 1, 2020 Funny. It means Putin could allowed to control his country until his age of 100 years old legally. 1 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joze44 + 39 HM July 1, 2020 Russia is going back to the age of emperors and kings.... 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
50 shades of black + 254 July 1, 2020 Why they voting when always rigged. And opposition gets bumped off or locked up anyway... Result is always the same. 3 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Денис Фролов + 9 July 1, 2020 (edited) As a resident of Russia, I want to say that here is only part of the truth. There are lotteries, but there is no advertising about them on the TV. That is, you learn about them only at the polling station. But we all understand that changing the constitution is only connected with the re-election of Putin. And he has great respect in Russia. We do not vote for him because he is a dictator and we are afraid of him. We really thank him. In general, the concept of "dictator" is propaganda. Angela Merkel since 2005 in power. She is a dictator? This will be your answer. Edited July 1, 2020 by Денис Фролов correct font 5 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ward Smith + 6,615 July 1, 2020 2 hours ago, Денис Фролов said: As a resident of Russia, I want to say that here is only part of the truth. There are lotteries, but there is no advertising about them on the TV. That is, you learn about them only at the polling station. But we all understand that changing the constitution is only connected with the re-election of Putin. And he has great respect in Russia. We do not vote for him because he is a dictator and we are afraid of him. We really thank him. In general, the concept of "dictator" is propaganda. Angela Merkel since 2005 in power. She is a dictator? This will be your answer. The Demoncrats who benefited under the rule of Franklin Roosevelt were very thankful. The rest of the country? Not so much Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tomasz + 1,608 July 1, 2020 (edited) Im sorry haters but Putin in common opinion is best ruler of Russia since Alexandre II. Yeltsin is the most hated one. So if you really expected just a sober Yeltsin after 1999 that would agree Ukraine Belarus and Georgia joining NATO and UE you are just naive. No more gifts to the West just assertive foreign policy of great power defending its sphere of infuence. Apart from the fact that Putin in beggining of his rule was most prowestern orientated leader of Russia called zapadnik in last 100 years but you I mean USA didnt not accept Russia in western world community so now we have russsia-chinese alliance and you have to live with it. Its rather big problem for the West but just a result of US foreign policy after 1990 attacking Russia and China at the same time so they form an alliance. Edited July 1, 2020 by Tomasz 1 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strangelovesurfing + 737 JD July 1, 2020 (edited) 1 hour ago, Tomasz said: Im sorry haters but Putin in common opinion is best ruler of Russia since Alexandre II. Yeltsin is the most hated one. So if you really expected just a sober Yeltsin after 1999 that would agree Ukraine Belarus and Georgia joining NATO and UE you are just naive. No more gifts to the West just assertive foreign policy of great power defending its sphere of infuence. Apart from the fact that Putin in beggining of his rule was most prowestern orientated leader of Russia called zapadnik in last 100 years but you I mean USA didnt not accept Russia in western world community so now we have russsia-chinese alliance and you have to live with it. Its rather big problem for the West but just a result of US foreign policy after 1990 attacking Russia and China at the same time so they form an alliance. The US absolutely could have handled the dissolution of the Soviet Union better and needlessly provoked Moscow by enlarging NATO to Russian boarders despite promising not to. I don't see Putin's moves helping Russia in the long run though. Ukraine is now very anti-Russia and will be for a generation or two despite being very pro-Russian before the color revolutions. China will be friendly until it suites their purposes to turn hostile, this will happen with little/no notice IMO. The IED's have just started exploding in Syria, more will follow, that war isn't over. Turkey will end up selling the S400 to the US in a few years in order to obtain the F-35. Erdogan is an old man and won't be around for too many more years and the F-35B is needed for Turkey's Andolu assault carrier. Without the F-35 Greece owns the Aegean airspace and Turkey looses a ridiculous amount of power projection. Putin selling one of Russia's most advanced air defense system to a NATO country, apparently in the hopes of fracturing the alliance is going to be viewed in the future as a giant mistake. Edited July 1, 2020 by Strangelovesurfing 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Eyes Wide Open + 3,555 July 1, 2020 1 hour ago, Tomasz said: Im sorry haters but Putin in common opinion is best ruler of Russia since Alexandre II. Yeltsin is the most hated one. So if you really expected just a sober Yeltsin after 1999 that would agree Ukraine Belarus and Georgia joining NATO and UE you are just naive. No more gifts to the West just assertive foreign policy of great power defending its sphere of infuence. Apart from the fact that Putin in beggining of his rule was most prowestern orientated leader of Russia called zapadnik in last 100 years but you I mean USA didnt not accept Russia in western world community so now we have russsia-chinese alliance and you have to live with it. Its rather big problem for the West but just a result of US foreign policy after 1990 attacking Russia and China at the same time so they form an alliance. Russia and China coexisting in any long term relationship is much the same as a feminist liberal marrying a conservative man...Once the hormonal bliss is over war begins. 2 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradleyPNW + 282 ES July 1, 2020 2 hours ago, Tomasz said: Im sorry haters but Putin in common opinion is best ruler of Russia since Alexandre II. Yeltsin is the most hated one. So if you really expected just a sober Yeltsin after 1999 that would agree Ukraine Belarus and Georgia joining NATO and UE you are just naive. No more gifts to the West just assertive foreign policy of great power defending its sphere of infuence. Apart from the fact that Putin in beggining of his rule was most prowestern orientated leader of Russia called zapadnik in last 100 years but you I mean USA didnt not accept Russia in western world community so now we have russsia-chinese alliance and you have to live with it. Its rather big problem for the West but just a result of US foreign policy after 1990 attacking Russia and China at the same time so they form an alliance. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 July 1, 2020 9 hours ago, ThunderBlade said: Funny. It means Putin could allowed to control his country until his age of 100 years old legally. Closer to 90 I think. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 July 1, 2020 6 hours ago, Денис Фролов said: As a resident of Russia, I want to say that here is only part of the truth. There are lotteries, but there is no advertising about them on the TV. That is, you learn about them only at the polling station. But we all understand that changing the constitution is only connected with the re-election of Putin. And he has great respect in Russia. We do not vote for him because he is a dictator and we are afraid of him. We really thank him. In general, the concept of "dictator" is propaganda. Angela Merkel since 2005 in power. She is a dictator? This will be your answer. We all know how Russia undermines the supposed democratic system in Russia. It is all a farce and you can end up in prison, psychiatric ward, or grave etc. by opposing Putin. He has also had many journalists killed. Enjoy your Czar! https://qz.com/862764/heres-a-list-of-abuses-in-vladimir-putins-russia/ https://www.businessinsider.com/list-of-people-putin-is-suspected-of-assassinating-2016-3 https://larussophobe.wordpress.com/putinmurders/ 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 July 1, 2020 3 hours ago, Tomasz said: Im sorry haters but Putin in common opinion is best ruler of Russia since Alexandre II. Yeltsin is the most hated one. So if you really expected just a sober Yeltsin after 1999 that would agree Ukraine Belarus and Georgia joining NATO and UE you are just naive. No more gifts to the West just assertive foreign policy of great power defending its sphere of infuence. Apart from the fact that Putin in beggining of his rule was most prowestern orientated leader of Russia called zapadnik in last 100 years but you I mean USA didnt not accept Russia in western world community so now we have russsia-chinese alliance and you have to live with it. Its rather big problem for the West but just a result of US foreign policy after 1990 attacking Russia and China at the same time so they form an alliance. The Russian people, in general, are suffering greatly. The Muscovites are doing better. Russia has been a nuclear threat to the West since they got the technology. The Ruble is worth 1/70th of a dollar. Oil and natural gas are the backbone of the Russian economy. Putin has neglected to diversify the economy of Russia so they are going down fast due to low oil and natural gas prices! They are in the same basket as the Saudis and others who have made the fatal mistake of not thinking ahead to the next move in international chess. Russia is now just an annex of China. Their partnership is very unequal. All that is protecting them is their missiles. If Russia had a wiser leader they would be much better off financially. 3 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tomasz + 1,608 July 1, 2020 The United States is not a friend of Russia, as evidenced by the concept of Brzezinski's division of Russia into three separate countries. China, on the other hand is Russia's ally and their economies are complementary We have here several thousand kilometers borders between the largest exporter of raw materials and their largest importer. Russia and China are not hostile to the US. Their goal is only the end of the US hegemony as the only superpower which is in the vital interest of the world and should not disturb the typical Americans because it does not harm their daily interests in any way. This year, the Chinese economy will achieve almost 10% higher economic growth than the US and Russia will also have a lower GDP decline than the US and in my opinion this situation is most positive for the world because the hegemony of one power is an unhealthy and unusual situation in world history. 2 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dan Warnick + 6,100 July 1, 2020 (edited) 23 hours ago, ThunderBlade said: Funny. It means Putin could allowed to control his country until his age of 100 years old legally. In the good old days, Russian and Chinese (and a few others) leaders actually led in the last days of their reign from the mausoleum, so Putin may be considering his last 25 or so years that way. Looks like they could be having a meeting, doesn't it? Edited July 2, 2020 by Dan Warnick 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG July 2, 2020 9 hours ago, Денис Фролов said: But we all understand that changing the constitution is only connected with the re-election of Putin. And he has great respect in Russia. We do not vote for him because he is a dictator and we are afraid of him. We really thank him. In general, the concept of "dictator" is propaganda. Angela Merkel since 2005 in power. She is a dictator? This will be your answer. Hi, and thank you for coming on board and sharing your perspective! Americans do not much like Mr. Putin because of his invasion and theft of the Crimea, the invasion and occupation of the Donbas, the supply of missile launchers to shoot down civilian airliners, the invasion and occupation of two sections of the Republic of Georgia, and the continued occupation of the Kaliningrad Oblast. And that is before we get to his involvement with that murderous psychopath Assad sitting in Syria and using barrel bombs on civilians. Perhaps you can see Mr. Putin from that perspective. 2 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradleyPNW + 282 ES July 2, 2020 "Russia and China are not hostile to the US. Their goal is only the end of the US hegemony as the only superpower which is in the vital interest of the world and should not disturb the typical Americans because it does not harm their daily interests in any way." - IRAhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_Research_Agency Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strangelovesurfing + 737 JD July 2, 2020 (edited) 6 hours ago, Tomasz said: The United States is not a friend of Russia, as evidenced by the concept of Brzezinski's division of Russia into three separate countries. Do you have links that show where/when Brzezinski proposed this split? He hasn’t represented the US Govt. since the Carter administration as far as I know. 6 hours ago, Tomasz said: Russia and China are not hostile to the US. Their goal is only the end of the US hegemony as the only superpower which is in the vital interest of the world and should not disturb the typical Americans because it does not harm their daily interests in any way. The CCP is openly hostile to the US, their entire internal narrative is one of China being the victim of every evil plot imaginable the US is always currently engaged in or planning to activate. CCP history - the US bombarded north-eastern Chinese cities in the Korean war (which the US started), and the CCP was forced to resond to those unprovoked US attacks on Chinese soil by ‘defending’ their North Korean communist brethren. Being the CCP, they are of course still, right now, ginning up resentful patriotism in their population by pushing a historical narrative that’s completely baseless. Those are the “facts” the CCP accounts on this site are always claiming to know, that’s the tip of the iceberg. The CCP creates a false history to ensure hostility towards the US in it’s population, but that country isn’t hostile to the US? Edited July 2, 2020 by Strangelovesurfing 1 2 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Денис Фролов + 9 July 2, 2020 9 hours ago, Jan van Eck said: Привет, и спасибо, что пришли на борт и поделились своим мнением! Американцы не очень любят г-на Путина из-за его вторжения и кражи в Крыму, вторжения и оккупации Донбасса, поставок ракетных пусковых установок для уничтожения гражданских авиалайнеров, вторжения и оккупации двух частей Республики Грузия, и продолжение оккупации Калининградской области. И это прежде, чем мы перейдем к его участию в убийстве этого психопата Асада, сидящего в Сирии и использующего бочковые бомбы для мирных жителей. Возможно, вы видите г-на Путина с этой точки зрения. Propaganda is visible in every word you say. I can answer everything exactly the opposite. At the time of the collapse of the USSR, 90% of Russians lived in Crimea. Alcoholic Yeltsin and his friends simply divided the country into tidbits for rule. Putin just corrected a historical mistake. Look now at life in the Crimea. Bridges, roads, schools, hospitals were built. Ukraine did not care before this region. I will give an example. Alcoholic Bush at the collapse of the United States passes Texas to Mexico. Life in Texas is getting worse. Mexico does not spend money on the development of Texas and is trying to infringe on the rights of local Americans (forbids them to speak English and so on). And after 20 years, President Clinton arrives and returns Texas to the United States. And suddenly from Russia they begin to tell Clinton that he is an aggressor, a dictator. And look at how the population of Crimea behaves. Do they behave like a population of the occupied territories? Not. To judge the Donbass, Crimea, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, China - you must be inside this and know the history of these problems from A to Z. And read less yellow newspapers. 2 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BradleyPNW + 282 ES July 2, 2020 5 hours ago, Денис Фролов said: Propaganda is visible in every word you say. I can answer everything exactly the opposite. At the time of the collapse of the USSR, 90% of Russians lived in Crimea. Alcoholic Yeltsin and his friends simply divided the country into tidbits for rule. Putin just corrected a historical mistake. Look now at life in the Crimea. Bridges, roads, schools, hospitals were built. Ukraine did not care before this region. I will give an example. Alcoholic Bush at the collapse of the United States passes Texas to Mexico. Life in Texas is getting worse. Mexico does not spend money on the development of Texas and is trying to infringe on the rights of local Americans (forbids them to speak English and so on). And after 20 years, President Clinton arrives and returns Texas to the United States. And suddenly from Russia they begin to tell Clinton that he is an aggressor, a dictator. And look at how the population of Crimea behaves. Do they behave like a population of the occupied territories? Not. To judge the Donbass, Crimea, Syria, Libya, Afghanistan, China - you must be inside this and know the history of these problems from A to Z. And read less yellow newspapers. Russia =/= USSR. The USSR collapsed and is no more. Russia was one of the remaining countries of the now defunct USSR. Ukraine was another *separate* country. Putin controlled Ukraine's president through corruption. Ukrainians revolted during Euromaidan and booted Putin's corrupt puppet, Viktor Yanukovych. As a result, Putin lost his mind because the revolution made him look weak inside Russia. Thus, Putin made the reckless, impulsive, and self-destructive decision to invade Ukraine. Putin does not care about Ukrainians. He cares about his status inside the Russian kleptocracy. He did not make the portions of Ukraine he invaded better just as he does not make Russia better. Absent Donald Trump's submissiveness to Vladimir Putin, Putin is weak internationally. How do we know? Because Putin engages in grey warfare. After Joe Biden is elected president in November the world will flock to his doorstep to declare their loyalty and friendship. No one does that for poor little Vladdy outside of Russia's kleptocracy. The world wants the USA to lead. The world is sad Criminal Donald is in the White House right now. Despite US weakness under Donald Trump no one has turned to Vladdy. Not only is he outcast but the free world won't let him back into the G-7 even with the full morbidly-obese throated support of his US puppet Donald Trump. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tomasz + 1,608 July 3, 2020 (edited) I don't want to argue, I will just state a fact how western coverage and demonization of Putin looks like from Russian point of view The West especially US Clinton administration could not boast of Yeltsin in 90s when the Russian people fell into total misery, the country was stolen by thieves and Western speculators in the style of Bill Browder and the average life expectancy fell by more than 5 years. But most important for the West was the fact that Russian foreign mintry Kozyriev was called MISTER YES and agree to everythng because he once said Russ doesnt how vital national interests outside Russian Federation. So he was called a perfect Democrat and best russian leader despite the fact russian GDP fall by 40 % during his presidency and he made a coup of etat in 1993 shelling Parliament. Then come Putin, who disciplined the oligarchs and prevent Russia from iminent collapsing. During his reign, men's life expectancy increased by 10 years and the earnings in dollars of population increased many times with fast growing economy. But this is Putin not Yeltsin who according to western press is curse for Russia and Russian people. From this it can be clearly seen that the West was not disturbed by the tragedy and misery of the Russians in the 1990s and simply did not like the reborn assertive Russia even worse now in an alliance with China. From this comes the conclusion not to worry about the opinion of the West, because West dont care about russian people and does not wish Russia well and dreams of a second Sober Yeltsin. And by this common conclusion in Russia about western press and authorities you can close this thread and all articles blaming and demonizing Putin. In pair with articles trying to prove Russia should not seek alliance with China but ask West for mercy. Edited July 3, 2020 by Tomasz Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jan van Eck + 7,558 MG July 3, 2020 56 minutes ago, Tomasz said: Then come Putin, who disciplined the oligarchs and prevent Russia from iminent collapsing. During his reign, men's life expectancy increased by 10 years and the earnings in dollars of population increased many times with fast growing economy. This part has some truth to it, although Putin himself is known as "Mr. 50%." That is, whatever deal you are making, 50% of it has to go to Putin's personal pocket (not the State's). Putin himself is a skilled kleptocrat. Russia today is a backwater country. Its total GDP is less than that of Brasil. On a per-capita basis, the per-capita GDP is lower than that of Portugal. You could forget about Russia, except - it has this military hardware, and nuclear weapons, and that makes the place dangerous. 1 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ronwagn + 6,290 July 3, 2020 On 7/1/2020 at 9:12 PM, Jan van Eck said: Hi, and thank you for coming on board and sharing your perspective! Americans do not much like Mr. Putin because of his invasion and theft of the Crimea, the invasion and occupation of the Donbas, the supply of missile launchers to shoot down civilian airliners, the invasion and occupation of two sections of the Republic of Georgia, and the continued occupation of the Kaliningrad Oblast. And that is before we get to his involvement with that murderous psychopath Assad sitting in Syria and using barrel bombs on civilians. Perhaps you can see Mr. Putin from that perspective. Plus killing his own people if they insist on voicing inappropriate opinions. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites