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GET IT OFF YOUR CHEST - Was Russia's presidential election free and fair?
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- jurasiks May 13, 2008, 13:05
- I think, parlament & presidental elections was free but not fair, because 2 main russian TV channels (Pervii, Rossiya) show every day and night Medvedev, Putin and their "progresses" to Russia. It was hard propaganda for people around big Russia. When no elections: all bad in country on TV, when - "ALL IS OK! Putin Team rised up Russia". When opposition said about this violations (candidate Medvedev on TV 24/7) Churkov (returning officer) said: "this is not canditate - it's a chairman of government!". Ha... i hate this relations to law. THIS IS RUSSIA)
- David May 8, 2008, 21:33
- All those in favour of a gvt. in Moscow along the lines of Mugabe's in Zimbabwe, raise your hands.
The election here, in Russia, was as free and fair as in england, usa, canada etc. This is only but a part of the free picture that is being supported by millions of Russians and which supports Putin's strong efforts to bring about human rights to all Russians.
- Reuno May 7, 2008, 13:43
- The Russian election was certainly free and fair. Some people suspect that just because a political party ahs recieved strong support more than once and over a long period of time means that something's wrong? And look at the condition of Russia today, look at the faces of the people, obviously the Russian leaders Putin, Medvedev et.al. has been doing a good job. I think we know what the Russian people would or can do if the majority they feel that their government has failed them.
I believe that the Russian people have been looking for stability and continuity of a system and society that they can feel comfortable raising future generations in, And in their choosing now, and in their many possible futures I wish them great success.
- David May 5, 2008, 15:38
- At least Russia one knows exactly where you stand. Perhaps countries, like England, ought to take a lesson from Russia's text book instead of pretending to be so squeaky clean!!
- Sevodnya_Net April 22, 2008, 01:06
- "all grass is green.."
But all that's green isn't necessarily grass
...
- Chris April 20, 2008, 06:48
- Sevodnya....all grass is green..
"Even if that was true they plainly don't do a very good job - otherwise we'd never see a change of ruling party(!)"
We dont, only a different name.
They are all looking after themselfs and keeping each other in a job.
People are sick of it.
The way things are going their will be civil-unrest in th UK soon.
Hence why im looking to Russia as a place to live.
- Sevodnya_Net April 16, 2008, 17:14
- (SrpskiCrnogorac
"You need to be patient. Russia needs some time until they adopted a US style two-party system and becomes an institutionalised democracy, in which it won´t matter which of the two parties wins the elections.")
Russia was already moving to a multi-party system years ago which would have been a lot better than America's. Unfortunately we how have a 0-party system effectively as United Russia isn't a political party in any normal sense.
As for Chris, well, the other man's grass is always greener, as they say. But is that other green stuff you're looking at over the fence actually even grass :-)
"in the UK the ruling party moves the borders of the voting regeions to siut themselfs and maximise their potential votes, "
Even if that was true they plainly don't do a very good job - otherwise we'd never see a change of ruling party(!)
- Chris April 15, 2008, 22:23
- Sevodnya, you seem to be under the impression that a democratic society is free'er and fair'er than what happened in the Russian elections.
It is not.
What happens in a democratic society is that people of no real use to society or with ANY leadership qualitys have the time to get themselfs elected(by a minority of the population) while the rest us of are too busy trying to earn a living and providing for our families.
I had to laugh when you mentioned a 'normal' election, in the UK the ruling party moves the borders of the voting regeions to siut themselfs and maximise their potential votes, might not be fraud but they try to pull the wool over our eyes by giving excuses about why they are doing it, they think we are stupid and lie to us, which is worse than fraud.
From an outsiders point Russians arent lied to half as much as us democratic societies are.
When i was an apprentice i was told this:
The right thing to do,isnt always what is best to do.
What ever it takes to keep your country prosperous, do it.
I feel Mr.Putin has done just that.
- SrpskiCrnogorac April 15, 2008, 21:30
- "This analysis of statistical anomalies reveals clear evidence of electoral fraud on a wide scale."
You need to be patient. Russia needs some time until they adopted a US style two-party system and becomes an institutionalised democracy, in which it won´t matter which of the two parties wins the elections.
- Sevodnya_Net April 14, 2008, 17:59
- Marzipan6:
Thanks for that link.
Most interesting for me is the fact that these figures are released at all when they so obviously are either unbelievable or easily exposed as fraudulent by the most rudimentary of statistical analyses.
I remember watching the Duma election coverage on RT, with graphical displays of the voter turn out for each party in each area - it looked on the face of it like a "normal" election until - oh dear - the figures for Chechnya came up: 99% turn out, most of the votes going to United Russia. I just thought to myself: how can anyone have the audacity to produce figures like that?
We already know that there was massive fraud in the North Caucasus republics where democracy, whatever form it may take in the rest of Russia, is certainly of an extreme mutant variety.
The saddest comment in the article tho is the observation that between Duma and Presidential election there was no attempt by the authorities to manipulate the returns to make them more plausible(!)
Although in fairness Kadyrov's prediction of a 100% vote for Medvedev in March was not carried out. Maybe the concept of shame does exist in small measure...
- Marzipan6 April 14, 2008, 15:04
- There is a stunning article in the current on-line Moscow Times which mathematically analyzes large-scale statistical anomalies in presidential election returns from individual polling stations. This analysis of statistical anomalies reveals clear evidence of electoral fraud on a wide scale.
Poor, poor Russia. It is still busily creating elaborate facades and fantasies for achieving short-term goals, while quite ignoring bringing about a genuine political, moral and economic regeneration which the country needs so badly.
You may find the article at http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2008/04/14/001.html
- Chris April 13, 2008, 21:04
- it wasnt a cop-out Sevodnya, it is an observation. Both By myself and Mr.Tebbit.
I dont know if you live in the uk but here some of the elected members in parliment have admitted they wont walk alone at night in thier own constituances.
They are not even doing a good job in thier own backyard nevermind the rest of the country.
I stopped voting 15 years ago, there is no point in the UK. Throughout the 80s Scotland voted 90% Labour and still we got a Consevative goverment.
If Mr Putins not too busy and wouldnt mind running Scotland, id vote for him.
- Sevodnya_Net April 11, 2008, 12:12
- "the politians we elect are merley a reflection of our society today.
Sad but true. "
Why is it sad? I can understand an embittered old British politician might think so, but surely that's the point of democracy, and it was ever thus. I bet Tebbit wasn't finding it sad in the eighties when his party were riding high. I often find tho' that the ones who complain the loudest (present company excepted I'm sure) are the ones who don't actually ever vote.
Perhaps the question should have been: "How free and fair was Russia's election?" because merely concluding that nothing is perfect therefore there is no reason to complain is a very poor cop-out. Rather disgracefully tho I've seen several allegedly liberal British commentators, notably Simon Jenkin, applying the same woolly thinking.
- Chris April 9, 2008, 00:35
- I think we are all in agreement, no elections are free and fair in any country.
The best we can hope for is that whoever 'wins' does a good job.
If not revolutions and reformations happen and chaos reigns, till order is established again.
The best phrase ive heard recently came from Lord Tebbitt(ex-Conservative MP in UK) when he said that the politians we elect are merley a reflection of our society today.
Sad but true.
- David April 6, 2008, 12:38
- Chris,
Not just the point you raised, but, one has to know how to play the system in england to be able to get what you want, and live quite comfortably without working.
This is why it is so corrupt.
There are those who have referred to me as being myopic bla bla bla - well, perhaps opening your eyes a little more and you will see just how corrupt the system is in england and yet you are all very quick to condemn Putin and Russia.
I say, put your own house in order first.
What was the little saying about casting the first stone!!!!
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