In Snowden's Russia Opposition Leader and Putin Foe Convicted

[flamingdem]

Last edited Thu Jul 18, 2013, 02:42 PM - Edit history (1)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/19/world/europe/russian-court-convicts-opposition-leader-aleksei-navalny.html?pagewanted=all

KIROV, Russia — Aleksei A. Navalny, a lawyer who became Russia’s most resonant opposition voice by crusading against rampant public corruption, was found guilty on Thursday of stealing money from a state-controlled timber company.

He was sentenced to five years in prison — a punishment that turned Mr. Navalny, 37, who recently declared his candidacy for mayor of Moscow, from an opposition activist to a political dissident and prisoner. Mr. Navalny used the Internet and social media as his main weapon against the state and became a personal irritant to President Vladimir V. Putin by branding his United Russia political machine as the “party of swindlers and thieves.”

--
The verdict quickly reverberated throughout the highest levels of Russian government and society and even prompted some calls for boycotts of the Moscow mayoral election and future national votes. Protests broke out in both Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Aleksei L. Kudrin, a close associate of Mr. Putin and former finance minister, described it on Twitter as “looking less like a punishment than an attempt to isolate him from social life and the electoral process.”
Mikhail S. Gorbachev, the final president of the Soviet Union, said in a statement posted on his foundation’s Web site that the case was “proof that we do not have independent courts” and that “using the courts against political opponents is unacceptable.”

UPDATED TO ADD BACKGROUND:
Alexei Navalny, opposition leader and critic of Vladimir Putin.
Found guilty of embezzlement.
A Russian court has found Alexei Navalny guilty of embezzlement in a trial widely seen as a means of silencing the popular Russian opposition leader.

For several years he has been a thorn in the side of the Russian political establishment, campaigning against the endemic corruption, and coining a phrase to describe the ruling party, United Russia, that has stuck in everyone's minds - "the party of crooks and thieves". In the election years of 2011/12 his significance increased even more, as he became the unofficial leader of the protest movement that brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets. They were the biggest anti-government demonstrations of the Vladimir Putin years.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

1. Are they trying to force him to look at the beacon of freedom emitting from the asphalt?

[flamingdem]

3. I thought maybe it's a pre-sales event

for Greenwald's new book, published by PutinBetterThanObama press!

They might Skype Assange in from his closet I hear.

[sabrina 1]

55. He's a Right Wing nutcase. Lol, you should check these stories out before rushing to

form opinions based on possible agendas. If he was here eg, the left would be cheering. It would be the equivalent of catching Andrew Breitbart doing exactly what he's accusing eg, Democrats of doing.

He is what is known as a 'Russian Nationalist' and opposes immigration, 'keep Russia for the Russians'. He despises Liberals and has attended racist rallies, claiming when criticized, that they were attended by more 'normal' people than anything else.

Be careful who you support at least before learning who they are.

Worse, he is supported by one of Sweden's right wing government officials, friend of Karl Rove, Bildt, not someone any Progressive Dem would want on their side.

I have no idea whether he is guilty or not, but he IS a racist and a right winger.

Have you followed this story at all btw?

[leftynyc]

63. So we shouldn't care that

Putin is using the power of the state to imprison political opponents because they don't think like us? How very progressive of you. Is there seriously no limit to what you'll defend when it comes to Snowden?

[Cha]

58. there's a thread on here and maybe more that's all about rooting

for Russia over the USA. Gotta believe it's 'cause snowman is on Russia's side.

Not, that there's trouble between Putin and our Pres Obama but I'm thinking we're strong competitors to say the least. But, the USA and Russia do need to be partners for more than a few important issues.. and I cannot see lord snowden coming between them. that doesn't mean it won't though.

[Whisp]

14. I can see Sarah Palin from here...

[Cha]

56. Looks that way.. poor guy.

[xocet]

2. In Snowden's Senate, DNI Clapper Lies to Congress...

At Time 6:42, Snowden's DNI Lies to Congress:

Here are some other suggestions for your future posts:

On Snowden's DU...

In the Year of Snowden...

[flamingdem]

4. Suggesting a moral equivalence?

Keep trying!

[xocet]

5. Is that Snowden's response that you are making? n/t

[Cha]

59. Trying to distract the reality of Russia right now with

.. But, but, but.. Clapper, Clapper, Clapper.. Clapper, but, but, but Clapper

They know it's bad.. and snowden is a fucking hypocrite. snowden lovers are not taking this well at all.

[Mojorabbit]

47. LOL nt

[Tarheel_Dem]

6. K&R

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

7. And all this is going on while Russia's human rights groups waste time on Snowden. nt

[flamingdem]

8. Putin called Snowden a Christmas Gift for a good reason

It distracted attention away from this trial. Now he has a choice to make after that objective was accomplished - either keep Snowden for the fig leaf he is for Russian state human rights issues or get rid of him. I'd say he wants him gone but that no country is that keen to take him. Plus, his supporter such as Assange prefer that he's in Russia where they have connections. Wikileaks is supposedly raising money, so let's see what the Snowden fans thinks he's worth.

I think this explains why GG and Snowden are back and forth on what remains. They want it both ways because each confers a different value in the multiple games being played.

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

9. This is the most convoluted saga I've seen in a long time.

It pisses me off and intrigues me at the same time.

[flamingdem]

12. It's better than a novel

The movie will not be as good as the hilarity and faux outrage we're seeing unfold.

Have you seen this one, hot off the presses:

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

19. I just saw that. Well done, Whisp.

[Cha]

60. snowden the Christmas elf and his little tiny

jingle bell.

[last1standing]

10. Yet another smear. Why?

What does this help us with?

[allin99]

13. and it's not like there's any debate that russia sucks....

and even if 1 or 2 people don't think it does, dozens of posts on russia sucks and snowden is there??? so weird.

[pnwmom]

20. In what sense is this a smear? n/t

[morningfog]

22. "In Snowden's Russia."

As if he has any real choice in Russian politics or a desire to be there. He is trapped there by the US, while he was en route.

[flamingdem]

26. That was the twitter title, to the point considering a recent news story

[morningfog]

46. That was not the headline.

Who provided the "twitter title" that you chose to embrace and spread like cow shit?

[muriel_volestrangler]

67. No, that was "Russian Court Convicts Opposition Leader "

The New York Times Verified account ?@nytimes

Russian Court Convicts Opposition Leader http://nyti.ms/17mTlCy

The New York Times
Putin Critic Gets 5-Year Jail Term, Setting Off Protests

By David M. Herszenhorn @herszenhorn

Aleksei A. Navalny, Russia’s most resonant opposition voice and a Moscow mayoral candidate, was sentenced to five years in prison on embezzlement charges.
View on web

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/357746261144768513

Even if you did find some fool who put it as "Snowden's Russia", it's a silly way to divert attention from a serious news story about Russia.

[pnwmom]

27. He many other countries to choose from, but he chose to fly to Russia.

Why didn't he fly directly to Venezuela?

[morningfog]

37. Obviously he was seeking to avoid the wrath of the US and has succeeded so far.

His options were limited from the get-go, and have been reduced since he left Hong Kong. He's facing certain life in prison, possibly death. He has to make choices in pure self preservation. That does not mean he endorses of supports all actions taken by country's in which he is trapped.

[pnwmom]

41. He said he had to leave the US because he never could live in a country

without civil liberties.

So he moved to Russia. Right.

[morningfog]

42. He travelled to Russia with the intent of passing through. The US revoked his

passport and put strong pressure on any country that might have helped him.

For fuck's sake, the US forced a presidential plane down trying to get him and is threatening trade deals over him. Get a clue! He is not in Russia by choice.

[pnwmom]

49. He could have traveled directly to another country but he didn't.

And now -- by choice -- he's asking for asylum in Russia. And his former KGB lawyer says he hasn't ruled out asking for citizenship.

[morningfog]

50. Sure, he could have if he wanted to be transferred to a life sentence (or worse) in the US.

[last1standing]

25. "Snowden's Russia?"

Snowden didn't convict anyone just because they're an activist just like he didn't force the Duma to outlaw gay rights. He's stuck in an airport in the country and is being forced to apply for temporary asylum there because he can't get out do to a blockade by the US.

As I've said before, this smear campaign doesn't enlighten nor does it change opinions. It merely distracts from the real issues. Why is the OP posting dozens of threads that only distract us from having a real discussion on how to resolve surveillance abuses?

[Cha]

61. It's brings out snowden grand fooking hypocrisy.. therefore it's

a "smear"

[KurtNYC]

29. Helps us maintain a steady diet of logical fallacies. eom

[allin99]

11. He's stuck in a country with disgusting civil rights, we know that. Maybe..

if the u.s. hadn't told every country on the planet that they would experience grave consequences for granting snowden amnesty he would have other choices.

so...???

i'd rather be in russia than a prison too. might suck, but prison sucks even worse. To you maybe it wouldn't be, to others, yes.

[flamingdem]

15. Snowden is a fig leaf for Putin

Meanwhile Snowden praised their human rights.

The point is that he's naive, among others.

If given the chance he'll probably stay since he's being played like a fiddle by Assange and others.

[allin99]

17. Whatever snowden is to russia....

that's russia's deal. what does that change? You're saying he's naive but you have heard him make a plea to a country that he is trying to get to grant him amnesty and that's it. He was playing to Putin's game. How is that naive? Unless you're saying it is proof that he thinks Russia is great on human rights? But it's much more likely he is playing putin's game in order to get amnesty.

[Rex]

16. He stole money from a government owned timber company.

And got 5 years. I know this looks strange and that is because we are not accustomed to white collar criminals going to jail in America. In this country, they get rewarded for stealing - hell the govt has another name for it they call them 'tax shelters'.

[flamingdem]

18. And you believe that considering the backstory?? nt

[AllINeedIsCoffee]

23. If an Obama "foe" went to prison for a crime, the story would be different. nt

[morningfog]

39. What was your former DU handle?

[Rex]

24. Putin is a dictator

but that still doesn't mean other people cannot too commit crimes and go to jail. It is just that Putin is the BIGGEST criminal. He runs Russia like a boss! So this other guy gets in charge and...gee...we find out he too is neck deep in criminal activity.

Does that really surprise you?

[flamingdem]

28. Please research "show trial" in Russia nt

[Rex]

34. Why would I do that?

You can do your own research. You really need to brush up on other countries and their cultures.

[last1standing]

32. Despite flamingodem's insinuation that Snowden caused or agrees with this...

She is right when she states that the reason for his conviction is likely due to his opposition to Putin. Russia is a horrible country to have to live in right now and will likely stay that way until their next revolution.

[Rex]

36. Ya I know how corrupt Russia is, I think flamingdem needs to brush up on foreign

cultures. This is nothing new.

[leftynyc]

65. Unfortunately for you and other

Snowden defenders, here's a video with Snowden praising and claiming to be grateful for countries, including Russia, that "stand up for human rights".

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/now-with-alex-wagner/52480391#52480391

[last1standing]

66. This has been discussed in many, many posts in this thread.

Please refer to them.

[leftynyc]

68. I believe I'll comment

wherever I damn well please. My post included no supposition, no "translation" issues - just a video of Snowden issuing praise for the human rights record of Russia while dumping all over the US.

[last1standing]

69. Your extremely rude comment has nothing to do with what I posted.

I didn't say you couldn't post wherever you "damn well please" so please don't suggest I did. I simply stated that your comment to me had been answered several times by other posters in this thread and suggested you read them. It is not my fault or problem if you didn't read them so there is certainly no reason for you to become belligerent with me.

[leftynyc]

71. I had no idea I was dealing

with such a delicate flower - I'll keep my "rude" and belligerent" comments to myself after I point out (once again) that my post included actual video and not somebody's interpretation of comments made by Snowden.

[last1standing]

72. Yes, you're dealing with a delicate flower who believes people should show respect to others.

By the way, your insults and attempts at bullying show that your argument is very weak.

[leftynyc]

73. Bullying?

Seriously? Now I'm just simply amused by you. If by argument you mean posting an actual video with Snowden speaking for himself about Russia's fabulous human rights record being weak, that's entirely your problem.

[flamingdem]

70. I hadn't seen that video, thanks for posting it n/t

[morningfog]

21. "Snowden's Russia?" Pathetic fail there.

You are just embarrassing yourself with your hate now.

[flamingdem]

30. Go on stick up for Putin

and his sheltering of Snowden as a fig leaf

Poor Pootie!

[morningfog]

33. Good for Putin for not turning Snowden over to the US,

where he faces certain life in prison, and possibly the death penalty.

Shame on Putin for all his civil and human rights abuses.

The world is not all or none, you would be wise to learn that.

[KurtNYC]

35. Apparently Snowden controls a county that won't let him in. Who knew?

[Rex]

38. Pretty pathetic ain't it?

How does this guy rule such a big country from an airport transit zone? He must be Santa Claus!

[NuclearDem]

31. In Snowden's Russia, character assassinates you!

[morningfog]

40. Perfect!

[frylock]

44. epic!

[penultimate]

45. lol...

[frylock]

43. snowden's russia!

[flamingdem]

48. Background: Oppostion leader brought tens of thousands onto the streets

Alexei Navalny, opposition leader and critic of Vladimir Putin.
Found guilty of embezzlement.
A Russian court has found Alexei Navalny guilty of embezzlement in a trial widely seen as a means of silencing the popular Russian opposition leader.

For several years he has been a thorn in the side of the Russian political establishment, campaigning against the endemic corruption, and coining a phrase to describe the ruling party, United Russia, that has stuck in everyone's minds - "the party of crooks and thieves". In the election years of 2011/12 his significance increased even more, as he became the unofficial leader of the protest movement that brought tens of thousands of people onto the streets. They were the biggest anti-government demonstrations of the Vladimir Putin years.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/18/1224634/-Ironies-Abound-Snowden-Russia-Human-Rights

[railsback]

51. Certainly am enjoying this circus of hoops

Now the Snowden defenders know exactly how Republicans felt, trying to defend Bush Jr for 8 years.

'Yeah, well, that's not what he meant...' 'What he's actually trying to say is…' 'But… the other guy..' 'Its not about him..' 'You're just saying that because you hate our freedoms…'

Good stuff.

[Cha]

62. You mean snowden's pretzels? Twisting their

into oblivion on snowman's, grand, shark jumping, hypocrisy tour and ending up rooting for Putin's Russia?

Yeah, greenfinger's book will be fiction.

[railsback]

74. Its the weirdest shit

.. but entertaining.

[SidDithers]

52. DU Rec...nt

Sid

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

53. I'm sure our thugs will be equally delicate if, and when, they can nab Snowden.

[Junkdrawer]

54. Get Your War On. n/t

[Cha]

57. Wonder if it's gotten to snowden's

precious sheltered ears, yet?

[Bonobo]

64. Snowden's Russia...damn, you're unintentionally funny.

By the way, comparing yourself to Russia does not equal any kind of win but by all means keep up with the entertainment.