Russia's lower house OKs curbs on Internet, media and activists

[cali]

Source: L.A. Times



By Khristina Narizhnaya, Los Angeles Times

July 14, 2012

MOSCOW — Russian lawmakers this week passed three measures to increase government control over the Internet, media and foreign-funded activist groups, despite widespread protests from Web professionals, journalists and human rights advocates.

A bill that criminalizes libel and imposes fines of up to $153,400 on violators, and a measure that requires nongovernmental organizations, or NGOs, that receive foreign funding to register as "foreign agents," were approved by the lower house of the parliament Friday, the last day of the legislative session.

On Wednesday, the lower house unanimously approved a bill that provides for a federal registry of websites that could face being shut down for carrying prohibited material.

The bills are the latest in what is seen as an attempt to crack down on resistance to the rule of President Vladimir Putin, dissent that became more pronounced with mass opposition rallies in December, when Putin was still prime minister.

Read more: http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-russia-ngo-limits-20120714,0,2297340.story

[hobbit709]

1. "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss"

[Baclava]

2. Once KGB, always KGB

giddyup cowboy

[iamthebandfanman]

3. and the steady march to fascism

continues on

very disturbing to me that russia is allowing a right wing take over of the country :p

but then again, cubas been the closest thing to communism in the world for about 30 years.

To me, russia hasnt been a communist country(and isnt in anyway returning to one) since the 60s.
the same with china, only since the late 70s early 80s.

money is the most important thing to the leaders of these countries now,
and facism under a false name is the common mantra. changing the meanings of words isnt a new idea, conservatives in our own country have been doing it for a while now as well.

anyone who thinks this is a move back towards communism just because putin was a KGB man are simply kidding themselves, and frankly are blind to whats been occuring in a whole in russia. russia has been changing drastically towards the right since around 2000 or so.
changing the meanings of words isnt a new idea, conservatives in our own country have been doing it for a while now as well.

[Igel]

4. The shifting of words in a discourse isn't a new idea.

George Orwell already spoke of it.

In the '60s, Petr Fidelius, a Czech pseudonym, showed nicely using Party documents and newspaper articles pieced together nicely how the people were the Party, the Party was the Party Congress, the Party Congress was the politburo, and the Politburo was the chairman. However, those who opposed the Party weren't part of the people, meaning that those who opposed the Party Congress = those who opposed the politburo = those who opposed the leader.

In other words, oppose the leader and you're not part of the people.

Basic fallacy. Changing definitions mid-argument.

Russia was as "communist" in the '60s as it was in the '50s and '30s. The only difference was the amount of zealotry and the way it treated those who dissented or those who managed to accrue assets without the Party's permission. "Communist" doesn't have to mean "bloody oppressor of individual thought." And once forced collectivization is over, there's not much of a pretext for the kinds of bloodshed that Stalin and his henchmen seemed to think so necessary.

No, Putin's is just a move back to authoritarianism and oligarchy. "Communism" was just one variety of both.

[joshcryer]

6. I disagree, Russia has always been "The Party Is the People" ever since the Revolution.

It's just that after the Soviet Collapse and the Bloc broke away, Russia has now figured out how to reinvent the party to be "for the people." Indeed, we had posters here (who are now banned) who championed United Russia and in fact at the last round of protests we had people defending United Russia (subthread, not that post) as aligned with Occupy. When you can control the media narrative, when you can control the overall message, you win.

Same shit, different day.

Except at least in this case there is a vocal opposition in both Russia and other countries like Venezuela where this fascist "the party is the people" rhetoric lies.

[joshcryer]

5. You get the government you vote for.

[davidpdx]

7. Obama's campaign slogan is Forward

Putin's should be Backward (or A Return to the Good Old Days of Communism)

The Russians are going to end up like the Chinese.

[may3rd]

8. Maybe Bill Gates can show them too a better way of control on that side of "the great firewall"

of China