A surprising anti-racist development

[John Dunn]

Before we all put out flags and rush into the streets to celebrate, it may be worth recalling that the original complaint about Rodina's campaign materials (and other alleged misdemeanours) was made by that beacon of moderation and tolerance, V.V. Zhirinovskij's LDPR.  For more, see:
http://www.newsru.com/russia/02dec2005/rodina2.html
I have no doubt that the whole affair was played under the rules of a game which has become known as 'Basmannoe pravosudie' and that the Kremlin determined the outcome from the start (though whenever I see film of judges reading out their verdicts, they always look uncomfortable).  It may be worth recalling that both Rodina and the LDPR have their strings pulled in the Kremlin, and that the former was created by that institution with the aim of syphoning votes from the communists.  It seems unlikely that opposition to racism as such was the main reason for the decision; indeed, I have heard it suggested that the Kremlin is relatively unperturbed by the nationalistic and xenophobic outpourings that come from Rodina and elsewhere, since they can be used to show how bad things might get if people didn't vote for Edinaja Rossija.  The links on newsru.com give more background, but it looks as if what ought to have been an orchestrated operation was getting out of hand, and Rodina was becoming too popular to be allowed to remain in the race.

John Dunn.

   
-----Original Message-----
From: "Paul B. Gallagher" <paulbg at PBG-TRANSLATIONS.COM>
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Date: Sat, 3 Dec 2005 00:35:15 -0500
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] A surprising anti-racist development

Daniel Rancour-Laferriere wrote:

> 2 Dec 2005
> 
> Just a few moments ago I watched newscaster Vladimir Kara-Murza 
> broadcast a puzzling new legal development in Russia (on the RTVi 
> network).  He reports that today (Friday) a Moscow court had handed down 
> a ruling which forbids the party "Rodina" from participating in the 
> upcoming elections for Mosgorduma.  
. . . . . .
> 
> I refer to this odd event in view of recent postings about racism in 
> Russia.  The ruling clearly recognizes that there IS a problem.  Would 
> anyone out there know how it came to be dealt with in this particular 
> instance?  I am astonished and puzzled.
> 
> Regards to the list,
> 
> Daniel Rancour-Laferriere

John Dunn
SMLC (Slavonic Studies)
University of Glasgow
Hetheringon Building
Bute Gardens
Glasgow G12 8RS
U.K.

Tel.: +44 (0)141 330 5591
Fax: +44 (0)141 330 2297
e-mail: J.Dunn at slavonic.arts.gla.ac.uk

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