Guardian on Putin's speech

[FRISON Philippe]

Dear Maryna and list members,

I do not know which "big brother" is supposed to "eradicate everything that constitutes the very core of the Slavic culture".

As a French man, with a soon to depart President, who used his functions to avoid being prosecuted for corruption, I would not pretend that France is an ideal democracy.

I do not know anyway what would be an ideal democracy...

Ancient Greece had among others slaves, ostracism and permanent intercity wars.

But the system Putin contributed to set up has not much in common with democracy, or even "managed democracy". It is an oligarchic system, with fabricated elections and processes, and general prosecutors who are legally assumed to be the best protected in the world, but who can be fired like Ustinov in a couple of days by his President master giving a frown.

The few in power are no longer members of one political party (although "Yedinaya Russia" tends to restore this model), but of a nomenklatura including KGB officials on the political side, and of some wealthy millionnaires on the economical one. Are they really the ones who can promote "everything that constitutes the very core of the Slavic culture" ?

Putin used even Beslan to reinforce FSB powers, and not those of the militia and judges. 

What Russia has never been able to set up in its long history is the delicate system of checks and balances which prevents other countries to drift to far away towards the permanent politicians' temptation of power abuse.

The only historical period I know in this direction in Russia is the short-lived Menchevik Revolution, which unfortunately proved ineffective.

Philippe

-----Original Message-----
From: Slavic & East European Languages and Literature list [mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU] On Behalf Of Maryna Vinarska
Sent: lundi 26 février 2007 20:41
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.CUNY.EDU
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Guardian on Putin's speech


I only want to add that Ukrainians seem to envy Russians now and dream about getting their own Putin. In 1991 I could not imagine myself that I would come to the conclusion that it is much better to have a big brother named Russia than suddenly to get one who's trying to eradicate everything that constitutes the very core of the Slavic culture. Thanks for your comment. You put everything quite right. Regards, Maryna Vinarska

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