Is this authentic?

Sat May 25 07:01:42 UTC 2013

“We better learn from the suicides of America, England, Holland and France , if we are to survive as a nation.”

My first reaction on reading that was mild surprise that Putin had failed to mention Sweden.  Oh well …….

I’ve received all the Australian versions at one time or another.  

From: SEELANGS: Slavic & East European Languages and Literatures list [mailto:SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU] On Behalf Of Bernard Besserglik
Sent: Friday, May 24, 2013 3:54 PM
To: SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
Subject: Re: [SEELANGS] Is this authentic?

On the website Hoax-Slayer, Brett M. Christensen writes: 

[T]here is no credible evidence that Putin actually made such a speech. A speech with those words is not listed in the <http://eng.kremlin.ru/transcripts?page=5> Speeches and Transcripts section of the President of Russia Website for February 4th, 2013 or any other date in February. And searches of the website – and the Kremlin archive pages – reveal no transcripts of such a speech. 

Moreover, I could find no legitimate news reports about a Putin speech like the one described. It seems quite unlikely that at least a few political journalists would not have written about such a speech. Or that the minorities at the receiving end of the alleged speech would not have publicly reacted to it. 

In fact, the message appears to be a mutated variant of earlier messages that claimed that an Australian Prime Minister made a similar speech telling immigrants that they should adapt to Australian ways or leave the country. The  <http://www.hoax-slayer.com/howard-muslim-speech.shtml> first Australian version of the hoax claims then Prime Minister John Howard uttered the words. Later versions name subsequent Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and  <http://www.hoax-slayer.com/gillard-muslims-leave.shtml> Julia Gillard. 

And a European version of the message claimed that French Prime Minister Francois Fillon made the speech. While the original John Howard version, although misleading and inaccurate, did contain elements of truth, subsequent versions are outright hoaxes.

While it seems quite unlikely that an accomplished leader like Putin would have worded a speech about minority groups in such an inflammatory and derogatory way, the President has actually made comments that echo somewhat, albeit in a much more reasonable tone, the sentiments expressed in the above speech. At a January 2012 meeting of the Board of the Federal Migration Service, Putin  <http://government.ru/eng/docs/17877/> noted in a speech:

We must create the conditions for immigrants to normally integrate into our society, learn Russian and, of course, respect our culture and traditions and abide by Russian law. In this regard, I believe that the decision to make learning the Russian language compulsory and administer exams is well grounded. To do so, we will need to carry out major organisational work and introduce corresponding legislative amendments.

> Message du 24/05/13 20:24
> De : "Jules Levin" 
> A : SEELANGS at LISTSERV.UA.EDU
> Copie à : 
> Objet : [SEELANGS] Is this authentic?
> 
>An acquaintance forwards everything that comes to him.  I am trying to teach him not to trust the web.  The following is circulating now.  Is it genuine?
> 
> "  Putin's Speech on Feb. 04, 2013 
> [snip]
> On February 4th, 2013, Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, addressed the Duma, (Russian Parliament), and gave a speech about the tensions with minorities in Russia : 
> 
> "In Russia live Russians. Any minority, from anywhere, if it wants to live in Russia , to work and eat in Russia , should speak Russian, and should respect the Russian laws.  If they prefer Sharia Law, then we advise them to go to those places where that's the state law.  Russia does not need minorities.  Minorities need Russia , and we will not grant them special privileges, or try to change our laws to fit their desires, no matter how loud they yell 'discrimination'.  We better learn from the suicides of America , England , Holland and France , if we are to survive as a nation.  The Russian customs and traditions are not compatible with the lack of culture or the primitive ways of most minorities.  When this honorable legislative body thinks of creating new laws, it should have in mind the national interest first, observing that the minorities are not Russians."
> 
> Jules Levin
> 
> "Don't believe everything you read on the web."
>                                                                         --Abraham Lincoln
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