Read Online A Russian Diary by Anna Politkovskaya - Free Book Online
Authors: Anna Politkovskaya
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presidential candidates.
Deputies are scuttling over to join United Russia. Particularly painful is the defection of Pavel Krashenninikov, elected as an independent candidate, but previously known to the electorate as a liberal and a member of the Union of Right Forces. The Duma is becoming a one-party show.
December 21
Yavlinsky has declined to stand as a presidential candidate for Yabloko. He also declared that they would “create a major democratic party,” but made the announcement with the haughty expression that puts everybody off voting for him. Proof, if proof were needed, that we need new faces and new leaders. Today's are incapable of forming a democratic opposition.
Khakamada also announced that the Union of Right Forces would not be putting forward a candidate. Her explanation was convincing: “From the way people voted, it is clear that they don't want us leading the country.” The Communists also say they want no part in the election.
A boycott of the presidential election by the opposition on the right and left: is this now the only way for them to play a part in the country's politics after the December elections?
December 22
Today Putin submitted applications to the Central Electoral Commission from a group of electors who wish to start collecting signatures in support of his candidacy. The Kremlin's public opinion survey indicates that 72 percent of the electorate would vote for Putin if the election were held today.
Who is standing against him? As of now, the only alternative to Putin is Gherman Sterligov, an undertaker who makes coffins. He has no party behind him, only lots of money and “The Russian Ideal.” He is a rank outsider. The other potential runner is Vladimir Zhirinovsky. He has stated that the Liberal Democratic Party will field a candidate. He too is an outsider, but has done his bit to become an insider with the Kremlin. Putin looks ridiculous in such company. Presumably in the next few weeks the administration will cobble together a group of rather more respectable candidates for Putin to defeat.
Nobody quite believes yet that Khodorkovsky is going to be found guilty. Most people think this is all just a Kremlin ploy, which will be dropped after Putin has been reelected. On December 30 the period for which Khodorkovsky can be detained will expire, but hearings have been arranged well in advance at the Basmanny court in Moscow to extend his imprisonment.
This evening it became clear that the procurator general's office is asking that Khodorkovsky should be held until March 25. That is, he will see Putin's reelection from prison. Khodorkovsky was brought to the court only at 4:00 p.m. or so. Sometime after 6:00 p.m., when all the judges, employees, witnesses, plaintiffs, and defendants in other caseshad left, the doors of the Basmanny court were closed and the hearing of his case began.
What are they so scared of? Is Khodorkovsky really the most dangerous man in Russia? Not even terrorists get this treatment, and Khodorkovsky is charged only with seven counts of financial irregularities. He was taken back to the Matrosskaya Tishina prison at about 10:00 p.m. The application of the procurator general's office was granted.
Some results of last Sunday's local elections of governors: in Tver Province 9 percent of the electorate voted for “None of the above.” In Kirov Province it was 10 percent.
Those who vote “against” are the real democrats in Russia today. They have done their duty as citizens by turning out to vote, and are mostly thoughtful people with an aversion to all those now in power.
December 23
Ritual murders are taking place in Moscow. A second severed head has been found in the past twenty-four hours, this time in the district of Go-lianovo in the east of Moscow. It was in a rubbish container on Altaiskaya Street. Yesterday evening, a head in a plastic bag was found lying on a table in the courtyard outside Apartment Building 3 on Krasnoyarskaya Street.
Deputies are scuttling over to join United Russia. Particularly painful is the defection of Pavel Krashenninikov, elected as an independent candidate, but previously known to the electorate as a liberal and a member of the Union of Right Forces. The Duma is becoming a one-party show.
December 21
Yavlinsky has declined to stand as a presidential candidate for Yabloko. He also declared that they would “create a major democratic party,” but made the announcement with the haughty expression that puts everybody off voting for him. Proof, if proof were needed, that we need new faces and new leaders. Today's are incapable of forming a democratic opposition.
Khakamada also announced that the Union of Right Forces would not be putting forward a candidate. Her explanation was convincing: “From the way people voted, it is clear that they don't want us leading the country.” The Communists also say they want no part in the election.
A boycott of the presidential election by the opposition on the right and left: is this now the only way for them to play a part in the country's politics after the December elections?
December 22
Today Putin submitted applications to the Central Electoral Commission from a group of electors who wish to start collecting signatures in support of his candidacy. The Kremlin's public opinion survey indicates that 72 percent of the electorate would vote for Putin if the election were held today.
Who is standing against him? As of now, the only alternative to Putin is Gherman Sterligov, an undertaker who makes coffins. He has no party behind him, only lots of money and “The Russian Ideal.” He is a rank outsider. The other potential runner is Vladimir Zhirinovsky. He has stated that the Liberal Democratic Party will field a candidate. He too is an outsider, but has done his bit to become an insider with the Kremlin. Putin looks ridiculous in such company. Presumably in the next few weeks the administration will cobble together a group of rather more respectable candidates for Putin to defeat.
Nobody quite believes yet that Khodorkovsky is going to be found guilty. Most people think this is all just a Kremlin ploy, which will be dropped after Putin has been reelected. On December 30 the period for which Khodorkovsky can be detained will expire, but hearings have been arranged well in advance at the Basmanny court in Moscow to extend his imprisonment.
This evening it became clear that the procurator general's office is asking that Khodorkovsky should be held until March 25. That is, he will see Putin's reelection from prison. Khodorkovsky was brought to the court only at 4:00 p.m. or so. Sometime after 6:00 p.m., when all the judges, employees, witnesses, plaintiffs, and defendants in other caseshad left, the doors of the Basmanny court were closed and the hearing of his case began.
What are they so scared of? Is Khodorkovsky really the most dangerous man in Russia? Not even terrorists get this treatment, and Khodorkovsky is charged only with seven counts of financial irregularities. He was taken back to the Matrosskaya Tishina prison at about 10:00 p.m. The application of the procurator general's office was granted.
Some results of last Sunday's local elections of governors: in Tver Province 9 percent of the electorate voted for “None of the above.” In Kirov Province it was 10 percent.
Those who vote “against” are the real democrats in Russia today. They have done their duty as citizens by turning out to vote, and are mostly thoughtful people with an aversion to all those now in power.
December 23
Ritual murders are taking place in Moscow. A second severed head has been found in the past twenty-four hours, this time in the district of Go-lianovo in the east of Moscow. It was in a rubbish container on Altaiskaya Street. Yesterday evening, a head in a plastic bag was found lying on a table in the courtyard outside Apartment Building 3 on Krasnoyarskaya Street.
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