ce #6

Russia has announced that it will support a U.N. resolution advocating a response drafted by Kofi Annan to end the conflict in Syria.

Russia's announcement comes after it has supported the Assad regime in Syria, and, along with China, has resisted placing sanctions on the country. Civil strife has been going on in Syria ever since last spring. However, the rebels in this country are poorly organized and have been heavily suppressed by the Assad regime- over 8,000 deaths are estimated, though the numbers could well be higher.

The announcement illustrates Russia's important role in global politics, which is interesting considering the significant domestic problems Russia and the Putin regime face. Perhaps Putin is involving his country in international situations in an effort to distract from domestic pressures, which have been great in recent months surrounding parliamentary and presidential elections allegedly ridden with corruption.

Furthermore, Russia's support of a humanitarian cause such as the one in Syria is interesting due to Russia's shaky stance on civil liberties. Many Russians have been jailed as a result of political dissent, and ethnic conflicts (ie Chechnya) have been handled with the use of excessive violence and force on the part of the Russian regime.

{via Time}

ce #5

In Moscow, more protests are taking place in response to Putin's presidential election win. Putin won 64 percent of the vote, and now has the chance to stay in power for another 12 years, if he's elected for two six-year terms. Putin has already been in power for twelve years; serving as president from 2000-2008 and prime minister from 2008-present. Up to 20,000 protesters marched on Saturday in Moscow to demonstrate their discontent with Putin's tight, long-standing grip on power. Though these elections were viewed as more fair than the December parliamentary elections, which drew more than 100,000 protesters, allegations of fraud remain.

The protests illustrate Russian citizens' struggle to voice their dissent while living in a not-quite-liberal democracy. Many arrests and detentions were made surrounding the protests, demonstrating the lack of true political freedom in Russia. Though their is a civic culture, it has trouble sustaining itself because dissent is highly monitored and often persecuted.

Russia's attempts at democracy have been marred by Russia's long history of a ruler-subject power structure. Unfortunately, with the re-election of Putin, this trend is continuing and Russia's hopes for a true democracy are dampened.

{via The Washington Post}