Enemies of Common Sense
Russia has declared Bard College an “undesirable” organization. The Prosecutor General’s Office accused the institution of “threatening Russia’s constitutional order and security.” Now anyone affiliated with the U.S. liberal arts college can face up to six years of imprisonment.
Bard has collaborated with the St. Petersburg State University since 1997 and in 2011 helped to create the Smolny College of Liberal Arts Sciences, where Alexei Kudrin serves as dean.
After adopting a repressive education law in spite of a harsh opposition from Russian academics Kremlin is trying to further cancel education.
What's next? Can Russia’s Prosecutor General blacklist Shakespeare’s plays or Western technologies as a threat to Kremlin’s security?
Russia has declared Bard College an “undesirable” organization. The Prosecutor General’s Office accused the institution of “threatening Russia’s constitutional order and security.” Now anyone affiliated with the U.S. liberal arts college can face up to six years of imprisonment.
Bard has collaborated with the St. Petersburg State University since 1997 and in 2011 helped to create the Smolny College of Liberal Arts Sciences, where Alexei Kudrin serves as dean.
After adopting a repressive education law in spite of a harsh opposition from Russian academics Kremlin is trying to further cancel education.
What's next? Can Russia’s Prosecutor General blacklist Shakespeare’s plays or Western technologies as a threat to Kremlin’s security?
Vladimir Brezhnev Putin wrote another article about WWII. This time the President marked the 80th anniversary of German attack on Soviet Union.
The article mostly showed how salty Putin is about Russian loss in Ukraine and the overthrowing of Viktor Yanukovich. The President somehow managed to mention him in the text about WWII.
That’s about it, if we talk about the summary of the article. Putin once again complained about the expansion of the Western alliance to the East, once again confirmed that Russia views itself as a part of the Europe and the driving force against the falsification of the WWII history.
Probably, that’s why Russia still refuses to open access to its war archives.
Perhaps, Putin is convinced that the whole world is always waiting for his articles about WWII, but it just looks ridiculous. The narratives are being repeated over and over, as well as Kremlin’s ressentiment and saltiness.
Someone has to tell the Russian President that nobody really cares anymore.
The article mostly showed how salty Putin is about Russian loss in Ukraine and the overthrowing of Viktor Yanukovich. The President somehow managed to mention him in the text about WWII.
That’s about it, if we talk about the summary of the article. Putin once again complained about the expansion of the Western alliance to the East, once again confirmed that Russia views itself as a part of the Europe and the driving force against the falsification of the WWII history.
Probably, that’s why Russia still refuses to open access to its war archives.
Perhaps, Putin is convinced that the whole world is always waiting for his articles about WWII, but it just looks ridiculous. The narratives are being repeated over and over, as well as Kremlin’s ressentiment and saltiness.
Someone has to tell the Russian President that nobody really cares anymore.
Chronicles Of Russian Vaccination Crisis
WHO outlined six production infringements at a Pharmstandard plant located in Ufa. The plant produces Sputnik V vaccine. Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that all necessary corrections to the production process had been made, but we know better.
Russia might need American and European vaccines, although Kremlin would live with thousands of deaths rather than recognize it.
Russian vaccination failure looks even more obvious if one recalls the propaganda narrative about Russia’s successful fight against coronavirus contrary to Western problems. Now we see low vaccination rates and incapability of Kremlin to do anything other than taking repressive measures.
Meanwhile the number of people vaccinated in the US exceeds the whole population of Russia.
Social segregation and abuse of rights of the unvaccinated people has been already legalized in Moscow. Instead of dealing with the problem Kremlin along with Sergei Sobyanin are dividing the country and lobbying vaccine business.
The whole mandatory campaign has already drawn comparisons of Russian elite with Nazi’s NSDAP party.
WHO outlined six production infringements at a Pharmstandard plant located in Ufa. The plant produces Sputnik V vaccine. Kremlin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that all necessary corrections to the production process had been made, but we know better.
Russia might need American and European vaccines, although Kremlin would live with thousands of deaths rather than recognize it.
Russian vaccination failure looks even more obvious if one recalls the propaganda narrative about Russia’s successful fight against coronavirus contrary to Western problems. Now we see low vaccination rates and incapability of Kremlin to do anything other than taking repressive measures.
Meanwhile the number of people vaccinated in the US exceeds the whole population of Russia.
Social segregation and abuse of rights of the unvaccinated people has been already legalized in Moscow. Instead of dealing with the problem Kremlin along with Sergei Sobyanin are dividing the country and lobbying vaccine business.
The whole mandatory campaign has already drawn comparisons of Russian elite with Nazi’s NSDAP party.
Sobyanin’s Ambitions
It is no secret that Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin is viewed as one of the possible heirs of Putin. In an over-centralized Russia the mayor of Moscow always has an enormous politicial and public influence.
The Russian vaccination psychosis was launched by Sobyanin and could be not only a step to avoid any risks at the coming September Duma elections, as one of Russian telegram channels reasonably claims.
Sobyanin formed the current vaccination narrative which gives us only two possible ways to evaluate his actions. He is either playing a role of bad policeman with Putin being a good one.
Or this whole repressive campaign is a showcase of Sobyanin’s capabilites and a proof of his presidential ambitions. He started a game the whole country will be obliged to play.
Everything in Russia is about money and power, including the vaccination crisis.
It is no secret that Moscow mayor Sergei Sobyanin is viewed as one of the possible heirs of Putin. In an over-centralized Russia the mayor of Moscow always has an enormous politicial and public influence.
The Russian vaccination psychosis was launched by Sobyanin and could be not only a step to avoid any risks at the coming September Duma elections, as one of Russian telegram channels reasonably claims.
Sobyanin formed the current vaccination narrative which gives us only two possible ways to evaluate his actions. He is either playing a role of bad policeman with Putin being a good one.
Or this whole repressive campaign is a showcase of Sobyanin’s capabilites and a proof of his presidential ambitions. He started a game the whole country will be obliged to play.
Everything in Russia is about money and power, including the vaccination crisis.
Thanks for a response, it is always good to get a feedback. Nonetheless, cannot agree that narrative about possible shortages of vaccine and the very meaning of Kremlin’s repressive vaccination campaign is “Western propaganda”.
There are numerous reports from various Russian regions not only about the shortages of vaccines. There are cases when people are supposed to get shots of Sputnik, but instead they are getting vaccinated with EpivacCorona or something else.
A couple of days ago Moscow Mayor’s Office reported about the shortage of KoviVac vaccine produced by Chumakov’s Center.
Russia is perfectly capable of producing enough vaccine, but it seems to fail even in this case. It looks like all Kremlin can do is to restrict, to prohibit, to oppress.
People in the US or in Europe trust their governments more for one reason only: no matter how bad they are, they still have to be responsible. It is not true of Russia.
Vaccination is referendum. Its failure in Russia showed the real state of affairs. US, France and other Western countries are lifting the restrictions. What’s going on in Russia, other than discrimination, Peskov's nonsense and sheer incompetence of the government?
There are numerous reports from various Russian regions not only about the shortages of vaccines. There are cases when people are supposed to get shots of Sputnik, but instead they are getting vaccinated with EpivacCorona or something else.
A couple of days ago Moscow Mayor’s Office reported about the shortage of KoviVac vaccine produced by Chumakov’s Center.
Russia is perfectly capable of producing enough vaccine, but it seems to fail even in this case. It looks like all Kremlin can do is to restrict, to prohibit, to oppress.
People in the US or in Europe trust their governments more for one reason only: no matter how bad they are, they still have to be responsible. It is not true of Russia.
Vaccination is referendum. Its failure in Russia showed the real state of affairs. US, France and other Western countries are lifting the restrictions. What’s going on in Russia, other than discrimination, Peskov's nonsense and sheer incompetence of the government?
Do Russian Vaccines Work?
Margarita Simonyan, Kremlin’s talking head and propaganda manager, complains:
“I have a lot of friends, buddies, relatives and colleagues. I hear every day that doctors and health workers are talking them out of vaccination.
What is it? How is it possible? We do not have any evidence of the adverse effects of our vaccines”.
Mrs. Simonyan, maybe Russian doctors know better than you. At least they are not getting paid handsomely to lie and spread disinformation like you and your RT propaganda team do.
The enormous split between the Russians and the board of directors of Corporation Russia hasn’t been so obvious for a long time. Not only the directors of this country-corporation, but their staff like Simonyan seem to live on another planet.
Russian doctors are talking a lot of people out of getting shots of Russian vaccines. It is an interesting case.
Margarita Simonyan, Kremlin’s talking head and propaganda manager, complains:
“I have a lot of friends, buddies, relatives and colleagues. I hear every day that doctors and health workers are talking them out of vaccination.
What is it? How is it possible? We do not have any evidence of the adverse effects of our vaccines”.
Mrs. Simonyan, maybe Russian doctors know better than you. At least they are not getting paid handsomely to lie and spread disinformation like you and your RT propaganda team do.
The enormous split between the Russians and the board of directors of Corporation Russia hasn’t been so obvious for a long time. Not only the directors of this country-corporation, but their staff like Simonyan seem to live on another planet.
Russian doctors are talking a lot of people out of getting shots of Russian vaccines. It is an interesting case.
If the coronavirus is spreading as fast as Kremlin claims, then it makes perfect sense to let foreign vaccines in. Kremlin won't do that for political reasons, no matter how many people die.
Why haven't they suspended airflights to and from India amidst the Covid outbreak there is also a legit question. We have given our answer.
Why haven't they suspended airflights to and from India amidst the Covid outbreak there is also a legit question. We have given our answer.
Accountability
European Union leaders failed to agree on a proposal by France and Germany to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This turn of events is without doubt another American success.
The most important remark concerning the case was made by the Dutch PM Max Rutte. He didn’t mind if the leaders of France and Germany meet with Putin, but refused to participate in the meeting. Asked about the reason, Rutte said one word: MH-17.
193 citizens of Netherlands were killed by a missile fired over Eastern Ukraine. Dutch investigation showed that MH17 plane was brought down with a BUK missile system from the 53rd Anti-aircraft Brigade of the Russian Army. The shot was fired either by Russians or by Donbass rebels.
There is an anti-Russian block in the EU, which includes Poland and Baltic countries. This summit failed not because of them, but mostly because Kremlin is used to act irresponsibly in Russia and believes it can act the same elsewhere.
Respect to Max Rutte who unlike Putin ("it drowned", Beslan etc) cares for the lives of his people.
European Union leaders failed to agree on a proposal by France and Germany to hold a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. This turn of events is without doubt another American success.
The most important remark concerning the case was made by the Dutch PM Max Rutte. He didn’t mind if the leaders of France and Germany meet with Putin, but refused to participate in the meeting. Asked about the reason, Rutte said one word: MH-17.
193 citizens of Netherlands were killed by a missile fired over Eastern Ukraine. Dutch investigation showed that MH17 plane was brought down with a BUK missile system from the 53rd Anti-aircraft Brigade of the Russian Army. The shot was fired either by Russians or by Donbass rebels.
There is an anti-Russian block in the EU, which includes Poland and Baltic countries. This summit failed not because of them, but mostly because Kremlin is used to act irresponsibly in Russia and believes it can act the same elsewhere.
Respect to Max Rutte who unlike Putin ("it drowned", Beslan etc) cares for the lives of his people.
Vaccination and Corruption in Russia
The first case of Indian delta-variant Covid has been registered in Russia, with Indian national being sick.
Russian vaccination failure along profitable business of high-ranked officials and businessmen will go down as an example of incompetence, irresponsibility of the government and enormous greed.
The illegal sellout of vaccines to Indians amidst the pandemic in India must have accelerated the spread of the disease in Russia. So, a group of people affiliated with Kremlin and vaccine producers made money out of Indians at the cost of Russians first.
Second, there is a business with illegal vaccination certificates and tests. Third, Kremlin created social segregation and divide with its repressive mandatory vaccination which is also adding to the profits of RFPI and other vaccine producers.
Not even in Africa. It is just unbelievable. If there will be a book written about Russian vaccination crisis and failure, it should be as thick as Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”.
The first case of Indian delta-variant Covid has been registered in Russia, with Indian national being sick.
Russian vaccination failure along profitable business of high-ranked officials and businessmen will go down as an example of incompetence, irresponsibility of the government and enormous greed.
The illegal sellout of vaccines to Indians amidst the pandemic in India must have accelerated the spread of the disease in Russia. So, a group of people affiliated with Kremlin and vaccine producers made money out of Indians at the cost of Russians first.
Second, there is a business with illegal vaccination certificates and tests. Third, Kremlin created social segregation and divide with its repressive mandatory vaccination which is also adding to the profits of RFPI and other vaccine producers.
Not even in Africa. It is just unbelievable. If there will be a book written about Russian vaccination crisis and failure, it should be as thick as Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”.
Vaccination Crisis in Russia
Kremlin’s telegram major Nezygar:
“Only 10 mln shots of Sputnik V vaccine have been produced since the beginning of the year. This means that Russia is capable of producing 2 mln shots per month. The production of KoviVac could reach 1 mln shots per month. Even if Gemofarma is really capable of producing 5 mln shots of EpiVac monthly, we still have less than 100 mln shots a year overall.
At least 140 mln shots a year are necessary for an effective vaccination”.
These numbers mean that Russia is not capable of producing enough vaccine for its own needs. At the same time Kremlin is forcing people to get vaccinated.
That’s what we meant by possible vaccine shortages. It’s difficult to accuse Nezygar of Western propaganda. It is obvious even to them that Putin, Kremlin, Sobyanin and the whole Russian government are not only failing hard, but doing something outrageous.
Kremlin’s telegram major Nezygar:
“Only 10 mln shots of Sputnik V vaccine have been produced since the beginning of the year. This means that Russia is capable of producing 2 mln shots per month. The production of KoviVac could reach 1 mln shots per month. Even if Gemofarma is really capable of producing 5 mln shots of EpiVac monthly, we still have less than 100 mln shots a year overall.
At least 140 mln shots a year are necessary for an effective vaccination”.
These numbers mean that Russia is not capable of producing enough vaccine for its own needs. At the same time Kremlin is forcing people to get vaccinated.
That’s what we meant by possible vaccine shortages. It’s difficult to accuse Nezygar of Western propaganda. It is obvious even to them that Putin, Kremlin, Sobyanin and the whole Russian government are not only failing hard, but doing something outrageous.
Republic of Udmurtia in Russia has temporarily stopped its vaccination program because of the vaccine shortages.
Kremlin has to acknowledge that Russia needs foreign vaccines.
Thousands of boys and girls celebrated their high school graduation throughout the country yesterday. No anti-covid measures were taken, of course.
At the same time Kremlin promotes segregation and discrimination of unvaccinated people.
How is it possible to trust this government? Do these people even understand what are they doing?
Kremlin has to acknowledge that Russia needs foreign vaccines.
Thousands of boys and girls celebrated their high school graduation throughout the country yesterday. No anti-covid measures were taken, of course.
At the same time Kremlin promotes segregation and discrimination of unvaccinated people.
How is it possible to trust this government? Do these people even understand what are they doing?
This media is not supported in your browser
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
Moscow police is brutally dragging a woman who allegedly refused to wear a mask in public place. Great job, guys, but why haven't you dragged away people from the ruling United Russia party's assembly a week ago? Or from Chechen assembly a couple of days after?
Donbass Is Russia’s White Elephant
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US could be involved in the Donbass settlement.
For now the situation is in full compliance with this interest. Russia is indeed spending significant money financing Donbass and more importantly cannot reach any progress in Ukraine before the conflict is settled. It is a win-win situation for Washington, and Biden’s foreign team should take a full advantage of it.
Concerning Vladislav Surkov and his role in turning Donbass into a white elephant (English for “siutcase without a handle”) there is a correct point made. However it’s not fair to fully blame it on him.
He could be regarded as some kind of thinker in Russia, the fact that could only amuse American policy-makers in Ukraine. Surkov is not capable of conducting any fruitful strategy, but he is totally capable of using any conflict for making himself and his partners money.
That’s exactly what he did in Donbass through “Vneshtorgservis” and his criminal schemes with unrecognized South Ossetia and its current criminal leader. No big deal for a Russian high-ranked official.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said that the US could be involved in the Donbass settlement.
For now the situation is in full compliance with this interest. Russia is indeed spending significant money financing Donbass and more importantly cannot reach any progress in Ukraine before the conflict is settled. It is a win-win situation for Washington, and Biden’s foreign team should take a full advantage of it.
Concerning Vladislav Surkov and his role in turning Donbass into a white elephant (English for “siutcase without a handle”) there is a correct point made. However it’s not fair to fully blame it on him.
He could be regarded as some kind of thinker in Russia, the fact that could only amuse American policy-makers in Ukraine. Surkov is not capable of conducting any fruitful strategy, but he is totally capable of using any conflict for making himself and his partners money.
That’s exactly what he did in Donbass through “Vneshtorgservis” and his criminal schemes with unrecognized South Ossetia and its current criminal leader. No big deal for a Russian high-ranked official.
Lavrov The Mothball
When Russians want to show that something is out of date, they say “it smells like naphthalene’’. There is no way to better describe the latest article of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about Russia’s relationship with the West.
Lavrov repeated the usual points usually made in a similar naphthalene articles of his boss Vladimir Putin. It looks that Kremlin’s oldmen not only disregard the reality, but do not have an appropriate language for describing it.
If Western sanctions are so unfair and Moscow claims that it doesn’t care, then why does Russia follow these sanctions concerning Belarus? Why do numerous Russian companies and institutions avoid working Crimea?
Russian elites have two narratives. One that is real and should be measured by their actions, the second is propaganda and lies which is fed to Russians on an every-day basis and is actually ruining their future.
When Russians want to show that something is out of date, they say “it smells like naphthalene’’. There is no way to better describe the latest article of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov about Russia’s relationship with the West.
Lavrov repeated the usual points usually made in a similar naphthalene articles of his boss Vladimir Putin. It looks that Kremlin’s oldmen not only disregard the reality, but do not have an appropriate language for describing it.
If Western sanctions are so unfair and Moscow claims that it doesn’t care, then why does Russia follow these sanctions concerning Belarus? Why do numerous Russian companies and institutions avoid working Crimea?
Russian elites have two narratives. One that is real and should be measured by their actions, the second is propaganda and lies which is fed to Russians on an every-day basis and is actually ruining their future.
Mark N. Katz from the George Mason University also came up with an article comparing Vladimir Putin and Leonid Brezhnev.
Russian state propaganda often depicts Putin as a master of foreign policy. Katz argues that it’s nothing but a myth and Putin hasn’t been successful in his foreign affairs even comparing to Leonid Brezhnev whose long rule ended with a decision to deploy troops in Afghanistan.
We agree with Mark Katz. The myth of Putin being a foreign policy master is actually quite harmful as it has certain negative internal implications. The narrative is like “we have some internal problems, but look how successful we are elsewhere”.
The myth is used to justify the poverty of Russians and further abuse of their rights. In the past ten years under Putin Russia fell behind especially hard.
Russian state propaganda often depicts Putin as a master of foreign policy. Katz argues that it’s nothing but a myth and Putin hasn’t been successful in his foreign affairs even comparing to Leonid Brezhnev whose long rule ended with a decision to deploy troops in Afghanistan.
We agree with Mark Katz. The myth of Putin being a foreign policy master is actually quite harmful as it has certain negative internal implications. The narrative is like “we have some internal problems, but look how successful we are elsewhere”.
The myth is used to justify the poverty of Russians and further abuse of their rights. In the past ten years under Putin Russia fell behind especially hard.
Vladimir Putin will hold a “direct line” tomorrow. It is a Q&A show with the President.
It is known that about 80% of questions already sent concern the vaccination crisis in Russia. Putin will try to calm down Russians amidst the vaccination psychosis single handedly created by the government.
The President will surely fail. Vaccination is a referendum. The whole world has seen the real level of trust of Russians in their government. Putin himself contributed greatly to this distrust by getting vaccinated behind closed doors.
Nobody knows whether he actually received a shot. Nobody even knows was it a Russian vaccine or not. The sheer incompetence of Russian authorities and their ignorant attitude towards people make tomorrow’s show fruitless.
It is known that about 80% of questions already sent concern the vaccination crisis in Russia. Putin will try to calm down Russians amidst the vaccination psychosis single handedly created by the government.
The President will surely fail. Vaccination is a referendum. The whole world has seen the real level of trust of Russians in their government. Putin himself contributed greatly to this distrust by getting vaccinated behind closed doors.
Nobody knows whether he actually received a shot. Nobody even knows was it a Russian vaccine or not. The sheer incompetence of Russian authorities and their ignorant attitude towards people make tomorrow’s show fruitless.
We also have a couple of questions to Vladimir Putin.
First – does he still think that Kremlin tackled the vaccination issue better than the West?
Second – why Russia, being obviously incapable of producing enough vaccines for its own needs, doesn’t let foreign vaccines in?
Third – why is Kremlin openly discriminating people and encouraging social segregation?
First – does he still think that Kremlin tackled the vaccination issue better than the West?
Second – why Russia, being obviously incapable of producing enough vaccines for its own needs, doesn’t let foreign vaccines in?
Third – why is Kremlin openly discriminating people and encouraging social segregation?
Failed Delivery
Guatemala asked Russia to return money already paid for doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine after the Russian direct investment fund (RFPI) failed to deliver the vaccine.
$80 million were paid for a supply of 8 million doses of the vaccine. So far, only 150,000 of those were supplied. A spokesman for RFPI, which is responsible for marketing the vaccine abroad, said additional supplies of the vaccine would reach Guatemala soon.
„Failure“ is a word associated not only with Russian vaccination, but with the production and the deliveries of vaccines abroad as well. This is another case of Putin being either fooled by his inner circle or being delusional himself.
Sputnik V was supposed to be an instrument of Russian soft power, but someone forgot to tell Putin that Russia isn’t capable to produce enough of vaccine even for its own needs.
Guatemala asked Russia to return money already paid for doses of the Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccine after the Russian direct investment fund (RFPI) failed to deliver the vaccine.
$80 million were paid for a supply of 8 million doses of the vaccine. So far, only 150,000 of those were supplied. A spokesman for RFPI, which is responsible for marketing the vaccine abroad, said additional supplies of the vaccine would reach Guatemala soon.
„Failure“ is a word associated not only with Russian vaccination, but with the production and the deliveries of vaccines abroad as well. This is another case of Putin being either fooled by his inner circle or being delusional himself.
Sputnik V was supposed to be an instrument of Russian soft power, but someone forgot to tell Putin that Russia isn’t capable to produce enough of vaccine even for its own needs.
Russian law enforcement agents searched the homes of three journalists of the investigative Proekt.Media the day after it announced the publication of its investigation into the unlawful enrichment of the family of Russia’s current Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
Of course, none of the corrupted high-ranked officials anywhere in the world want their corruption go public, but in this case the Interior Minister Kolokoltsev and his partners clearly overreacted.
In Europe or US corruption allegations could cause resignation from office. In Russia Kolokoltsev has nothing to worry about. His alleged unlawful enrichment along with ties with the high-ranked criminals from Izmailovsky Criminal Group are quite ordinary for Russian elites.
Wiping out all the independent media hasn’t done any good in any country, but in case of Russia the way Kremlin acts reminds some kind of paranoia. The neo-feudal order with filthy rich and extremely poor without any civil voice is being maintained with no regard to any decency.
Proekt.Media, stay strong.
Of course, none of the corrupted high-ranked officials anywhere in the world want their corruption go public, but in this case the Interior Minister Kolokoltsev and his partners clearly overreacted.
In Europe or US corruption allegations could cause resignation from office. In Russia Kolokoltsev has nothing to worry about. His alleged unlawful enrichment along with ties with the high-ranked criminals from Izmailovsky Criminal Group are quite ordinary for Russian elites.
Wiping out all the independent media hasn’t done any good in any country, but in case of Russia the way Kremlin acts reminds some kind of paranoia. The neo-feudal order with filthy rich and extremely poor without any civil voice is being maintained with no regard to any decency.
Proekt.Media, stay strong.