Post by The Commish Dude Abides on Jul 21, 2014 9:55:50 GMT -6
There's plenty of corruption in Russia, but the greatest corruption lies in the Putin regime. Defy Putin and you will end up poor and in prison. Just ask Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Billionaire Putin critic faces 5 years jail in Russia
Meet Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia’s Freed Oligarch and Putin Foe
Billionaire Putin critic faces 5 years jail in Russia
Most rich Russians have avoided criticizing the Kremlin since the arrest in 2003 of former oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky, once Russia's richest man, after he defied Putin by taking an interest in opposition politics. Khodorkovsky's oil empire was broken up and sold off, and he is still in prison.
But with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Lebedev co-owns the Novaya Gazeta newspaper which has for years criticized the Kremlin and exposed corruption in Russia. Four of its journalists were killed between 2001 and 2009.
He says he is a victim of increasingly aggressive tactics to silence critics since Putin returned to the presidency for a six-year term in May, following the biggest protests against him since he was first elected president in 2000.
Other steps which the opposition says have targeted them include laws increasing fines for protesters, tighter controls of foreign-funded campaign groups and tougher Internet rules.
One protest leader, anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, has been charged with theft and faces up to 10 years in jail. Another, Gennady Gudkov, has been expelled from parliament and could face two years in prison on charges of continuing his business activities while a deputy. Both deny the accusations.
But with former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, Lebedev co-owns the Novaya Gazeta newspaper which has for years criticized the Kremlin and exposed corruption in Russia. Four of its journalists were killed between 2001 and 2009.
He says he is a victim of increasingly aggressive tactics to silence critics since Putin returned to the presidency for a six-year term in May, following the biggest protests against him since he was first elected president in 2000.
Other steps which the opposition says have targeted them include laws increasing fines for protesters, tighter controls of foreign-funded campaign groups and tougher Internet rules.
One protest leader, anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, has been charged with theft and faces up to 10 years in jail. Another, Gennady Gudkov, has been expelled from parliament and could face two years in prison on charges of continuing his business activities while a deputy. Both deny the accusations.
Meet Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Russia’s Freed Oligarch and Putin Foe
