Window On Eurasia: Guns Illegally In Private Hands In Russia Now Sufficient For ‘A Small Civil War,’ Moscow Paper Says
|
posted by eagle on May, 2009 as ANALYSIS / OPINION
Paul Goble
Vienna, May 8 – While the number of guns illegally in private hands in the Russian Federation is miniscule in comparison to weapons having that status in the United States, Russians today have far more such guns than ever before and now have enough to “conduct a small civil war,” according to an investigation by a Moscow journalist.
In an article in today’s “Novaya gazeta,” Sergey Kanyev, who writes frequently on crime in the Russian capital, says that there are approximately 170,000 pistols and automatic weapons in the hands of those who are “not the best part of the population” and who obtained, retain and can be expected to use them illegally (www.novayagazeta.ru/data/2009/047/00.html).
The Moscow journalist began looking into the matter when, after a militia officer shot up a supermarket there, “some sources asserted” that the officer had stolen his weapon from a fellow ...
comments (0)
Window On Eurasia: Guns Illegally In Private Hands In Russia Now Sufficient For ‘A Small Civil War,’ Moscow Paper Says
|
posted by eagle on as ANALYSIS / OPINION
Paul Goble
Vienna, May 8 – While the number of guns illegally in private hands in the Russian Federation is miniscule in comparison to weapons having that status in the United States, Russians today have far more such guns than ever before and now have enough to “conduct a small civil war,” according to an investigation by a Moscow journalist.
In an article in today’s “Novaya gazeta,” Sergey Kanyev, who writes frequently on crime in the Russian capital, says that there are approximately 170,000 pistols and automatic weapons in the hands of those who are “not the best part of the population” and who obtained, retain and can be expected to use them illegally (www.novayagazeta.ru/data/2009/047/00.html).
The Moscow journalist began looking into the matter when, after a militia officer shot up a supermarket there, “some sources asserted” that the officer had stolen his weapon from a fellow ...
comments (0)
Window On Eurasia: ‘Circassian Government In Exile’ – Provocation Or Clever Geopolitical Move?
|
posted by eagle on as ANALYSIS / OPINION
comments (0)
RFE/RL: Vox Pop: Russians React To One Year Of Medvedev’s Presidency
|
posted by eagle on as ANALYSIS / OPINION
May 07, 2009Vox Pop: Russians React To One Year Of Medvedev’s Presidencyby Kevin O'Flynn
MOSCOW -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev marks his first year in office today, after a busy year that has seen him grappling with an economic crisis and the August war with neighboring Georgia.
There have also been constant questions as to whether he is his own man or whether former President Vladimir Putin, who is now prime minister, has more power and will stage a return in elections scheduled for 2012.
What do average Russians on the streets of Moscow think?
Many Muscovites told RFE/RL that they were positive about Medvedev’s first year, saying that he had made a good impression.
Pensioner Vera Ivanovna, 88, says she likes the youthful drive of Medvedev, who at 43 is less than half her age.
“I think that he is sufficiently energetic, young, and moving in the right direction in the sense of organizing life in large cities for the population of our country and trying to establish good relations with ...>> full
comments (0)
RFE/RL: Medvedev Marks A Year In The Kremlin, But Does He Rule?
|
posted by eagle on as ANALYSIS / OPINION
May 07, 2009Medvedev Marks A Year In The Kremlin, But Does He Rule?by Robert Coalson
Dmitry Medvedev's presidency began one year ago with pomp and ceremony in a glittering Kremlin palace with the cream of the country's political elite in attendance.
The festivities capped a months-long process in which the former first deputy prime minister became Putin’s hand-picked successor. But even before he took office, Medvedev announced that he would name Putin as prime minister, making it clear that Putin had no intention of stepping aside completely.
The story of Medvedev’s presidency, at least so far, is the story of two men.
The main themes of Medvedev’s presidential campaign were continuity and stability. In his inaugural address, Medvedev hit those notes again, looking into the future with optimism:
"A strong basis for the long-term development -- simply for decades of free and stable development ahead -- has been created over the last eight years," he said. "And we must use this unique chance to the maximum to make Russia one of ... >> full
comments (0)
|
