http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/24/AR2008012403383/html?nav=hcmodule

More ineresting headlines on the way?

The more things change in Russia, the more they stay the same, a misplaced headline nothwithstanding.

In the mainstream press it would be exactly none. Thus the narrative/s are all biased toward denigrating Putin, whereas the biggest antidemocratic criminals are those toward which the Kremlin and proPutin forces are engaged against.

We are still being fed the line that Yeltsin was a democrat who fought the evil authoritarian cabal. The truth is close the the direct opposite and Yeltsin’s cronies stole the whole shop.

How often do you read of the Israeli zionist connections of these grand criminals in your ‘diverse’ press?

The omissions define the narrative/s in this case.

So, of 4 registered candidates – ONE can not be labeled as “Kremlin critic”. Did CNN mention that?

After Iraq (and Europe/Yogoslavia) aggressions my choice for a place of living was simple – one can be safe only in the US or Russia, with the exception of terrorism, although the willingness of the US govt. to arrange events like 9/11 – and most amazing willingness of american public to accept measures taking their freedoms away… the choice was easy.

Speaking of my personal freedoms, and my ability to express personal opinions I have not seen any “backsliding”. Government addresses the concerns of the population to a much bigger degree then in the US. The only “backsliding” I see is adoption of some freedom-limiting practices borrowed from the US – like the notorious prohibition to carry liquids on the airplane flight. That is a shame of course.

Your argument presupposes what I deny, namely, that there is a single narrative for me to fall victim to. That’s called begging the question.

I want evidence, not accusations. A poorly written headline, if it counts at all, counts to a vanishingly small extent.

Weston, if you think that the press doesn’t favour one particular view i.e. that of Wall St style capitalism and militarism, you’re not thinking outside the narrative/s they have you in.

Much of the propaganda war is disinformation by omission.

I think that Putin has brought some much-needed stability and economic growth to Russia, but at the very high price of increased authoritarianism. Your question misleadingly suggests that whether Russia is better off overall is a simple matter of comparing one regime to another. Economic growth is good in the short term, but sacrificing civil liberties for it has some very serious long-term consequences. Average Russians are probably better off now than they were during the chaotic 90’s. But if the present trend continues–and there is not much reason to think it won’t–then a lot of Russians in subsequent generations are going to suffer for it.

Most of the sources that you provided links for have an interest(or they simply toe the government line) in portraying Russia as “backsliding”. Allow me to ask you a simple Q: When you compare Jelcin’s Russia to Putin’s Russia, what do you think which one is better? Me thinks you missed Justin’s point because there are many reasons why we are being fed bad news about Russia lately. It would take too much time and space to name them all. Expect more “backsliding” news to come.

Cheers, Lazar