Thread: Edward Snowden and his stay in Russia

Originally Posted by xdns

Probably, Russia do assassinate her enemies abroad (if she can). For example, this Chechen militant was allegedly killed by Russian agents in Qatar.

If that is true, it is bad. I don't support that at all, regardless who is doing it. The US, Russia, Israel...

The other possible example of Russia killing somebody abroad (at least according to British tabloids) is Alexander Litvinenko, the ex spy who lived in London. No idea if it's true or not. Frankly, the way it was done seems too amateurish, based on what I read in the papers. Probably it was not done by a pro.

But still regardless of these two possible cases, Russia does this on a significantly lesser scale than the USA, isn't it - and Russia isn't buying drones for the purpose, or blackmailing European nations into giving logistics support, which the US did.
I know that the USSR did such things in the 1930s, like with Trotsky, and many others who had fled abroad or been exiled. Very, very disturbing and no excuse for it as far as I'm concerned.

But the main perpetrator of foreign executions at the moment is the USA - or are you denying that?

Originally Posted by Hanna

If that is true, it is bad.

В отношении Яндарбиева это скорее всего правда (его убили наши агенты). Но это хорошо, а не плохо, так как у него руки по локоть в крови. Это самооборона и в какой-то степени месть. Он же занимался террором в отношении мирных граждан РФ.

Alexander Litvinenko

В отношении Литвиненко это скорее всего ложь. Его убили скорее всего чеченцы, живущие в Англии. Россия в данной истории была мишенью, а Литвиненко был пешкой, которой жертвовали в этой "игре".

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Эту задачу уже номинально выполняют представители "единой России" вроде вас. =))

Кто будет слушать Единую Россию на Западе?

Originally Posted by Eric C.

Я не уверен что факт наличия у мистера Сноудена Американского гражданства как-то повлияет на вес его аргументов. =)

Сноудена слушает весь мир не потому что у него было гражданство США, а потому что он совершил поступок, сделавший его знаменитым. Теперь его слушают миллионы. Это значит, что он может быть в какой-то степени нашим "агентом влияния" на Западе, меняя имидж нашей страны. Причём нам для этого почти ничего не нужно делать. Достаточно просто разрешить жить на нашей территории.
Любая звезда может выполнять функцию агента влияния. Например, Мадонна. Приезжая к нам он не гнушается заниматься этим, пропагандируя мнение Запада по поводу ситуациии с Pussy riot.

Originally Posted by Hanna

But the main perpetrator of foreign executions at the moment is the USA - or are you denying that?

No, I am not. USA abroad killings count is very high and there are rightful concerns about civilian casualties. But USA justifies its actions using the war on terror. Senior members of Al-Qaeda and Taliban are main targets for USA, just as leaders of Chechen terrorists are main targets for Russia.

Putin usually emphasizes that terrorism is a threat to the whole world and that acts of terror in Russia is a part of worldwide Islamists agenda. You may watch BBC documentary "Smell of paradise" - there is the last interview with abovementioned Yandarbiyev and it's all about political Islamism and religious zealotry. He tried to look respectful and wise, but one should remember his direct involvement in financing terrorist activity on Russian soil (including infamous Moscow theater hostage crisis).

Several ethnic groups in Russia are historically Muslim (Tatars and Bashkirs from the Volga river basin, and numerous ethnicities of North Caucasus and its outskirts - including Chechens). Putin urges their religious leaders to promote what he calls "traditional Islam" as he rightfully concludes that many ideas of radical Islamism are stemming from the abroad. In the 90s mainly Chechens were notoriously known for falling for these ideas (spurred by Chechnya's failed independence attempt), but these days Islamic radicalism is spreading to neighboring Dagestan. There are also attempts to bring it to Tatarstan and Bashkiria - federal districts with significant ethnic Russian population and long history of peaceful coexistence as part of Russia. The extremists even manage to occasionally lure ethnic Russians to convert to Islam and join terrorists (unthinkable, but there are several examples). Of course Putin tries to counter these trends, and targeting notorious terrorists to stop them from exercising their influence is part of this struggle.