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Russia Is Accusing the US of 'Direct Interference' In Its Elections (businessinsider.com)
schwit1 shares a report from Business Insider (alternative source): Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Tuesday accused the U.S. of a "direct interference in our electoral process and internal affairs" following the State Department's criticism of Russia's decision to bar opposition leader Alexey Navalny from running in the upcoming presidential election against Vladimir Putin. "This State Department statement, which I'm sure will be repeated, is a direct interference in our electoral process and internal affairs," Zakharova wrote Tuesday on Facebook. In a statement shared with Business Insider on Tuesday night, a State Department spokesperson expressed concern over the Russian government's "ongoing crackdown against independent voices, from journalists to civil society activists and opposition politicians." "These actions indicate the Russian government has failed to protect space in Russia for the exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms," the statement said. "More broadly, we urge the government of Russia to hold genuine elections that are transparent, fair, and free and that guarantee the free expression of the will of the people, consistent with its international human rights obligations." Zakharova pushed back. "And these people expressed outrage over alleged Russian 'interference' in their electoral process for an entire year?!" she said.
"Pointing out that the Kremlin is interfering in its own election is not interference," adds schwit1.
As usual, things are only bad when other people do them to you. But are fine when you do them to them.
There are russian elections? I thought it was all rigged in the first place.
It's not the heat. Putin wants to maintain the *illusion* that he won in fair elections.
Of course it is. But, it's entirely aboveboard, unlike the secret (at the time) Russian interference.
That's not to say the US isn't doing their own dirty tricks in secret, but that's not what the article is about.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
Kind of how asking certain questions can be racist, sexist, or xenophobic. Actually not 'kind of like,' but rather 'exactly like.' Allow me to illustrate with an example near and dear to the KGB:
Alice: The CIA invented AIDS to kill black people!
Bob: What evidence do you have of that?
Alice: Racist!! Believe the victims!!1!!one
We did...
According to the Democrats, truths told about your candidate is considered divisive and constitutes interference.
So either both of these acts are interference, or neither of them are.
Newsflash: Most countries try to influence other countries, and they do it in a lot more ways that social media and fake news. This has only become 'news' because certain people feel the need to believe this past US election was somehow different. Sad bunch of morons.
Haven't the Russian people suffered enough?
Arguably, Russia's involvement in the US elections was aimed at this goal, at least in part. It has long been Russia's intent to smear the "great experiement" that is the United States of America's democracy; claims that the US is as corrupt and venal as anyone else have been part and parcel of their dialog for nearly a century.
This is not only an attempt to weaken the US but also to make Russia's own politics look better in comparison. After all, if the United States - long champion of democracy - can't ensure honest elections, it is hardly fair to expect any other nation to do so either. Putin's own political maneuverings were suspect long before 2016. While Navalny, an anti-corruption activist isn't expected to win in the 2018 Russian elections, he has gathered a sizeable following who threaten Putin's absolute power. They will be very suspicious of Putin's victory, even were it completely on the up-and-up (which, it is widely believed, will not be).
But by casting blame on the US, Putin can misdirect the blame; if the US can't secure their own elections from foreign influence, it's no surprise if poor impoverished Russia is even more vulnerable. Thus, if Putin wins /despite/ such influence, it only further legitimizes his victory.
Those approval ratings are apparently genuine.
I know several Russians. They all generally approve of Putin, say he has made them "proud to be Russian", and given them back their self respect after the implosion of their empire and economy during the 1990s. And these are cosmopolitan Russians that regularly travel to the West. He is even more popular in the rural oblasts. Russians are proud of the way he stood up to America, and prevailed, over Crimea, the Donbas, and in Syria.
So then why does he have to inhibit competition?
Because he may not always be so popular. Also his popularity is not transferable. His deputies and cronies are nowhere near as popular as he is. If they allow a real contested election this time, they will be expected to do the same when Putin is no longer around.
That's exactly what it means. Russiagaters have had more than a year to put up or STFU up on their claims. Until you guys offer more evidence to back up your claims than the flat earthers/chem trailers/birthers/antivaxxers do, you are just as full of shit as they are.
Eh.
Vi.
Dence.