Putin says that CIA created the Internet

 


      Putin said today, the internet was a CIA project and that Russia most popular search engine Yandex has been subject to Western influence from the beginning. Putin exclaims " that it emerged as special project by U.S CIA and develops as such. He says when they came out the project he was forced to agree to having certain amount of Americans and Europeans. Yanndex responded to this saying " that the financial interests and directors Yannex have always been kept separate. Putin says " that the Americans would like to hold to their monopoly. But that is impossible in this modern world and we need to fight for our interests." This shows that Putin is not backing down to drive-out U.S. politics on the internet in his country. This statements come from the fact that Russia recently passed that all servers with Russian users must be stored in Russia and to keep information for only six months. This leads to a lot of controversy because these laws stop the Americans from spying on the citizens in Russia or at least making it harder. This will change ways of the internet at least in Russia because their information will be kept for six month. Unlike other countries, where it is up there for eternity.  This shows that Russia is also is willing to call out the U.S. on their activities and willing to protect his citizens unlike the Americans.

Russia Drills Troops near Ukraine

       



                           On Wednesday,  Russian troops conducted military exercises near the southwestern  Rostov region of Russia. Though a spokesman declined to give the details. The exercises had military jeeps, mobile multiple rocket launchers, mobile surface to air missile launcher and armored personal carriers. They were driving in formation.

An idea behind this is that Russia is preparing itself for attacks in Ukraine with the U.S. as the tensions are constantly growing even with the Geneva Convention.

Everybody gather up, it's casiiiiiino time!

As reported by BBC News on April 21st, Vladimir Putin signed a bill that enables the creation of many recreational installations in Crimea, in order to boost the Crimean economy. This bill was allowed since the Kremlin now considers Crimea as Russian territory. Casinos, which are banned near major cities such as Moscow, were only allowed in four remote areas, Crimea becoming the fifth. Pro-Ukraine militants are extremely concerned by this measure, since it secures Russia's hold on Crimea. The current leaders of this new Russian extension, who do not recognize Ukrainian authority and have taken over governmental buildings, widely approve of this new measure. Their actions fuel Kiev's fear of the movement spreading to other regions as well... In the same announcement, Putin said that Tatars, these Muslim citizens that make up around 15% of the Crimean population, are going to be rehabilitated under this new Russian control over Crimea. Tatars were widely incriminated of collaboration with Nazi Germany during WWII... All this new boost for Crimea is nothing to comfort Kiev in the fight against Russia and its own citizens... 

Source: BBC News

Want to be Russian?

Putin discussing population decline in Russia

As History taught us, Russia always counted on its large population to overcome its lack of technological advantage over its enemies. As of Monday April 21st, Vladimir Putin gave himself a pretty powerful weapon in this matter. Prior to Monday, one had to pass a language test in order to qualify for a Russian passport, as well as having parents or grandparents that live or have lived in the territory currently occupied by the Russian Federation. As of this week, anyone who has ancestors who have lived in a territory that has been occupied at one time by the Russian Federation, the USSR or even the old Russian Empire is now eligible for a permanent status in Russia. This thus opens a new opportunity for citizens of all of the soviet states, as well as citizens of Finland, parts of Poland, Alaska, 11 countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States and three Baltic republics (as reported by Business Standard). In a Russia facing threats on all fronts, this new pool of citizens should reveal itself as being useful, especially since immigration has declined in the last years.

Source: Business Standard

Russia prepares for sanctions from the West

   


                      Russia prepares itself for another around of sanctions with plans to diversify gas/oil exports to other countries such as China, India and any country in the Asia-Pacific. Prime minister Dmitry Medvedev  addresses saying that his country is under massive pressure and will take actions to diversify to not face economic isolation. He says ""For the first time Russia is under triple pressure — an unstable world economy, unfriendly foreign policy of several leading countries and our own limitations." He also says that Russia will remain strong my getting locally made goods as substitutes for imported goods. This will allow Russia become economically less vulnerable from the West. He adds that the country will still experience any tiny bit of growth in the year but that it is not is a big in 2013. 

    This suggests that Russia is still planning to take measures to rejoin their old Soviet Union even with Geneva contract signed between the U.S. and the European Union. This do not suggest they are going to use violent means.It just suggests this crisis in Ukraine is far from over.

Still Room for Discussion in Russia?

      Russia, Ukraine, and the West have reportedly reached a small compromise concerning the Ukraine Crisis. The Kremlin was offered a new role in determining the fate of Russia’s neighbor states. 

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      Talks were held in Geneva involving Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and the European Union. The issue of ending the occupation of eastern cities by pro-Russian sympathisers was brought up, and there will be a monitoring mission put in place and to be held up by the Organisation of Security and Co-operation in Europe. This organisation would also shepherd the transfer of government buildings that are currently being occupied by protesters in exchange for an amnesty for all, under the condition that they are not facing any capital crimes. 

      Consequently, Ukraine’s interim government agreed to accept future discussion on a far-reaching constitutional reform that would entail the Russian-speaking east comprehensive autonomy that is stipulated within the Kremlin.

      It wasn’t discussed though how the pro-Russian protest movement would be persuaded to vacate the buildings they are currently occupying, nor was it detailing how the anti-Russian militia groups who are currently installed in western-Ukraine to disband.

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      These details aside, the more urgent matter is whether Putin would follow through with the terms of a possible more extensive agreement. Barack Obama warned that the US was prepared to intensify sanctions if Russia failed to stand by terms of said agreement. Obama says he hopes to see follow-through from Russia, but that he is very sceptical. 

      It remains to be seen if there will be any real advocacy given by the political leaders regarding these efforts. Despite the scepticism of the US president and despite the glaring flaws of the current arrangement, it is still a step in the right direction.

Original Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/ukraine/10774084/Russia-and-West-reach-surprise-deal-on-Ukraine-crisis.html

The New Cold War?

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The growing tension in Eastern Ukraine and Russia has brought up many questions; one of them being if this is the beginning to the next Cold War. 

There has always been basic ideological divides between the Eastern and Western worlds, but Russia and the United States are at the peak of the divide. Since the before the Sochi Olympics and the human rights issues began to re-surface, the United States have been down Russia’s throats. Despite having the superpower of the world watching and criticising its every move, Russia hasn’t budged in the least. In fact, Russia continues to aggravate the states, unintentionally or not.

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Up until this point, the relations between the two superpowers have been peaceful, but tense to say the least. Economic and political measures have been taken by both sides, but for the time being at least, military conflict hasn’t occurred.

Despite the lack of military action to this point, clear links can be made between the present conflict and the post World War Two Cold War. The remnants of the Cold War are apparent, and the two States are still in ideological competition, and are still very much part of a geopolitical rivalry. Both states seek dominance, which cannot be achieved simultaneously. 

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The similarity can be seen between what I will refer to as the current Cold War and the first Cold War; during the first Cold War, the US and Russia engaged in proxy warfare, using other states as battlegrounds for their war. Post World War Two, these states were Cuba for Russia and Turkey for the US. Now, the United States have used Ukraine as their platform to become involved in the East, and they have involved numerous other countries such as Canada and most of Europe to follow alongside them. Russia has gotten some support from other countries in the East such as China, but has yet to find themselves a loyal ally. 

Both sides have abandoned the possibility for a cooperative relationship, at this point the best we can hope for is a mutual agreement to disagree.

Original Sources:

http://www.voanews.com/content/are-us-and-russia-in-new-cold-war/1894789.html

http://voiceofrussia.com/news/2013_08_10/There-is-no-Cold-war-between-Russia-and-US-Lavrov-4638/