Welcome to Russian Politics! A site directed at learning about one of the worlds most powerful nations. Russia holds a permanent seat on the UN Security Council but regardless, they are still often criticized as having 'Cold War Hangover'. The transition from a Communist state into democracy has not been a fast, bloodless or easy journey and they can expect to struggle with the 2014 Olympic Games exposing Russia publicly once again. There is a price to pay for freedom.

Sunday, February 20, 2011

The KBG 'A State within a State'

Established by Nikita Khurshchev in 1954, the KBG was the national security agency of the Soviet Union. They served as the Soviet Union's internal security, intelligence and secret police organization. They were established to protect the Bolshevik revolution and Stalin. In its time, the KBG was the worlds most effective intelligence agency as it operated both legal and illegal espionage in the target countries.

The KGB classified its people as either agents (intelligence providers) or controllers (intelligence relayers). They had to take on a false identity of either a live or dead 'double' to protect their identity. To make sure they were never discovered, they would first be moved to a foreign country and then immigrate to their target country. Their job would include: stealing and or photographing documents, code names, contacts, targets, dead letter boxes, influence policy and arrange kidnaps and assassinations.

Did you know that Vladimir Putin, the former Russian President, was once an officer of the KBG. Here is an article from the Washington Post in 2000 explaining more.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/inatl/longterm/russiagov/putin.htm

There was one time in the USSR when all young men thought it honourable to be asked to join the KBG. The KBG gave these men a name in society and some way to serve their country.

From an American point of view, Russia has yet to get fully rid itself of communism. According to journalist David Satter, Russia must do three things to fully rid themselves of a communist legacy:
1. A juridical condemnation of communism
2. An apology from the government to the victims of communism
3. Making a public a list of KBG informers

The third point is unrealistic because many high class officials such as the Pope of the Russian Orthodox Church were allegedly part of the KBG. As well, the Russian people just don't seem to care. They elected Putin fully knowing that he was once a member of the KBG....this only adds to the fact the the Russians want to move forward, not dwell in the past.

I believe that Russia can move forward without taking the 'American point of view'. They have thus far and generally, the Russian people don't like to hold grudges. There mentality is about moving on and if they had made a mistake in the past to learn from it, and not repeat it again.

KBG Secrets Revealed

Politically, times are looking up for the former Soviet Union. An article from the Moscow times was published about how a former KBG hide out in Estonia is now being open for the public eye. They used a hotel where they would send all foreigners and relatives of Estonian's so they could monitor every movement and word each guest did and said. Ironically, the people who worked at the hotel (separate from the KBG) talk about how work was good, clean and guaranteed...you just had to watch what you said inside the hotel. Of course many foreigners experienced fear but some say they just got used to minding what they said while in the hotel.
By the Russian government opening these secret rooms where the KBG officials spent many hour up to the public, they are trying to make amends and make it public knowledge about what the KBG did. 

Monday, February 14, 2011

Another Cold War for Russia?



Ukraine wants to punish modern Russia for the ill works of Stalin and the Bolshevik party during 1932-1933. Stalin caused famine in Ukraine and other Soviet controlled states. Ukraine historically was one of the major states that tried to seperate from the Soviet Union. After the collapse, they became an independant country and now seek compensation for those hard years. Politically, this is disasterous for Russia because they are trying to move forward politically and socially. By having to reopen old wounds, this is only causing them to stay stuck in the past. It is argued that the famine effected all of the USSR and not just the Ukraine.Viktor Pirozhenko, believes that by the Ukraine government taking this single minded, selfish, spin on the situation, they are only aiming to start a civil dispute with Russia
Here is a series of articles which prove this point.

http://rt.com/news/holodomor-famine-pirozhenko-ukraine/
http://rt.com/politics/holodomor-famine-stalin-ukraine/
http://rt.com/news/holodomor-genocide-report-pace/

Timeline of Terrorists Attacks (post Soviet Union)

Here is a link to an article from The Guardian which highlights all the major terrorists attacks in Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. The significance of this is that it highlights how as much as the Russian government wants to believe they are moving forward and getting rid of curruption in the country, a level of instability is still very much present. In a truly devolped and sucessful deomcratic nation, we don't have this many major bombings in our country. In the United States, the last major terrorist attack was 9/11. In Canada, we have only had threats but (knock on wood) our government has dealt with these threats appropriately.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/24/russian-terror-attacks-timeline