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I’ve previously reported on how Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, a proud KGB spy, has recently launched an onslaught against the arts which is disturbingly reminiscent of Soviet times. A play about terrorism and an art installation about prison abuse were both suddenly canceled, obviously for political reasons.
In a pincer movement, Putin has also aggressively moved to curtail reporting about such cases by cracking down on all forms of journalism, including the Internet. Most recently, a Russian newspaper was closed down the very next day after reporting that Putin had an extramarital affair with a famous gymnast.
Now, the Other Russia opposition political coalition reports that “two well-known Russian rock musicians have been cut from television programs planning to feature their work.”
Pictured above is Mikhail Borzykin, lead singer of the group “Television.” Other Russia reports:
While many of the group’s songs have nothing offensive about them, the group has never shied away from political themes and strong-mouthed lyrics. Their early recordings include songs titled “Your television is speaking with you,” and “Your dad is a fascist.” The band’s most recent album, Megamisanthrope, takes jabs at religion, war and materialism. Televizor’s latest songs have taken a sharp political edge, criticizing repressive authorities and imperialism. Borzykin is an active member of the opposition, and has performed at several demonstrations, including the March 3rd, 2008 March of Dissent in St. Petersburg.
So it came as little surprise to those familiar with current events in Russia when Borzykin’s scheduled appearance on a live show to be broadcast on local TV in St. Petersburg on April 24th. Boryzkin said he was told: “Now there’s such a situation, that we cannot allow this to happen.”
Borzykin, at least, is something of an alt-rocker. 
But Yury Shevchuk (pictured, left), lead singer of “DDT,” one of the most famous and well respected rock groups in Russian history, and Russia’s version of Bruce Springsteen, is quite another matter. That the Kremlin would move against him is nothing short of stunning — and that’s just what is happening. Other Russia reports that “according to the North-West Political News Agency, the Kultura (Culture) TV channel has a standing order not to air any of Shevchuk’s songs. This year, he was also replaced at an annual commemorative concert for folk artist Bulat Okudzhava. Shevchuk, who took part in the March 3rd March of Dissent in St. Petersburg, also performed at a concert after the mass-demonstration. Speaking during the protest, he explained that rock music in Russia and St. Petersburg most of all represents freedom. In a later interview, he added that he decided to march because “there was no other choice left.”
So basically, the Russian government has blacklisted their version of Bruce Springsteen because he won’t agree to kowtow to the Kremlin. One has to wonder when, if ever, the Russian people will stand up and be counted, when they will demand that their government not plunge right back down the path followed by the USSR, purging most of their culture and driving the rest deep underground. One also has to wonder how long it will be before the Kremlin starts resorting to more drastic measures than just censorship in order to deal with Russia’s remaining pockets of free thought and expression.
RSS 
The same is happening in Russia. These artists are nothing but political groups who are opposed to Vladimir Putin but cannot face him straight in elections. Vladimir Putin has been successful in instilling a sense of pride and nationalism in common Russians. Why don't you talk about this?
Does being (rich and) famous allow you to participate in activities that can be termed as sedition? There are many other famous vocal opponents of Vladimir Putin like Garry Kasparov - the greatest chess player of all time. The government is not sending hounds after him or gagging him.
The point is, as long as you are on the right side of law, you are safe. If you cross the boundary then you will be in trouble. This is applicable to everyone in every country in the world.
Kim, if you want a debate, we can give you one. Remember how conveniently you chose to ignore my question on the bombers buzzing and snooping Western military when I asked you who was instigating whom and what does history suggest when you started talking about history?
Were the Russian leaders especially Yeltsin so myopic that they didn't see it coming? Maybe, they were just paranoid and wanted to keep a few things from the old system in place in case they needed them like the KGB honchos. Whatever it is, it is a big tragedy for Russia and its people.
"Censorship is the offspring of paranoia."
This is no censorship. This is action against sedition. No one is paranoid except the West about Russia's growing stature and power. They simply can't digest it. Is there no censorship in Philippines? From Marcos to Aquino to Estrada to Arroyo all abused power. It is perhaps the best example of American colonies that America left to rot.
What does the Filipino government do with coup leaders?
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Hi Denis, nice to see you continuing with your pro-Russia propaganda. Just one point though - if the so-called voters of russia encourage a return to Soviet times by electing a proud KGB spy as president, should anyone feel sorry for them when Russia collapses just like the USSR did?
I’d suggest you give a listen to Bruce Springsteen some day. He ”encourages sedition” every day of his life, as did many other rockers from John Lennon to Curt Cobain — and it only makes them more popular and powerful.
What Russians like you can’t seem to understand is that if you are really so weak that rock music can destroy you, then you have no hope at all other than reform. Instead, you continue down a road that can only lead to total disaster, blinding yourself to reality just as in Soviet times.
Still a former KGB spy is better than a outright war criminal to lead a country. Your country has the dubious distinction of having a thug like Dwight Eisenhower, an Army general who was appointed the Military Governor of the US Occupation Zone in Frankfurt am Main. He made the criminal and inhuman decision to reclassify German prisoners of war in US custody as Disarmed Enemy Forces which meant that they were deprived of the protection they were entitled to under the Geneva convention. This is like stooping to the levels of the Nazis and the Imperial Japanese forces.
Mind you, this was after the War when your forces were trying German and Japanese POWs of war crimes committed during the war from Europe to Asia-Pacific.
You have a history of having warmongers as presidents with the current incumbent as a prime example. A country whose economy is best described as war economy should have some problems if future wars are stopped due to a counter balance in power as the USSR provided to the US.
Let us not forget the nuclear attacks on Japan, Agent Orange in Vietnam, Iraq, supporting of despots all over the world (even Saddam was your friend once), the Tuskegee Experiments (on your own people) etc. The USSR has been no worse than the USA when it comes to oppression, mass killing and imperialism.
We do not condone what Stalin did. We loathe him as much as you loathe him if not more. However, please bear it in mind that comparing Putin with Stalin is not only preposterous but absolutely blasphemous. At least, it is for Russians like me.
Ask the world whether they would want a man like Putin to be in power of a country like Russia than having a man like Bush to be in power in the USA? I guess you know the answer already, don't you?
Instead of crying over Russians' plight concentrate on what is happening in your own country.
The topic of this post is a crackdown on the arts in Russia, and you are talking about George Bush and nuclear attacks. That’s just plain psychotic. It’s the type of ”debate” that went on in the USSR and destroyed the country. All through the cold war Russians said arrogantly ”mind your own business.” And look what happened! Total disaster!
What happens in Russia is directly relevant to America. Russia is buzzing my country with nuclear bombers on a regular basis, and if Russia implodes again the world will be significantly destabilized. Moreover, civilized people understand that when human rights are undermined in any country, they are undermined in every country. Instead of justifying and rationalizing dictatorship in Russia, you should be working hard to improve the situation for artists and suggesting ways this could be done. That you try to change the subject and refuse to do so indicates that Russia has a long way to go before it can be considered a civilized country.
Given that you tell the world to ignore Russia, it’s very strange that Russia sits on the G-8 and asks to be taken seriously as an international player. Do you think Russia should resign from the G-8 and UN, and in exchange receive total isolation from the world? I might be willing to support that! But I doubt it is in the best interests of the people of Russia. In fact, just like Stalin, it seems to me that you don’t have their best interests as your first priority, but rather are focused on other matters. That’s sad!
"What happens in Russia is directly relevant to America. Russia is buzzing my country with nuclear bombers on a regular basis, and if Russia implodes again the world will be significantly destabilized."
The same goes for Russia as well. USA is hellbent upon installing missile defense in Russia's backyard and including countries bordering Russia into the NATO fold. This is unacceptable. This is worse than buzzing. This is like permanently training guns at us from our doorsteps. So who is destabilizing the world? The West (read USA) or Russia? Besides, talking about destabilizing the world, who has done so in recent times? Have you forgotten what the USA has done in the Middle East with Iraq? It is now planning to attack Iran. Have you imagined the repercussions it would have for the world?
"Moreover, civilized people understand that when human rights are undermined in any country, they are undermined in every country."
Your country did away with executing even juveniles only recently. Death penalty is fiercely protected by your lawmakers especially the neo-cons like Bush. America executes more people than any other country after China and Saudi Arabia every year. There are more people in American jails than anywhere else in the world. Then what about the secret prisons that CIA runs illegally all over the world; where torture and denial of basic human rights is condoned by the ruling administration? What about Guantanamo Bay and the Bagram Airport prison complex in Afghanistan? Do the pictures coming out of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq come into your mind? Shameful. Disgraceful. But what more can be expected from a country that has history of lynchings, unequal civil rights, persecution and torture of left-inclined people, the Tuskegee Experiments etc.
USA routinely supported despots and brutal leaders around the world and it is still doing so. So, USA talking of human rights doesn't look good. First set your house in order. You have no moral right to speak about these civilized issues.
"Given that you tell the world to ignore Russia, it’s very strange that Russia sits on the G-8 and asks to be taken seriously as an international player. Do you think Russia should resign from the G-8 and UN, and in exchange receive total isolation from the world?"
I have never said that the world should ignore Russia. I just asked you to set your own house straight first before barking at Russia. Since you are unintelligent you were not able to understand it or maybe you did but tried to add some spin here misleading the readers.
It is that Russia is asserting itself on the world stage that it sat mainly on as a decorative piece while letting the US do whatever it pleased for the last 18 years, the US and its cronies are getting jittery. After all, Russia is the only country in the world that can put USA to where it belongs - on the Western side of the fence.
