We may take as a given from yesterday’s non-event that one of two charges made against Bill Browder by Russian state television on 13 April is winning support in the West on the basis of independently made discoveries here: that the Magnitsky affair was fraudulent and misrepresented from the beginning….
“Put up or shut up”: the case against William Browder and Alexei Navalny
It would be an understatement to remark that the provenance of the cache of documents underlying the case is murky and that so far no serious effort has been made by the Russian state broadcasters to provide credible explanations of damaging discrepancies.
Continue reading ““Put up or shut up”: the case against William Browder and Alexei Navalny”
Vladimir Putin’s live Q&A with the nation goes corporate: no surprises
If Putin is to be seen as a Tsar, his performance in Q&A, just as his daily performance of his duties 7/7 deserves the very highest grades for intelligence, diligence, reserve, man management skills and the rest. A Tsar of this quality comes along once in 300 years.
Continue reading “Vladimir Putin’s live Q&A with the nation goes corporate: no surprises”
Agent William F. Browder: The Smoking Gun
Whatever the final verdict may be on the documents presented by the film “The Browder Effect,” it raises questions about Browder that should have been asked years ago in mainstream Western media if journalists were paying attention.
Continue reading “Agent William F. Browder: The Smoking Gun”
Pointers on the timing and significance of Ukraine Prime Minister Yatsenyuk’s resignation
The Dutch referendum was surely the trigger for the removal of Arseny Yatsenyuk, to show a contemptuous Europe and the world that the Ukrainians are moving to consolidate power and to proceed with deep reforms. Unfortunately, the consolidation was not where the real power in the country lies.
Dutch Referendum: a crack in the dam of European Russophobia
Will common sense finally prevail over the illogic, hubris and plain pig-headedness of those who control the EU institutions in Brussels, and afar from Berlin and Washington?
Continue reading “Dutch Referendum: a crack in the dam of European Russophobia”
Belgian Political Culture and the Terror Attacks in Brussels, 22 March 2016
On day three following the terror attacks, the Belgian common front of lighting candles, delivering pious speeches and preaching national solidarity in the face of the terrorist threat finally cracked. The ugly truth of why these attacks took place here is now coming out in dribbles of information in the national media.
Continue reading “Belgian Political Culture and the Terror Attacks in Brussels, 22 March 2016”
Re-visiting the Russian shopping basket: how is babushka doing today in the face of sanctions?
Even in the current period of stagnant economy or mild recession, the Russian consumer is not being asked to make great sacrifices, and the commercial classes are not taking advantage of the crisis.
The Donald’s Foreign Policy Team: Campaign tactics must not be allowed to ‘trump’ strategy
The incoming Trump administration in January 2017 should arrive in office with well-defined plans for resuming arms control talks and negotiating a new security architecture for Europe…
EU on the road to nowhere: Mogherini on its 5 guiding principles for dealing with Russia, 14 March 2016
Beware the day before the Ides of March
Gilbert Doctorow 