Russian elections cut short. Whimper, not bang (yet...)

[Sharania]

Breaking: Russian presidential election: Alexei Navalny barred from competing

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been formally barred from competing in next year's presidential election.

The Central Electoral Commission has said Mr Navalny was ineligible because of a corruption conviction which he says is politically motivated.

He has urged his supporters to boycott the March vote.

Mr Navalny, 41, was widely regarded as the only candidate with a chance of challenging President Vladimir Putin.

"We're declaring a strike by voters. The procedure that we're invited to take part is not an election," Mr Navalny said after the decision, adding that he would lead protests across the country.

Known for his anti-corruption campaign and protests against Mr Putin, Mr Navalny was given a five-year suspended sentence in a retrial earlier this year on embezzlement charges.

The commission's head, Ella Pamfilova, said her institution was simply applying the law which disqualifies Mr Navalny. Twelve of the 13 members rejected his application as candidate, with one member abstaining citing a conflict of interest.

Reacting to the widely expected decision, Mr Navalny said the case was intended to block him from "speaking the truth" about the situation in Russia, and that barring him from running would deny millions of Russians their vote.

"Only Putin and the candidates that he personally chose, ones who don't pose the slightest threat to him, are taking part [in the vote]," he added.

He said he would launch an appeal in Russia's Constitutional Court.

Mr Navalny said on Sunday he had gathered the 500 signatures needed to secure his candidacy, hoping that this would pressure the election commission into allowing him to run.

Mr Navalny was first sentenced in 2013 accused of embezzling timber worth 16m roubles ($500,000; £330,000) from the Kirovles state timber company while working as an adviser to Kirov's governor.

The verdict was quashed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which said he was not given a fair hearing. A retrial earlier this year gave him the exact same sentence.

Mr Putin is seeking a fourth term that would see him become the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin. He still retains a massive approval rating and is almost certain to ease to victory in the election.

Now – I don’t like Navalny. He is a piece of work (to put it mildly), he participated in far right rallies and there is a certain suspicion that he might act as agent provocateur working for the Kremlin. No one who appears to be another Donald Trump is “good” for me. But! This is still a shameful and heavy handed act of the regime with questionable legitimacy.

So I ask you – if you (somehow!) happened to be among the presidential candidates in the upcoming elections in Russia, what would be your program? Please – it couldn’t be worse than yet another y years of Putin’s systematic oppression and state terror!

If I had a chance to run for the president of Russia, I would make my program to reflect my moral and political stance – no matter how dangerous it would be for my life and well-being. It would include in it such things as:

1. Right after the elections – mass lustrations of all people who were even tenuously connected to Putin’s regime. He himself and his chief cronies must be judged by the Hague tribunal. There is blood on their hands. So, at the very least, those associated with them must be banned from holding any kind of office or position of power. Elimination of KGB’s successors (FSB, SVR) and creation of new, transparent agencies with the help and under supervision of the international community and human rights watchdogs. Release of all the data pertaining to the 2016 USA elections hack.

2. End of the hybrid war with the West. Immediate withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from Ukraine (Donbass and Crimea), Georgia (Abkhazia and Ossetia), Moldova (Transtristria).

3. Immediate removal of Russian troops from Syria and liquidation of the military bases here. No support to Assad.

4. Resolution of all territorial disputes with the neighboring countries, e.g. Kuril isles must be returned to Japan.

5. Reduction of the military and security apparatus in half. Ban on conscription, this modern version of slavery. Total overhaul as per the laws on lustrations of the top brass. People guilty of the war crimes must be extradited.

6. End of discrimination of the previously oppressed strata of the society and minorities – including ethnic minorities, LGBTIQ+ and oppressed religions (like Jehova Witnesses). They must be compensated for the ages of repressions and the public must be widely informed about al injustices incurred upon them.

7. De-communization, de-Stalinization, de-imperialization of Russia. Pass the law which would ban the symbols of both the Tsarist and Soviet Empires. Bury Lenin, demolish all monuments to him and other butchers. Make the denial of the crimes perpetrated by those regimes a criminal offense and a reason to immediately fire/dishonorable discharge that person and bar them from holding any high rank or office. Propaganda of Leninism and Stalinism must be equated to the propaganda of Nazism.

8. Complete ban of embezzlement, bribes, kick-backs and corruption schemes.

9. Updating Russian ecology legislation to the world standards

10. Severely limiting the central power and providing the regions with broader range of rights, including, but not limited to, the right for secession.

11. The end goal must be the admission of Russia back into the civilized society, agreeing and accepting the conditions suggested by the international community. Ideally – the advent of Russia into the EU and NATO. Program minimum – the Association treaty and visa free regime with the EU. International law must be regarded as paramount, superseding any Russian legislation until it adapts.

12. Russia must become a parliament republic – presidential powers must be purely decorative. Ban on all parties with the Communist and neo-Nazi ideology (see above about the lustrations). Complete federalization of Russia, with most of the taxes remaining in the regions. Reduction of the state apparatus by 75%.

13. Legalization of gambling, crypto-currency operations, prostitution, same sex marriage/adoption and light drugs.

14. Problem with illegal immigration of the people, who might not well integrate into the European society is solved by:

A) Providing subsides to the Central Asian countries for development.
B) New technologies, that will replace all need for the unqualified labor.

15. New privatization and liquidation of the state enterprises – this time during transparent and honest process.

16. No censorship. Legally protected freedom of expression for everyone.

[Jhman]

Putin would win

[San Lumen]

Its not even a election. Its a sham election whose outcome is fixed. Republicans dream of having elections like what Russia does.

My program would be to have free and fair elections, release of all data regarding the 2016 election and all damaging information on Trump, and repeal the anti LGBT laws.

[Vistulange]

Breaking: Russian presidential election: Alexei Navalny barred from competing

Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has been formally barred from competing in next year's presidential election.

The Central Electoral Commission has said Mr Navalny was ineligible because of a corruption conviction which he says is politically motivated.

He has urged his supporters to boycott the March vote.

Mr Navalny, 41, was widely regarded as the only candidate with a chance of challenging President Vladimir Putin.

"We're declaring a strike by voters. The procedure that we're invited to take part is not an election," Mr Navalny said after the decision, adding that he would lead protests across the country.

Known for his anti-corruption campaign and protests against Mr Putin, Mr Navalny was given a five-year suspended sentence in a retrial earlier this year on embezzlement charges.

The commission's head, Ella Pamfilova, said her institution was simply applying the law which disqualifies Mr Navalny. Twelve of the 13 members rejected his application as candidate, with one member abstaining citing a conflict of interest.

Reacting to the widely expected decision, Mr Navalny said the case was intended to block him from "speaking the truth" about the situation in Russia, and that barring him from running would deny millions of Russians their vote.

"Only Putin and the candidates that he personally chose, ones who don't pose the slightest threat to him, are taking part [in the vote]," he added.

He said he would launch an appeal in Russia's Constitutional Court.

Mr Navalny said on Sunday he had gathered the 500 signatures needed to secure his candidacy, hoping that this would pressure the election commission into allowing him to run.

Mr Navalny was first sentenced in 2013 accused of embezzling timber worth 16m roubles ($500,000; £330,000) from the Kirovles state timber company while working as an adviser to Kirov's governor.

The verdict was quashed by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), which said he was not given a fair hearing. A retrial earlier this year gave him the exact same sentence.

Mr Putin is seeking a fourth term that would see him become the longest-serving Russian leader since Joseph Stalin. He still retains a massive approval rating and is almost certain to ease to victory in the election.

Now – I don’t like Navalny. He is a piece of work (to put it mildly), he participated in far right rallies and there is a certain suspicion that he might act as agent provocateur working for the Kremlin. No one who appears to be another Donald Trump is “good” for me. But! This is still a shameful and heavy handed act of the regime with questionable legitimacy.

So I ask you – if you (somehow!) happened to be among the presidential candidates in the upcoming elections in Russia, what would be your program? Please – it couldn’t be worse than yet another y years of Putin’s systematic oppression and state terror!

If I had a chance to run for the president of Russia, I would make my program to reflect my moral and political stance – no matter how dangerous it would be for my life and well-being. It would include in it such things as:

1. Right after the elections – mass lustrations of all people who were even tenuously connected to Putin’s regime. He himself and his chief cronies must be judged by the Hague tribunal. There is blood on their hands. So, at the very least, those associated with them must be banned from holding any kind of office or position of power. Elimination of KGB’s successors (FSB, SVR) and creation of new, transparent agencies with the help and under supervision of the international community and human rights watchdogs. Release of all the data pertaining to the 2016 USA elections hack.

2. End of the hybrid war with the West. Immediate withdrawal of Russian occupation forces from Ukraine (Donbass and Crimea), Georgia (Abkhazia and Ossetia), Moldova (Transtristria).

3. Immediate removal of Russian troops from Syria and liquidation of the military bases here. No support to Assad.

4. Resolution of all territorial disputes with the neighboring countries, e.g. Kuril isles must be returned to Japan.

5. Reduction of the military and security apparatus in half. Ban on conscription, this modern version of slavery. Total overhaul as per the laws on lustrations of the top brass. People guilty of the war crimes must be extradited.

6. End of discrimination of the previously oppressed strata of the society and minorities – including ethnic minorities, LGBTIQ+ and oppressed religions (like Jehova Witnesses). They must be compensated for the ages of repressions and the public must be widely informed about al injustices incurred upon them.

7. De-communization, de-Stalinization, de-imperialization of Russia. Pass the law which would ban the symbols of both the Tsarist and Soviet Empires. Bury Lenin, demolish all monuments to him and other butchers. Make the denial of the crimes perpetrated by those regimes a criminal offense and a reason to immediately fire/dishonorable discharge that person and bar them from holding any high rank or office. Propaganda of Leninism and Stalinism must be equated to the propaganda of Nazism.

8. Complete ban of embezzlement, bribes, kick-backs and corruption schemes.

9. Updating Russian ecology legislation to the world standards

10. Severely limiting the central power and providing the regions with broader range of rights, including, but not limited to, the right for secession.

11. The end goal must be the admission of Russia back into the civilized society, agreeing and accepting the conditions suggested by the international community. Ideally – the advent of Russia into the EU and NATO. Program minimum – the Association treaty and visa free regime with the EU. International law must be regarded as paramount, superseding any Russian legislation until it adapts.

12. Russia must become a parliament republic – presidential powers must be purely decorative. Ban on all parties with the Communist and neo-Nazi ideology (see above about the lustrations). Complete federalization of Russia, with most of the taxes remaining in the regions. Reduction of the state apparatus by 75%.

13. Legalization of gambling, crypto-currency operations, prostitution, same sex marriage/adoption and light drugs.

14. Problem with illegal immigration of the people, who might not well integrate into the European society is solved by:

A) Providing subsides to the Central Asian countries for development.
B) New technologies, that will replace all need for the unqualified labor.

15. New privatization and liquidation of the state enterprises – this time during transparent and honest process.

16. No censorship. Legally protected freedom of expression for everyone.

This is all very nice and good, but you seem to be writing from the perspective of an American (or European) who has just happened to become the Russian President. Why on Earth would the Kremlin want to end the pseudo-war and stalemate in the Donbass? I mean, sure, it's what the U.S. and EU would want, but why would the Russians want that? What benefits does withdrawing from the Donbass offer to Russia, compared to the costs? In addition, why would the Russians want to surrender the Kurils to Japan? Again, something the Japanese would probably like, but what do the Russians get out of it? Same with Syria - what does Russia get out of cutting support for the Assad regime, which it has done since the beginning of the civil war?

Why should it extradite its criminals to the Hague? Russia is not a party to the Rome Statute, and is therefore not obligated to send anybody there unless forced to by a decision of the United Nations Security Council. You cannot force international law on parties which have not signed the respective treaties.

I think you should put more substance behind your reasoning, as your points look very shallow when presented the way they are right now. They scream "AMERICAN SITTING IN FOR PUTIN", as opposed to realistic policy plans for a Russian policy-maker.

[Reutoa]

Any sensible Russian Government would not enact any of these reforms.

[New Greater Netherlands]

I am sure Putin will win, and i hope that he will win

[Reutoa]

One thing everyone forgets is that Eastern Europe is just plains, the reason the Russian State has expanded over the centuries is to make sure no army can reach the most important political & economic city in Russia: Moscow

So your government would just be opening itself up for Attack by not expanding into Eastern Europe (Baltics + Belarus & Ukraine)

[San Lumen]

I am sure Putin will win, and i hope that he will win

Putin is a horrible person who deserves to lose reelection but never will as he's destroyed the free press and rigged elections in his parties favor.

[Jhman]

Its not even a election. Its a sham election whose outcome is fixed. Republicans dream of having elections like what Russia does.

My program would be to have free and fair elections, release of all data regarding the 2016 election and all damaging information on Trump, and repeal the anti LGBT laws.

The American election is ten times more fixed than the Russian election, your money fixes it for only two parties. United Russia would dream of having a election the Republicans have

[San Lumen]

Its not even a election. Its a sham election whose outcome is fixed. Republicans dream of having elections like what Russia does.

My program would be to have free and fair elections, release of all data regarding the 2016 election and all damaging information on Trump, and repeal the anti LGBT laws.

The American election is ten times more fixed than the Russian election, your money fixes it for only two parties. United Russia would dream of having a election the Republicans have

Elections in Russia are subject to outright fraud and ballot tampering. There is no real opposition. It is fixed that Putin will get at least 60 percent of the vote.

[Reutoa]

I am sure Putin will win, and i hope that he will win

Putin is a horrible person who deserves to lose reelection but never will as he's destroyed the free press and rigged elections in his parties favor.

In the eyes of the majority of the Russian people, he is a savior against Imperialists Western Nations who hasn't helped their country at all.

[Jhman]

The American election is ten times more fixed than the Russian election, your money fixes it for only two parties. United Russia would dream of having a election the Republicans have

Elections in Russia are subject to outright fraud and ballot tampering. There is no real opposition.

That in my view is much better, the Americans rig the elections by tampering with election system to create two parties.

[San Lumen]

Putin is a horrible person who deserves to lose reelection but never will as he's destroyed the free press and rigged elections in his parties favor.

In the eyes of the majority of the Russian people, he is a savior against Imperialists Western Nations who hasn't helped their country at all.

thats because the media there is owned by the state and only tell the people what they want them to hear.

[New Greater Netherlands]

I am sure Putin will win, and i hope that he will win

Putin is a horrible person who deserves to lose reelection but never will as he's destroyed the free press and rigged elections in his parties favor.

That's not true, he's the best president ever

[San Lumen]

Elections in Russia are subject to outright fraud and ballot tampering. There is no real opposition.

That in my view is much better, the Americans rig the elections by tampering with election system to create two parties.

You can't be serious

[Reutoa]

Elections in Russia are subject to outright fraud and ballot tampering. There is no real opposition.

That in my view is much better, the Americans rig the elections by tampering with election system to create two parties.

Better then having 10+ parties where none of them can get a majority. (FYI: reason why Hitler came to power)

[Reutoa]

"Please – it couldn’t be worse than yet another 5 years of Putin’s systematic oppression and state terror! "

OP, I could do much worse then Putin.

[Kalosia]

If Putin and Trump both get reelected, the next elections in which they'll get replaced are both in 2024. I'd just grab a huge tub of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the world descend into chaos (unless everyone comes to their senses, say "never again", and elect honest politicians and all that)

Also I'm pretty sure that isn't exactly breaking news lol

[Aclion]

The American election is ten times more fixed than the Russian election, your money fixes it for only two parties. United Russia would dream of having a election the Republicans have

Elections in Russia are subject to outright fraud and ballot tampering. There is no real opposition. It is fixed that Putin will get at least 60 percent of the vote.

Election in the US are so thoroughly rigged that there is no need for fraud.

[Reutoa]

If Putin and Trump both get reelected, the next elections in which they'll get replaced are both in 2024. I'd just grab a huge tub of popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the world descend into chaos (unless everyone comes to their senses, say "never again", and elect honest politicians and all that)

Also I'm pretty sure that isn't exactly breaking news lol

I'd rather return to the rule under the British Empire then have to deal with another American Election.

[Sharania]

This is all very nice and good, but you seem to be writing from the perspective of an American (or European) who has just happened to become the Russian President. Why on Earth would the Kremlin want to end the pseudo-war and stalemate in the Donbass?..

Because Russia is going into Nowhere. The only hope for the country and the people is to can their petty delusions of grandeur, stop embracing the nationalism and start cooperating with others – starting with their neighbors. Only this might ensure Russia’s survival in the future. Not some short term gains.

[Sharania]

Its not even a election. Its a sham election whose outcome is fixed. Republicans dream of having elections like what Russia does.

My program would be to have free and fair elections, release of all data regarding the 2016 election and all damaging information on Trump, and repeal the anti LGBT laws.

Thank you! But I already covered that in my program. Anything else?

[The Great-German Empire]

Okay, my program is different.

1. Launch a massive anti-corruption campaign. Catch anyone guilty of actual government embezzlement.

2. Budget: Less money to bureaucracy, revamp the health system (and not necessarily towards working single-payer, no sir), no money to state and state-sponsored media, slight reduction of military budget (and the application of said budget to the modernization of the armed forces), reduction of business tax, auctioning off of the state-owned corporations, massive investment in rural and small-urban infractructure (de-muscovitization), increased education budget.

3. Withdrawal of support from unrecognized countries such as Abkhazia and Transnistria.

4. Equal and bilateral negotiations with Ukraine over Crimea, preferably resulting in the Russian retention of Crimea - but only after Ukraine is given all that it asks in return.

5. Normalization of relations with the West, with the UK and US (Yes, Trump's US) first and foremost and the EU after them.

6. The strengthening of the citizens' rights section of the Constitution, making principles such as freedom of speech and association absolute.

7. The abolition of Yarovaya's laws and other repressive laws such as the law for the protection of religious feelings.

8. Legalist policy for future corruption offenses (Which means, kids, we punish them really, really hard).

9. The adjustment of the semi-presidential system to prevent presidential abuses of power. Basically, the central government would be similar to the French Firth Republic government model.

10. Revamp of the entire law enforcement mechanism, end of all citizen espionage programs, as well as the end of content censorship on any and every medium.

11. Pressure the post-Soviet countries to adopt similar policies, and when dealing with Lukashenko's Belarus, try to admit it into the Federation as an autonomous state.

12. Keep the border closed to refugees; Keep the country free of climate treaties and hate speech laws; Keep the military strong even with its reduced budget, and be sure to expand said budget when the economy booms with foreign investment and the initial recovery policies have run their course.

13. Increase that minimum wage. I'm not usually a fan of minimum wages, but the Russian one is beyond pitiful. Same with pensions - increase and don't freeze.

[Sharania]

That's not true, he's the best president ever

You signature says: "I am a Dutch trans-woman, i am born on February 17, 1997, i am against Islam, i am an Atheist. You can call me Daimy".

Ever heard about Chechnya and Kadyrov?

[Sharania]

"Please – it couldn’t be worse than yet another 5 years of Putin’s systematic oppression and state terror! "

OP, I could do much worse then Putin.

How many people did you kill? How (much, much more) did you ordered to be killed? How many families did you ruin? Have you ever brought the world back on the brink of the nuclear war?