Russia's largest far right group to be banned

[MeMyselfAndI]

Leading Nationalist Group Faces Ban

Moscow prosecutors suspended the activity of the Movement Against Illegal Immigration, one of the country's most prominent nationalist groups, and requested the Moscow City Court to ban it as extremist, Interfax said Wednesday.

The prosecutor did not elaborate on the reasons for extremism allegations. No date for hearing was announced.

The group, known by its Russian acronym DPNI, was behind the annual Russian March rallies, many of which ended in police crackdowns.

The group's co-founder and ex-leader, Alexander Belov, said the ban will only boost radicalization of the nationalist movement because it will lose its political wing.

He added that the ban is likely an attempt by law enforcement agencies to show off their anti-extremism work after the violent nationalist riots that took place on the downtown Manezh Square in December.



http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/leading-nationalist-group-faces-ban/431182.html (http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/leading-nationalist-group-faces-ban/431182.html)

Yes, DPNI was found to be "a extremist organization that promotes ethnic and religious strife, and as such, as harmful to Russian society. Therefore it's activities must be stopped as soon as possible."

I actually agree with Belov, they shouldn't do this: all this will do is, DPNI will go undergound, which will only make them more dangerous. Remember what I said about 'voice and some legitimacy'? Our government just keeps on stepping on the same rake over and over again.

[MeMyselfAndI]

And now they are also introducing a law that would make it an offense (punishable from fine about $200 to to months in jail) to "insult the Peoples of Russia". And "Peoples" mean all the minorities.
http://www.tomsk.ru/news/view/37631/

Now, everyone is worried. Jokes about the simplicity (okay, dumbness) of the Chukchi (our counterparts to your Inuit), craftiness and greed of the Jews, womanizing and sexual escapades of Armenians, etc, are commonplace here, used, in fact, by comedians who themselves come from those ethnic groups. Will people now have to pay fines just for their humor?

[Non Sequitur]

Where does Free Speech end? That is always a question societies with democracy (or trying to have democracy) deal with...

[MeMyselfAndI]

Where does Free Speech end? That is always a question societies with democracy (or trying to have democracy) deal with...

A. Chukcha comes to the airport in Anadyr, goes to talk to a pilot.

- I am going to Moscow tomorrow, to university.
- That's great, good for you.
- Yes, it is, but I wonder, will it cost me extra to bring my sled and my deer with me?
- Why would you...???????
- Well, how would I get around in Moscow without my sled and deer????

B. Jew man goes to take out the garbage. He is missing for three hours. Finally comes back. His wife asks him:

- Abram, where were you, you were gone so long, I was worried!
- Well, woman, how long you think it takes to sell a bag of trash?!

C. Woman come to a sexopathologist office, there is a man in white coat, a Armenian.

She assumes he is the doctor.

- Doctor, when i have sex I don't feel anything.
- Alright, take off your clothes, get on the bed, let's see.

She undresses, lies down, he touches her, et al.

- You really don't feel anything, huh?
- No...
- Okay, hey, Khachik, you try.

Another Armenian in white coat comes in, does the same thing.

- Still nothing?
- No?
- Oh, boy, you do need to see the sexopathologist...
- AND WHO THE HELL ARE YOU TWO THEN???!!!
-Oh... we are just the painters here. Hospital is under renovation, you know.

D. Geometry class at a school

Teacher asks a Georgian child

- Gogi, draw a triangle

The boy does.

- Now prove this is a triangle.

The Georgian boy beats his fists on his chest:

- I swear on my mother's honor it is a triangle!!!

(I have to explain, it is funny because Georgians always say that: "I swear on my mother's honor!" If you lived here you'd laugh lol another proof that context is important in humor)

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These sort of anecdotes/jokes are popular here. Nobody has a problem with it. But now people would get fined, apparently, for sharing one, if somebody complains...

[Michael]

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/leading-nationalist-group-faces-ban/431182.html (http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/leading-nationalist-group-faces-ban/431182.html)

Yes, DPNI was found to be "a extremist organization that promotes ethnic and religious strife, and as such, as harmful to Russian society. Therefore it's activities must be stopped as soon as possible."

I actually agree with Belov, they shouldn't do this: all this will do is, DPNI will go undergound, which will only make them more dangerous. Remember what I said about 'voice and some legitimacy'? Our government just keeps on stepping on the same rake over and over again.
Agreed.

Such tactics may be politically popular in the short-term, but are rarely effective and tend only to drive the group underground where they tend to become more extremist and dangerous in the medium and long term.

[MeMyselfAndI]

Agreed.

Such tactics may be politically popular in the short-term, but are rarely effective and tend only to drive the group underground where they tend to become more extremist and dangerous in the medium and long term.

Exactly. Fact is, many minority leaders in this country are wiser than Moscow headers. I will use Tatarstan as an example. When Mintimer Shaimiev was still in power there, he had a tactic to deal with nationalists and potential separatists in his Republic. On the one hand, he gave them seats in the local parliament, the Tatar Mejlis, let them speak their minds. One the other, he had built up, in Tatarstan, one of the most excessive, most powerful security apparatuses in the country, rivalling even that of Moscow city.

http://moltat.ru/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/d181d0bfd0b5d186d0bdd0b0d0b71.jpg

And the government there makes very clear it will use overwhelming force against any attempt to use terror or violence. Back in '07, when a group of marginal Tatar nationalists and Islamists met with a wahhabi preacher from Dagestan, 200 Tatar OMON and Specnaz fighters simply surrounded the houses and blasted it with machine guns. Did not issue any warnings, did not bother take anyone alive. Just put a thousand holes in each of them. Today, it is all quiet in Tatarstan. Shaimiev is not President anymore, but he has been given, by his successor, Rustem Minnikhanov who he was allowed to pick himself by the Kremlin, a special position, where Minnikhanov can go to him for advice when making important decisions. Still has his big salary, his mansion, his limo, his security team. Not bad for an old man.
http://shaimiev.tatar.ru/file/Image/Photo/2007/01/print_567.jpg
http://shaimiev.tatar.ru/file/Image/Photo/2007/10/print_2194.jpg

http://moltat.ru/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/information_items_14002.jpg

Minnikhanov, former Prime Minister of Tatarstan, now President
http://www.business-gazeta.ru/photo/7021.jpg
http://www.novayagazeta.ru/ai/article.858949/pics.1.jpg He wore a tubeteika to some meeting. Well, he is a proud Tatar :D

Tatars are wise people... So, have wise leaders. Unfortunately... Neither Putin, nor Medvedev, sadly, are Shaimiev.