Russia set to decriminalize domestic violence

[ag]

I am going to say something stupid: but, sadly, almost true. Decriminalizing anything in Russia is good. Frankly, I would even consider going for decriminalizing murder there: anything that makes it is less likely that Russian law-enforcement is involved cannot be bad. This has nothing to do with the nature of the act, and everything to do with the nature of those charged with fighting it.

Yeah, I exaggerate somewhat. But only somewhat, alas.

[ag]

Introduced by a member of the "Social Democratic" opposition.

Yeah, I saw that before.  Controlled opposition, much?  Is the "left wing" in Russia all like that?

Most of Russia's "left wing" is pretty brown-shirted. Basically, to be a Communist in Russia these days means to be a rabid nationalist, anti-semite, and in cahoots with the Church (then, again, the Patriarch is planning a special liturgy to commemorate the glorious October Revolution - it goes both ways).

But, then, Mme Mizulina is not, even a "leftist" in that sense. She was a Communist party member only until the end of the old regime, at which point she joined the left-of-center liberal Yabloko, from which she jumped to the righ-liberal Union of the Rightist Forces from which she moved on to the servile pseudo-vaguely-leftish Just Russia (the main point of the party program being that it is more pro-Putin than the governing United Russia).  Now, it seems, she is leaving the JR - likely to move to the UR. There is a name for people like that, but I might be accused of misoginy here if I use it (though I would not hesitate to apply the same word to a man).

[ag]

Introduced by a member of the "Social Democratic" opposition.

Yeah, I saw that before.  Controlled opposition, much?  Is the "left wing" in Russia all like that?

Most of Russia's "left wing" is pretty brown-shirted. Basically, to be a Communist in Russia these days means to be a rabid nationalist, anti-semite, and in cahoots with the Church (then, again, the Patriarch is planning a special liturgy to commemorate the glorious October Revolution - it goes both ways).

But, then, Mme Mizulina is not, even a "leftist" in that sense. She was a Communist party member only until the end of the old regime, at which point she joined the left-of-center liberal Yabloko, from which she jumped to the righ-liberal Union of the Rightist Forces from which she moved on to the servile pseudo-vaguely-leftish Just Russia (the main point of the party program being that it is more pro-Putin than the governing United Russia).  Now, it seems, she is leaving the JR - likely to move to the UR. There is a name for people like that, but I might be accused of misoginy here if I use it (though I would not hesitate to apply the same word to a man).

Thanks for the info.  I read a little bit about the Russian Communist Party a few days ago and what I got out of it was that its leaders (or one of its former leaders) are pretty generally anti-West and wanted to revive the USSR.  I didn't know that the rest of the left basically acted as a fodder for what is essentially a one-party (one-dictator?) state.

Russian Communist Party has had the same Leader since the Soviet collapse. This is the gentleman (next to His Hollyness the Patriarch):



As you can see, he is full of charisma. Actually, his complete lack of appeal is why the government does everything it can to prevent any challenge to him from inside the party.

Some of the younger folk have recently split into a minor alternative Communist party (not represented in any legislature, but, at least, with some sort of legal status). These, at least, are a bit less stodgy. But, alas, they are even more rabid Russian imperialists (they, actually, are all out against Ukraine, for Assad, etc.): their main reason for opposing Putin is that he is insufficiently radical in restoring the old Empire.

The Just Russia, though, is not even a left-wing or an opposition party. It is literally a set of people appointed by the government to demonstrate "pluralism". Their one reason to be unhappy with the government is that it has not allowed them to join the United Russia, where the spoils are. I guess, Mme Mizulina has now graduated: she earned the promotion to the bigger tit.

[ag]

Tell me again how this isn't a terrible country.

The real reason it is a terrible country is not this. The real reason it is a terrible country is that when something like this is proposed you do not even know, whether it is going to make things worse or better. On the one hand, of course, the proposal is horrible. On the other hand, anything that takes the Russian law-enforcement out of some problem can, normally, only be good. Remember: you are talking about the country where everybody thinks of the police the way a black guy from the worst US ghetto does.

[ag]

Tell me again how this isn't a terrible country.

Russia is a great country and a great people but with a terrible political tradition and history that has left it at the mercy of nutcases.

+100. I say that as Russian by origin and presently living in Russia (Moscow)

     When your country has been ruled by varying degrees of strongmen since time immemorial, it's a tough mold to break out of. I like quite a bit about Russia, but its political paradigm strikes me as quite corrupt and authoritarian.

There is an old Russian saying: "do not bet against prison or begging". Alas, these days it is something Americans may have to learn as well.

[ag]

Introduced by a member of the "Social Democratic" opposition.

Yeah, I saw that before.  Controlled opposition, much?  Is the "left wing" in Russia all like that?

Most of Russia's "left wing" is pretty brown-shirted. Basically, to be a Communist in Russia these days means to be a rabid nationalist, anti-semite, and in cahoots with the Church (then, again, the Patriarch is planning a special liturgy to commemorate the glorious October Revolution - it goes both ways).

But, then, Mme Mizulina is not, even a "leftist" in that sense. She was a Communist party member only until the end of the old regime, at which point she joined the left-of-center liberal Yabloko, from which she jumped to the righ-liberal Union of the Rightist Forces from which she moved on to the servile pseudo-vaguely-leftish Just Russia (the main point of the party program being that it is more pro-Putin than the governing United Russia).  Now, it seems, she is leaving the JR - likely to move to the UR. There is a name for people like that, but I might be accused of misoginy here if I use it (though I would not hesitate to apply the same word to a man).

Thanks for the info.  I read a little bit about the Russian Communist Party a few days ago and what I got out of it was that its leaders (or one of its former leaders) are pretty generally anti-West and wanted to revive the USSR.  I didn't know that the rest of the left basically acted as a fodder for what is essentially a one-party (one-dictator?) state.

Now you probably understand why most of us (Russians by origin, writing here) are almost rabidly anti-left)))))

To me, it's difficult to understand Russian politics from a binary left-right perspective.  

You should never try to understand things in this when talking about the politics in a country and age you do not know very well. Even if you do, you should always keep in mind that left and right mean different things at different times and places. Russians make the same mistake.

[ag]

As you can see, he is full of charisma. Actually, his complete lack of appeal is why the government does everything it can to prevent any challenge to him from inside the party.

That man would not look out of place in a Red Square review stand.

Actually, even by the standards of that crowd he was too stupid to make it.