Tony Cartalucci
Contributing Writer
Activist Post1. What the Media Says:
From CNN: “Between 20,000 and 25,000 protesters had gathered in the capital, Moscow, Ria Novosti said Saturday, citing police. There have been no reports of unrest and security has been tight. Vladimir Ryzhkov, co-chairman of the Party of People’s Freedom, said 40,000 people had massed and some 10,000 were headed to the main protest venue, the news agency reported.”
What the Media Doesn’t Tell You:
Vladimir Ryzhkov is a member of the US government-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED) “World Democracy Movement.” NED was also financing the very poll monitors Ryzhkov is citing as his justification for filling Russia’s streets with unrest.
2. What the Media Says:
From CBS/AP: “Hundreds of people, were arrested in smaller protests earlier in the week. Some, including prominent opposition blogger Alexei Navalny, were sentenced to 15 days in jail.”
What the Media Doesn’t Tell You:
Alexei Navalny, defended by Neo-Con, Fortune 500 think-tank (page 18) Henry Jackson Foundation, was the co-founder of US NED-funded “Da!” or “Democratic Alternative.” Fellow co-founder Mariya Gaydar would coordinate activities with another US NED-funded movement, theMoscow Helsinki Group which heads the “Strategy 31” campaign led by another “prominent” activist mentioned throughout the Western media, Ilya Yahsin.
3. What the Media Says:
From the London Telegraph: “Russian elections: Boris Nemtsov calls for vote rerun. Boris Nemtsov, a high profile figure in the country’s liberal opposition movement, was one of those arrested during an anti-Kremlin protest on Tuesday night. He has since been released.”
What the Media Doesn’t Tell You:
Boris Nemtsov leads the Russian “People’s Freedom Party” with the above mentioned, US-NED collaborator Vladimir Ryzhkov. Besides being in the same party, Nemtsov’s political adviser Vladimir Kara-Murza (of Solidarnost), recently took part in a September 14, 2011 NED-sponsored event titled, “Elections in Russia: Polling and Perspectives.”
4. What the Media Says:
From the Guardian, Comment is Free: “Having worked for Golos, Russia’s only independent election monitoring organisation, for more than eight years, I never dreamed the president’s administration would engage in an open campaign against our organisation – especially in the week running up to the country’s Duma elections last Sunday.”
What the Media Doesn’t Tell You:
Golos is funded by the United States government-funded National Endowment for Democracy. Stated on the official NED.org website:
Regional Civic Organization in Defense of Democratic Rights and Liberties “GOLOS” $65,000
To carry out a detailed analysis of the autumn 2010 and spring 2011 election cycles in Russia, which will include press monitoring, monitoring of political agitation, activity of electoral commissions, and other aspects of the application of electoral legislation in the long-term run-up to the elections. GOLOS will hold local and national press conferences and publish reports on its findings, as well as provide detailed methodological advice to its monitors and other monitoring agencies.Conclusion
The inseparable common thread between the patchwork of opposition groups now filling Russia’s streets is their funding and support courtesy of the United States government and the National Endowment for Democracy. The mainstream Western media refuses to acknowledge this, and has been muted over the fact that the poll monitors reporting “corruption” and “election rigging” in the first place were also US NED-funded, including the frequently cited “Golos.” When admissions are made, they are down-played, and words like “independent” are still used despite Golos’ foreign-funding by a government clearly siding with Russia’s opposition being a matter of record and illustrating an obvious conflict of interest.
When the media systematically omits the ties of the Russian opposition with the United States government who is facilitating their networks, NGOs, and political activity, a very real conspiracy exists. To uncover the ties between the US government and Russia’s opposition is the duty of every journalist, to provide the unequivocal truth and to truly inform the public. Only with a properly functioning, honest, and dedicated corps of journalists can “democracy” actually function. While the US State Department squawks about promoting “true democracy” in Russia, the blinding hypocrisy emanating from the Wall Street-London financier occupied governments of the West gives it the hollowest of rings.
FOX, lies & the wrong videotape: What’s NOT happening in Moscow
With so much going on in the world today, one can see how easy it would be to get confused. Are those pictures of the war in Iraq or Afghanistan? Poverty in Somalia or Congo? And what’s a news program to do if there aren’t any good pictures?
So producers all over the world search, and talk to their own crews or news agencies who provide feeds for everyone, and find the best shots to grace their air time. Or – in some cases – ANY shots that look more or less similar to the covered topic. Case in point: protests in Russia and the ever-blundering FOX News.
Yes, there are mass protests in Russia. Have been, since election day on Sunday. Thousands have been gathering to speak their mind and protest the election results. Yes, hundreds have been arrested. For two days in a row, and for various violations. Yes, there are reports of police brutality and no; right now it’s not possible to say whether they are true. It really does depend on the cops – much as it does anywhere else in the world. In New York, for example, some police officers will look the other way when you are filming somewhere you technically shouldn’t be; and others will detain you outside the United Nations building for no reason and refuse you your rights (and yes, all this did happen). Cops in Moscow are the same – some are nicer than others, while some appear to be almost looking for a fight.
Regardless of all this – yes, there are protests. But this, my friends, is NOT them. Now, even though FOX news has kindly told us that this is, in fact, Moscow – as a Muscovite, one glance is enough to tell me it’s NOT. First of all, the phone box – ours are a greyish-blue, and are few and between. In fact, I can’t even remember the last time I saw a public phone box, let alone anyone using it.
Secondly, the people in the background – the young couple pressed against the building? They’re dressed in jeans and long-sleeved tees. It’s December. In RUSSIA. No one in their right mind would go to a rally (where most of the time, a lot of standing around is involved) in a tee shirt. People here wear thermals, ski jackets, hats and gloves – the works. Stereotypes are based on fact, you know – and Moscow is very cold in December.
But even if all of this isn’t enough to convince you – and believe me, I do not want you to just take my word for it, here is my final argument.
Putin Accuses US Of Fuelling Election Protests
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has accused US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of encouraging and supporting election protests. He said that by describing Russia’s parliamentary election as rigged, Mrs Clinton “gave a signal” to his opponents. “Putin Out,” Russian protesters chant
“They heard this signal and with the support of the US State Department began their active work,” Russian state news agencies quoted Mr Putin as saying. He warned that those working for foreign governments to influence Russian politics would be held to account.
Mr Putin alleged that hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign funds were funnelled and used to sway the vote. His ruling United Russia party lost a significant number of parliamentary seats in the weekend’s election. It won about 50% of the vote, down from 64% four years ago, officials figures said, as it barely held onto its majority. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said the results must be annulled and a new poll held amid fraud claims. Days of protests have hit the capital Moscow and elsewhere as residents vent their anger at the ruling elite.