Of course, NGO's can be biased, but can anyone credibly argue against the points that earned Russia the only "negative category change" in the Freedom House survey this year?
"Russia's step backwards into the Not Free category is the culmination of a growing trend under President Vladimir Putin to concentrate political authority, harass and intimidate the media, and politicize the country's law-enforcement system," said Freedom House Executive Director, Jennifer Windsor. "These moves mark a dangerous and disturbing drift toward authoritarianism in Russia, made more worrisome by President Putin's recent heavy-handed meddling in political developments in neighboring countries such as Ukraine."
1 comment:
NGO's can be biased but Freedom House is definitely biased. According to FH the peak of Russian freedom came in 1992 (!) when 1. governors were not elected but appointed, 2. Russians coulnd't leave the country without special 'exit visa' 3. currency exange was a crime 4. opposition to Yeltsin was shut down, 5. Russia's meddling in the Ukraine was even worse, etc. etc. Since 1992 FH rating for Russia was always lower and lower. Actually they didn't notice that Russia became 'more free' in 1993 when we started electing governors. Actually Yeltsin did this in order to gain regional support, meaning "I let you rule your regions like fuedal kings but you should "elect" yourself from time to time".
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