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Tag: Russia

  • Jamaican Bobsled Team Qualifies For Sochi But Lacks Funding

    Good news for Jamaica – its two-man bobsled team has qualified for next month’s Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. The bad news is that the team lacks the funding it needs to participate at the games. Jamaica needs help to raise the $80,000 it will take to cover its travel and equipment costs.

    Jamaican sled driver Winston Watts discussed the dire situation with the Associated Press on Saturday. “Right now we’re at zero,” he said. Watts also said they were doing their best to raise money before the start of the games.

    Jamaica is a tropical country — it doesn’t snow there. Somehow in 1988 the team qualified for the Winter Olympics in Calgary anyway. The team’s Calgary debut did not produce any medals but its amazing feat was an inspiration to many. Disney even made the movie ‘Cool Runnings’ based on their story. Since then the team has continued to fare well in international competition but is often plagued by lack of funding.

    On Sunday, word reached the internet regarding the team’s dilemma. A random fan of the team responded by initiating a fundraising campaign through Crowdtilt.com, an online crowdsource service. By Monday afternoon, donations had already surged passed $30,000. It seems there is hope for the team yet.

    A spokesman of Crowdtilt.com said they were confident the $80,000 target will be met if the campaign continues to go viral .The spokesman also said that for now the money raised will be controlled by Crowdtilt but will be wired directly to the Jamaican Bobsleigh Federation once the goal is met.

    Jamaican Bobsleigh Federation Secretary Chris Stokes admitted he had never heard of Crowdtilt until just recently and at first wasn’t sure if it was a genuine fundraiser. Nonetheless, team Jamaica did go ahead and approve the campaign and shortly after, launched a separate fundraiser of its own via Indiegogo, another online crowdsource platform.

    It’s been 12 years since Jamaica had a sled in the Olympics and they will certainly do everything within their power to be in Russia next month. Let’s hope they make it.

    Jamaica’s Winter Olympics Debut: Calgary 1988

    Cool Runnings

    http://youtu.be/95y3vZNcUbs

    Image via YouTube

  • Jennifer Jones, Canadian Curling Team Head to Sochi

    Canadian curling star Jennifer Jones spoke to the media after her team’s match against Norway at the Continental Cup on Sunday.

    Jones and the rest of the curling team are headed to Russia next month to participate in the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, which are being held in Sochi.

    Jones and her coach, Brad Jacobs, both commented on the Canadian team’s seemingly successful preparation for the Games.

    Jacobs’ team played in a match against Norway at the Continental Cup this weekend, giving them a chance to prepare to fight for a win when they are matched against Norway.

    Thomas Ulsrud, who captured the silver medal for the Norwegian curling team in 2010, said that the Canadian team were difficult opponents, but are going to have to “work for” a win in Sochi.

    Upon the end of the match, Jones confidently said, “We couldn’t have asked for more or for it [the week] to go any better. We just feel real good with the ice and how we’re playing heading into Sochi.”

    Jacobs discussed the strategy of focusing on Canada’s own curlers, rather than worrying about what their opponents were doing, saying, “We’ve played them before, We focus on our game. Everyone’s throwing the rock well right now, that’s the main thing for our team. I really like what I see as skip from the other end. It’s really nice to be here, playing on this great ice surface in really serious competition that everyone’s trying their hearts out at.”

    In an attempt to prepare for the Games, the ice of the Sochi arena was mimicked at the Cup; Hans Wuthrich, the ice-maker for the 2014 Games, also prepared the surface at the Continental Cup.

    The Continental Cup consists of matches in traditional curling, mixed doubles, singles, and skins play, pitting six North American teams against six other World teams, according to The Canadian Press.

    The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will begin February 7 and last through February 23 in Sochi, Russia.

    Main image courtesy @CCACurling via Twitter.

  • Ian McKellen Protests Against Russia’s Anti-Gay Laws With Help From Nobel Prize Winners

    Ian Mckellen is certainly one of the more outspoken of the homosexual celebrities, and often uses his influence to help others when he can.

    Russia has been criticized for its treatment of gay people a fair amount recently, and with the Olympics right around the corner, some people have decided to write a letter to President Putin, and make their opinions heard.

    In addition to Sir Ian Mckellen, the actor is joined by 27 other Nobel laureates from the fields of science and the arts, and they are demanding that Russian President Vladimir Putin repeal the repressive homophobic legislation that has put his country at the center of an international fury over gay rights.

    The letter was formulated by Ian Mckellen and chemist Sir Harry Koto, along with signatures from leading figures such as geneticist Sir Paul Nurse, novelist J.M. Coetzee, and physicist Brian Schmidt.

    The Russian law, which was enacted last year, outlaws the promotion of “non-traditional sexual relations among minors.’’

    As stated in the letter, the actor and his fellow activists assert that “The letter is written to indicate that many senior members of the international scientific community show solidarity with politicians, artists, sports people and many others who have already expressed their abhorrence for the Russian government’s actions against its gay citizens.”

    One of the things that prompted Ian Mckellen to be involved in the situation, and with Russia’s policy in particular, was the fact that he had been advised by the UK Foreign Office to not speak openly about his sexuality while in Russia, and he had turned down the opportunity to appear at Russian film festivals as a result.

    The latest appeal to Russian lawmakers comes shortly before the Winter Olympics are scheduled to begin in Sochi, which will premiere on February 6th. The 2014 Olympic Winter Games will be the first time that the Russian Federation will have hosted the Winter Games, and while the Olympics is often an exciting time for fans, this one will be filled with controversy.

    A large number of people have already vowed to protest the country’s anti-gay laws and despite the fact that they have been threatened with fines and potential jail time, several athletes competing in the games are also scheduled to protest.

    Along with a number of others, Ian Mckellen has been getting involved in the protests over Russia’s laws against homosexuality.

    Can the influence of celebrities and high-powered individuals have an influence on President Putin?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Krokodil Confirmed as Flesh-eating Drug in Mexico

    Mexican health authorities have confirmed a homemade drug, better known as “the poor man’s heroin,” to be a flesh-eating substance.

    In December, a teenage girl was hospitalized in Mexico after injecting Krokodil (Desomorphine) into her genitals.

    The 17-year-old Texas-native experienced what appeared to be green and flakey skin. Doctors at first assumed her condition was related to a STD outbreak, but after thorough research they soon discovered that lesions were spreading in her genital area.

    Additionally, gangrene usually develops after using the drug resulting in amputation of the affected body part.

    The health condition of the young girl is unknown because she never returned for a follow-up treatment. She was on Krokodil for just two-months before the outbreak began.

    Initially, the usage of Krokodil was denied in Canada, the UK and yes, even the United States. However, Mexico is now blowing the whistle to warn people about its harsh effects.

    According to Business Insider, the drug most likely started its course in Russia where it acquired its named from the Russian word “crocodile.”

    As a cheap alternative for substance abusers, the drug consists of: codeine, paint thinner, gasoline, hydrochloric acid, iodine and red phosphorous. It can give off the same high as heroine but deteriorate the body at a fast rate.

    The drug is said to be very lethal and addicts typically die two years after usage.

    Some say the drug is becoming prevalent in the U.S., especially after its recent expansion to Nebraska went unnoticed; but what synthetic drugs aren’t?

    Synthetic drugs such as spice, knock-off marijuana, and “bath salt” can be purchased online or from local stores. They’re usually made up of unknown ingredients and/or chemicals. Yet, people still use these man-made substances because they’re easily accessible and affordable.

    Drug abuse is already harmful enough, but using synthetic drugs like Krokodil are likely to have some of the most unpredictable outcomes seen thus far.

    Hopefully the U.S. and other nations alike will start to produce more educative reports on the increasing popularity of Krokodil OR we will continue to lose even more people to yet another deadly narcotic.

    Image via Youtube, Vice

  • Suicide Bombings In Russia Lead To Security Changes For Olympics

    Two back-to-back suicide bombings in Volgograd have now claimed at least 30 lives and are believed to be acts of terrorism, and although no groups have come forward to claim responsibility for the attacks, officials say the bombs were the same.

    The first explosion rocked a large railroad station–at what investigators believe was outside security checkpoints–on Sunday, killing at least 15 people. The blast was caused by a shrapnel bomb which injured more than three dozen, and officials say they expect the death toll to rise as many of the victims are in critical condition. Early Monday morning during rush hour, a second bomber hit a trolley bus, killing 14 people.

    Investigators have not named a suspect, but according to the New York Times, Chechen rebel Doku Umarov swore earlier this year to bring violence to Sochi, where the Olympic games will be held in February.

    “They plan to hold the Olympics on the bones of our ancestors, on the bones of many, many dead Muslims, buried on the territory of our land on the Black Sea,” he said.

    According to Russian Olympic Committee chief Alexander Zhukov, every security measure that can be put into place at Sochi has been made, including drones which will patrol the Olympic facilities, boats to patrol the coast, and troops to keep watch in the mountains around the area. Anyone who purchases a ticket to the games will have to give their passport details and will be screened and checked in at arrival.

    “There’s every belief they’ll make it secure and do whatever it takes to do that,” said an American senior law enforcement official. “But it is a large country, and these groups can get a lot of bang for their buck if they are able to do something in the country, wherever it is, during the Olympics.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Edward Snowden Interview With Washington Post

    In a recent television message from Edward Snowden – his comment “I’ve already won” undoubtedly has people talking.

    Edward Snowden, the National Security Agency (NSA) leaker, has given a revealing interview to The Washington Post about how the disturbing information he shared with the media has shed a light on the U.S. surveillance tactics.

    The secrets revealed from Snowden, a former NSA contractor, about the American government’s surveillance of its citizens and even its allies have generated suspicion and doubt over our governmental intelligence-gathering practices.

    Snowden said, in the more than 14-hour interview to The Washington Post, that he was satisfied because journalists have been able to tell the story of the U.S. government’s collection of bulk Internet and phone records, an activity that has grown dramatically in the decade since the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

    “For me, in terms of personal satisfaction, the mission’s already accomplished,” he said in the interview, which was published online Monday night. “I already won.”

    “As soon as the journalists were able to work, everything that I had been trying to do was validated,” Snowden told the Post. “Because, remember, I didn’t want to change society. I wanted to give society a chance to determine if it should change itself.”

    He spoke about his life in Russia – living like an “indoor cat” and not getting out much.

    Hey conveyed why it is wrong for government to survey their own people and allies, because of privacy issues. “The conversation occurring today will determine the amount of trust we can place both in the technology that surrounds us and the government that regulates it,” he says, according to excerpts from the message released by Channel 4. “Together we can find a better balance, end mass surveillance and remind the government that if it really wants to know how we feel asking is always cheaper than spying.”

    In a message to the UK, Snowden calls modern surveillance more invasive than any envisioned by “1984” author George Orwell, saying that children today will grow up without knowing what it means to have an unrecorded or private moment.

    “That’s a problem because privacy matters, privacy is what allows us to determine who we are and who we want to be,” he says.

    Image via YouTube

  • Mikhail Kalashnikov, Pioneer of AK-47 Dies at 94

    Russian gun designer Mikhail Kalashnikov died on Monday 23 at the age of 94. He was well known for his creation of the AK-47, which became one of the most abundant machine guns that has ever been used in combat and war; especially in World War II.

    The AK-47 (AK being an acronym for “Kalashnikov’s machine gun” and 47 the year it was introduced to the gun market) is what the late designer said to be simple but yet reliable and effective.

    According to CNN “Kalashnikov designed his first machine gun in 1942 after suffering injuries as a tank commander for the Soviet Union’s Red Army during World War II, but it wasn’t until 1947 — after years of tweaks — that the AK-47 was introduced for Soviet military service.”

    During the 1950s, the AK-47 was used prominently as the standard firearm in the Soviet Union, but newer models ceased production in the 1960s.

    Kalashnikov also was the unofficial arms ambassador of the Russian state and “used public appearances to try to cast the AK-47’s checkered legacy in a positive way and to complain that knockoffs were being manufactured illegally by former Soviet allies and cutting into Russian sales.”

    Originally, Kalashnikov created the weapon to be used in the protection of his homeland and not for thugs or terrorists.

    “This is a weapon of defense,” he said. “It is not a weapon for offense.”

    However, when asked how he felt about his invention being the culprit of so much bloodshed, he wasn’t too move by the though. (image)

    “I sleep well. It’s the politicians who are to blame for failing to come to an agreement and resorting to violence,” he told The Associated Press in 2007.

    Kalashnikov died Monday in a hospital in Izhevsk, the capital of the Udmurtia republic where he resided.

    His health conditions that lead to his passing is unknown.

     

    Image via Youtube, Euronews

  • Maria Alyokhina Unimpressed with Pussy Riot Amnesty

    Maria Alyokhina, 1/5 of the group that may hold The Most Edgiest Name of All Time, has wasted no time in speaking her mind after being released from jail this Monday.

    Alyokhina and fellow Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Yekaterina Samutsevich all received two-year sentences for their profanity-riddled “punk prayer” at a Moscow cathedral in February 2012. Samutsevich was soon released, but the remaining two have just received their freedom papers earlier than scheduled by way of a recently adopted amnesty bill that frees non-violent offenders and mothers.

    This act by Pussy Riot’s longtime enemy, Russian president Vladimir Putin, does not impress Alyokhina at all– ITN London News tells us that she told Russian television stations that she would have turned down the offer of amnesty and served out the remainder of her sentence if she was given the choice.

    Maria Alyokhina is a 25-year-old mother who once attended the Institute of Journalism and Creative Writing. A committed vegetarian, the pleasant-faced, blonde rioter reportedly passed out from hunger during the trials instead of eating non-vegan jail fare. Imprisonment has now exposed her to the gritty experience of regular body examinations performed by Russian guards; during her interview she made sure to voice the need for prison authorities to be punished for exposing women to “endless humiliations” multiple times a week.

    With three members of the group now released and two others presumably free (authorities could never find them), it looks as if Pussy Riot’s anti-Putin movement will resume right where it was halted. Time will only tell if imprisonment has convinced them to attempt tactics that will get their point across without getting arrested.

    Image via Youtube

  • Russia Frees ‘Pussy Riot’ Members

    Russia Frees ‘Pussy Riot’ Members

    Two incarcerated members of the Russian protest-punk band ‘Pussy Riot’ were released from a Russian prison Monday, due to a new amnesty legislation which some watchdog groups view as a Kremlin public relations stunt in time for the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics.

    Pussy Riot members Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were found guilty of hooliganism with religious undertones of hatred after a live set at Moscow’s main cathedral in March 2012, and were sentenced to two years in prison. A third member, Yekaterina Samutsevich, was released on a suspended sentence just months after the hooliganism conviction.

    Russian lawmakers have said the new bill, which the State Duma voted 446-0 in favor of, will likely free roughly 2,000 prisoners. The new laws apply to those who are non-violent offenders, and are catered mostly toward first-time offenders, minors and women with small children. Both Tolokonnikova and Alekhina have young kids.

    Here’s a clip of the antics that garnered Pussy Riot their charges of hooliganism, after engaging in their “punk prayer”:

    Alekhina, 25, was released from a prison outside the Volga river city of Nizhny Novgorod, and commented, “If I had a chance to turn it down (the amnesty), I would have done it, no doubt about that,” adding, “This is not an amnesty. This is a hoax and a PR move.”

    Tolokonnikova, 24, exited a prison in the eastern Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk earlier today, and commented, “How do you like our Siberian weather here?” The singer also said that she and Alekhina will form a human rights group to assist Russian prisoners, stating, “I saw this small totalitarian machine from the inside. Russia functions the same way the prison colony does.”

    In related news, Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned former billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky at the end of his annual press conference on Thursday. Khodorkovsky was formerly the chief of Yukos Oil, and one of the richest people in the world. He was convicted of fraud and tax evasion in 2003, and ended up serving 10 years. Some have speculated that Khodorkovsky’s pardon was another attempt by the Kremlin to clean up the Russian image in time for the Sochi Games.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Vladimir Putin Signs Pardon for Mikhail Khodorkovsky

    In an act that surprised the world, Russian President Vladimir Putin pardoned former billionaire Mikhail Khodorkovsky at the end of his annual press conference on Thursday.

    Some have speculated that the pardon was an attempt by Putin to appease world leaders who have expressed concern over Russia’s human rights record prior to the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

    Leaders such as US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have denounced a law that Putin signed in June banning “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations.”

    Although no one knows exactly how the law will effect participants and spectators at the Winter Games, it is seen as further censorship and persecution of gays in Russia and has sparked tension worldwide as the Olympics draw closer.

    Khodorkovsky, considered a political prisoner by critics of Putin and the Kremlin, has spent more than a decade behind bars.

    Khodorkovsky is the former head of Yukos Oil and was once the richest person in Russia – and no. 15 in the world. He and his business partner were convicted and imprisoned on charges of fraud and tax evasion in 2003. In December 2010, just before they were due to be released from prison, they were convicted of embezzlement and money laundering. The second conviction increased their prison sentence.

    Critics believed that Putin and his allies were behind the sentencing. When Putin came into power in 2000, he offered an informal deal to the Russian oligarchy: they could keep their wealth with the provision that they stay out of politics. Khodorkovsky flaunted the rules by speaking out against what he considered corruption in the Kremlin and using his riches to fund opposition political parties.

    Despite the fact that Khodorkovsky had vowed not to ask for a pardon lest he appear to be admitting guilt, Putin said on Thursday that he’d received a request signed by Khodorkovsy, who was scheduled to be released from prison in August 2014:

    “Not long ago he appealed to me for a pardon. He has already spent 10 years behind bars – it’s a serious punishment. He mentions humanitarian considerations, as his mother is ill. Given all this, the correct decision should be taken and a decree on his pardoning will be signed very soon.”

    After his attorneys initially denied that Khodorkovsky had made any such appeal, it surfaced that he had been visited in prison and urged to sign a request for pardon based on this mother’s failing health and the possibility that new charges were being prepared against him.

    Khodorkovsky joined his mother in Germany after being released from prison and issued the following statement:

    Dear friends,

    On November 12, I asked the president of Russia to pardon me due to my family situation, and I am glad his decision was positive.

    The issue of admission of guilt was not raised.

    I would like to thank everyone who has been following the Yukos case all these years for the support you provided to me, my family and all those who were unjustly convicted and continue to be persecuted. I am very much looking forward to the minute when I will be able to hug my close ones and personally shake hands with all my friends and associates.

    I am constantly thinking of those who continue to remain imprisoned.

    My special thanks is to Mr Hans-Dietrich Genscher for his personal participation in my fate.

    First of all I am going to repay my debt to my parents, my wife and my children, and I am very much looking forward to meeting them.

    I will welcome the opportunity to celebrate this upcoming holiday season with my family. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

    Mikhail Khodorkovsky


    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Brian Boitano: “Being Gay Is Just One Part Of Who I Am”

    After years of singing along to South Park’s “What Would Brian Boitano Do?”, we now have an answer – and it doesn’t include staying trapped in a closet, R. Kelly style.

    After Russia’s legalized banning of gay propaganda banning the Sochi Olympics right back seemed like the best move to many Americans. However, Obama eschewed this choice earlier this year in favor of what he felt might be a more resonant message to Russia – potentially having “gay and lesbian athletes bringing home the gold or silver or bronze.”

    Thus, in lieu of attending the Sochi Olympics’ opening ceremonies himself this year, the president opted to send a delegation in his stead comprising openly gay and lesbian athletic icons as ambassadors. Before Thursday, among the gay and lesbian representatives listed to be attending included former Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Billy Jean King, and Caitlin Cahow.

    Now, Brian Boitano, who was also recently named to the delegation, came out on Thursday as the third openly gay athlete in the delegation.

    The news may not have been terribly surprising for everyone; however, Boitano has heretofore chosen to maintain his privacy and explained in his statement, “Being gay is just one part of who I am.” This much is definitely true. The retired American figure skater (who has earned the titles of 1988 Olympic champion, 1986 and 1988 World Champion, and 1985-1988 U.S. National Champion) has also written books, done a bit of acting, landed his own Food Network show, and serves the community.

    “First and foremost I am an American athlete and I am proud to live in a country that encourages diversity, openness and tolerance.” He went on to say, “As an athlete, I hope we can remain focused on the Olympic spirit which celebrates achievement in sport by peoples of all nations.”

    This Olympian is a jack of all trades and a master of at least one (obviously). What’s more, having the openness and willingness to publicly share his personal life for the sake of spreading a message of humanity and acceptance is pretty courageous, too.

    You go, Boitano!

    Image via Twitter

  • Russia May Free Pussy Riot Members

    As the Winter Olympics being held in Sochi in February draw near, Russia’s parliament passed a new amnesty bill on Wednesday, which is widely viewed as being a measure to calm international watchdog groups over the Kremlin’s human rights records.

    The bill would likely free the two imprisoned members of the Pussy Riot punk band, as well as a 30-member crew of a Greenpeace ship, who were taken into custody after an Arctic protest.

    Russian lawmakers have said the new bill, which the State Duma voted 446-0 in favor of, will likely free roughly 2,000 prisoners. The new laws apply to those who are non-violent offenders, and are catered mostly toward first-time offenders, minors and women with small children. Jailed Pussy Riot members Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina both have small children, though no names were actually listed on the new bill.

    Here’s a clip of the antics that garnered Pussy Riot their charges of hooliganism, after engaging in their “punk prayer”:

    Tolokonnikova and Alekhina are both serving two-year sentences for their hooliganism charges, after “upping teh punx” at Moscow’s main cathedral.

    All sorts of punks just won’t leave Vladimir Putin alone:

    Regarding the potential release of the crew of a Greenpeace boat that was arrested, Greenpeace spokesman Aaron Gray-Block commented, “The Arctic 30 now hope they can spend Christmas at home. But it is too early to say.” The bill is expected to go into effect today, as soon as it hits the Russian media, though it may take six months for any prisoners who might benefit from it to be freed.

    The Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise was boarded and seized by Russian security agents in international waters on September 19, and was subsequently towed to the port of Murmansk.

    The Arctic Sunrise’s captain, Peter Willcox, said in a statement, “I might soon be going home to my family, but I should never have been charged and jailed in the first place.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Pussy Riot And Greenpeace Members May Be Freed Early

    Pussy Riot released the video for Like A Red Prison earlier this year. Many wondered if the video served as a political statement in relation to last year’s imprisonment of members from the musical group who were punished for involvement in a “punk prayer” mocking Vladimir Putin. Nadezhda Tolokonnikova and Maria Alekhina were sentenced to two years in prison with the original release being set for March; however, a new amnesty law might lead to an earlier release. The amnesty law was approved unanimously by the lower house of the Russian parliament (called the State Duma) on Wednesday. This law may also free 30 individuals previously charged with hooliganism, and imprisoned for participation in a Greenpeace protest condemning oil drilling in the Arctic.

    Irina Khrunova, who is the lawyer for Tolokonnikova and Alekhina, gave a phone interview shortly after the ruling. “According to the draft law passed today, my clients will be freed,” Khrunova said.

    (image)

    Lilia Shevtsova, who is a senior researcher for the Moscow Carnegie Center, spoke against the harshness of the initial punishment. “Putin himself must know that even by his standards, they have already been punished way beyond any reason, and they are coming out in three months anyway, amnesty or no amnesty. He can’t let out protesters who clashed with the police on the eve of his inauguration and spoiled his holiday, but he can let go of Greenpeace activists who already spent two months in jail for nothing,” Shevtsova said.

    Denis Sinyakov is a freelance photographer who closely followed the Greenpeace protest. “I and my Greenpeace friends did nothing wrong and committed no crime. I think this is how the authorities are trying to get out of the uncomfortable situation they drove themselves into with their lawless action against us all,” Sinyakov said.

    The amnesty will only apply to those imprisoned or held for crimes that are punishable by a term of no more than five years in prison. According to Sergei Markov, the underlying purpose behind the amnesty law is to free ordinary people who were punished for minor crimes and not necessarily to free members of the popular musical group Pussy Riot.

    Images 1 and 2 Via Wikimedia Commons

  • Ukraine Signs Controversial Pact With Russia

    Earlier today Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych signed agreements with Russian President Vladmir Putin that anti-government protesters in Ukraine have been dreading.

    Ukraine has been struggling economically, with the European Union slow to respond to the country’s plea for financial aid. Despite the organization’s skepticism regarding Ukraine’s intentions, they remain highly critical of Russia’s attempts to interfere.

    When Ukraine initially reached out to the EU, Russia moved to sanction the country. This action is thought be the cause for President Yanukovych’s unexpected decision to walk away from a pact agreement with the European Union. This surprise move last month sparked national outrage. There have been weeks of anti-government protest in Kiev, centered around the capital city’s Independence Square.

    In the face of major backlash, Yanukovych appeared to be rethinking his position. There was a plan to resume talks towards some sort of agreement with the European Union. However, those talks were called off by Union officials.

    The reason given for the halt revolved around a lack of honesty and transparency on the part of the Ukrainian government. There was also the matter of Yanukovych’s plan to meet with Russia.

    Despite the talks with the European Union being put on hold, Yanukovych proceeded to meet Putin in Moscow to discuss possible agreements. Once there, the Russian president assured Yanukovych that Russia would do its best to help Ukraine face its financial woes. In return for strengthening ties through a pact, Russia would buy $15 billion dollars worth of Ukrainian government bonds. It would also cut the cost of Russian gas deliveries from $400 per 1000 cubic meters to about $268 per 1000 cubic meters.

    The agreement would stave off immediate economic woes. Even so, the controversial pact will only serve to contribute to turmoil within Ukraine. In the aftermath of the pact, Ukrainian anti-government protesters vowed to continue demonstrating. There are calls for Yanukovych to step down and for early elections to take place.

    Ukrainian opposition leaders had harsh words for the embattled president. Oleh Tyahnybok called the president a traitor who had sold out the Ukrainian people. Vitali Klitschko accused Yanukovych of making the country’s assets collateral for Russia.

    Russia plans to put the terms of the agreement into action and will begin buying Ukrainian government bonds this month.

    Image via World News

  • Russia Boosts Ukraine Economy with $15 Billion Loan

    Over the past month, Ukraine has faced its largest series of anti-government protests since the Orange Revolution in 2004, where thousands of citizens protested what appeared to be a corrupt and fraudulent presidential election. This series of protests are not the result of election fraud, but rather outrage against current president Viktor Yanukovych and his decision to not sign the Association Agreement with the EU, an agreement that would cement a cooperative relationship between EU member-states and the non-EU state of Ukraine.

    On Tuesday, protesters were given even more fuel to add to their ire as Russian president Vladimir Putin agreed to give Ukraine $15 billion in order to help bolster their struggling economy. As it currently stands, Ukraine has $9 billion in sovereign debt to repay by the end of 2014.

    The $15 billion was not the end of the agreement, however. Putin also stated that Gazprom, Russia’s state-controlled energy service, would reduce the price of gas sold to Ukraine from $400 per 1,000 cubic meters to $268.50. This deal may be just as important as they $15 billion seeing as winters in Ukraine are harsh and the grand majority of their gas comes from Russia.

    Much of the apprehension created in potentially signing the Association Agreement with the EU stemmed from the fact that much of Ukraine’s economy is dependent upon goods and services being exchanged with Russia. Throughout this ordeal, Russia has coerced Ukraine into siding with them through imposed sanctions and future threats of withholding crucial goods to Ukraine, such as natural gas.

    While this $15 billion deal will do wonders toward helping Ukraine repair its economic woes, many citizens in Ukraine are still calling for new leadership. The protesters do not want Ukraine to devolve back to the days of Ukraine being a Soviet satellite-state, but rather want the country to become more integrated into Western Europe and seek its own autonomy.

    The protesters also fear what caveats come with the agreement between Yanukovych and Putin, despite Putin’s claim that “… this is not tied to any conditions … I want to calm you down – we have not discussed the issue of Ukraine’s accession to the customs union at all today.”

    Vitali Klitschko, head of the opposition Udar party, parliament member, and former WBC heavyweight champion, has publicly voiced his frustrations with this agreement, stating, “We are sure that everything is already decided: that Yanukovych will bring quite good loans, financial support, a new gas price. The question is, in exchange for what?”

    Most Ukrainians would likely suspect that the cost of this agreement will be that Ukraine will have to join Russia’s newly founded customs union, Russia’s response to the EU. If this is the case, Ukraine will likely not see stability for quite some time. Police have been unable to move protesters from Independence Square, and Parliament has been unable to resume duties due to being blocked by said protesters. The vehemence of the opposition movement, coupled with the facts that Yanukovych has stated that “Ukraine’s trade with Russia makes it impossible for us to act in any other way. There is no alternative to this,” and that the IMF and EU were not able to come up with the $20 billion Ukraine said it would need to support their economy once in a relationship with the EU, makes the stalemate unlikely to change anytime in the near future.

    Image via YouTube

  • Ukrainian Rally Draws Massive Anti-Government Crowd

    Even after violent confrontations with police this past week, Ukrainian anti-government protesters have shown they will not be deterred. Well over 200,000 disgruntled citizens packed into Independence Square in Kiev. They marched through ultra cold temperatures in a bid to make clear their dissatisfaction with the current administration.

    Protests began on November 21st when current president, Viktor Yanukovych, made the startling decision to abandon talks with the European Union and instead embrace closer ties with Russia. This move is in stark contrast to the direction that the citizens in central and western Ukraine were anticipating. This part of the country enjoys a stronger connection to European neighbors than the eastern rural half. In eastern Ukraine, Yanukovych’s actions have been highly approved.

    Overall, the country seemed to have finally thawed out after a lengthy period of frigid Russian control. Some now fear this is a move by Yanukovych to push Ukraine towards helping to revive the Soviet Union.

    The increasing size and scope of the Ukranian protests looked to be forcing Yanukovych’s hand. This week it was announced that Ukraine would be renewing talks with the European Union. However, this did not pan out.

    EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fule tweeted that the trade talks would be halted:

    It’s likely the lack of clear commitment Fule is referring to has to do with the upcoming meeting between Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin in Moscow. A pact with Russia would mean for many protesters a widening gulf between the struggling Ukraine and the rest of Europe.

    Anti-government protesters have vowed to stage a major rally at the same time as the meeting in Russia. They hope their voices are enough to convince the president to not sign any agreements with Putin.

    Image: Reuters Youtube

  • Greg Louganis Opposes Sochi Olympic Boycott

    Greg Louganis is opposed to a boycott of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics.

    Instead of boycotting the Olympics, Louganis urged athletes to dedicate their performances to the gay family and friends who have supported them.

    “If you have a supportive aunt, uncle, cousin, friend who is gay, you don’t win a gold medal by yourself. There is a team of people behind you. And to recognize those people is a way athletes can show their support of the LGBT community and what’s going on in Russia,” Louganis said following his participation in a Capitol Hill briefing on Friday.

    During the briefing of the House LGBT Equality Caucus hosted by U.S. Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI) and Human Rights First, Louganis reiterated his opposition to a boycott.

    As a member of the 1980 US Olympic team that boycotted the Moscow Games, Louganis can claim first-hand experience to inform his position.

    As the Games prepare to return to Russia, tensions have surfaced over a law that was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in June. The law bans “propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations to minors.”

    It’s still not clear how the law could effect athletes and spectators at the Games next February.

    “I know that there are questions – can you wear a rainbow flag, a . . . pin in support of non-discrimination,” Louganis said at the briefing on Friday.

    Louganis has sparked outrage from some in the LGBT community. He admitted to receiving hate mail for refusing to support a boycott: “I was told, ‘How can I call myself a gay man?’”

    Louganis reached out to one of his critics and said the two have since became friends.

    “I commended the guy who was critical of me. All I’m trying to do is incite action. That’s all he’s trying to do. We’re all on the same side. If you say boycott, that’s how you address the issue. I am saying no boycott, but maybe there is another way.”

    Although he boycotted the 1980 Moscow Olympics, Louganis had the opportunity to compete in the 1984 Los Angeles Games and the 1988 Seoul Games, winning gold medals at both.

    But Louganis realizes he may have been an exception. In an opinion piece on PolicyMic, he wrote “other athletes were not so lucky. Some of those who missed the 1980 games never had another chance to shine. This boycott hurt the wrong people, taking a toll on prominent athletes more than the country it targeted.”

    President Obama has denounced the new Russian law. On Friday, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said “I think we’ve been very clear in our views about both the laws in place and the issues surrounding LGBT rights and our expectations of Russia when it comes to conducting the Olympics.”

    The White House hasn’t announced whom it will send to represent the US at the Sochi Games ceremonies. Organizations such as Human Rights First have urged the White House to send prominent LGBT people as well as allies of the LGBT community and those who advocate on its behalf.

    Louganis said he recently heard he may be asked to be a part of the delegation, but hasn’t been officially invited yet. “If it would be helpful, I would be there in a heartbeat.”

    Image via YouTube

  • Ukraine Protesters Gain Traction; Police Back Down

    Early Wednesday morning, riot police in Ukraine’s capital, Kiev, withdrew from two separate areas where protesters were demonstrating. This move by the police signifies progress being made on behalf of the Ukrainian opposition party, which has seen brutal crackdowns during their protests over the past month.

    Many of the protesters are optimistic that this withdraw of troops represents a shift in governmental allegiance of the culture writ-large, with Yuri Lutsenko, a former Interior Minister, stating “basically only some units remain at the service of the regime.”

    During the late night Tuesday, riot police entered Independence Square and started dismantling tents and barricades that had been put in place by protesters. Despite the fact that the standoff lasted for several hours with both police and citizens being injured, Ukrainian Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko stated that there would be no attempt to dissolve the protests and that the police were there to simply keep the streets clear and navigable: “I want to reassure everyone — there will be no crackdown of the Maidan. Nobody is infringing on citizens’ right to peaceful protests. However, one cannot ignore the rights and lawful interests of other citizens.”

    Thus far, Kiev has seen over 300,000 protesters, the largest movement against the government since the Orange Revolution in 2004.

    Protests in Ukraine started last month when current president Viktor Yanukovych surprised everyone by choosing to not sign the Association Agreement with the EU – a move which would have led Ukraine down a path to further westernization, something a majority of Ukrainian citizens support.

    Instead of siding with the EU, signs show that Yanukovych is leaning toward Ukraine’s former mother-state, Russia. Earlier last month, Russia declared harsh sanctions against Ukraine if they decided to follow through with the proposed partnership with the EU. In a case of international bullying which was common when Ukraine was a Soviet satellite state, Russia banned Ukrainian imports of chocolate, increased inspections of goods exchanged between the countries to slow economic transactions, and threatened to cut Ukraine’s natural gas supplies from Russia, a good Ukraine is dependent on in order to heat their homes during the harsh winter months.

    While opposition forces are upset with Yanukovych for essentially making Ukraine once again subservient to the Russian state, others view the move as essential for the continuation of the Ukrainian state. Ukrainian citizens living in the eastern portion of the state share more cultural similarities to Russians than the rest of central Europe. The eastern part of Ukraine is also dependent upon the success of the coal industry, something which would be negatively impacted by signing the Association Agreement with the EU due to stricter regulations and preference toward greener energies.

    President Yanukovych and Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov share another concern – if Ukraine was to sign with the EU, it would lose millions of dollars in revenue due to decreased trade of manufactured goods and the current subsidy Ukraine receives for buying Russian gas. Thus, Azarov has asked the EU and the IMF to give Ukraine 20 billion euros to mitigate the damage that would be done if Ukraine decided to side with the EU.

    As it currently stands, the most the EU has been able to offer Ukraine in terms of monetary support is 610 million euros, a figure falling well-short of the amount needed to make the deal successful. As a result, both the EU and Ukraine have spoken with the IMF about receiving a loan. The IMF is reluctant to do so at this point, however, due to the current $7 billion in debt Ukraine is slated to repay soon and Ukraine’s current debts to Russia for gas. If the EU or the IMF are not able to come up with the money, then Ukraine may find itself a satellite state of Russia once again due to economic coercion.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • Mi-17 Helicopter Purchases Raise Questions

    The Associated Press is reporting that the United States Pentagon just spent roughly $1 billion on dozens of Russian Mi-17 rotorcrafts. Previously it had been reported that there was a great amount of difficulty in securing a deal and there was some speculation that it might not happen.

    The helicopters were purchased for the Afghan military, and it was claimed that the decision was made with long-term goals in mind. There are plans to withdraw U.S troops from the region at some point, though not in the immediate future. The ability to reduce the role American forces are playing in Afghanistan will hinge on the ability for the local military forces to have the training and equipment they need to combat terrorist forces in the region. Afghan forces require helicopters that would be able to transfer supplies and troops with little or no difficulty.

    Defense officials claim that because of Afghanistan’s unique climate and landscape, the Russian rotorcrafts are best suited to the task. The Chinook, an American helicopter, has long been proven to be of great international quality. It’s existence makes it hard to understand the need to go abroad for military helicopters.

    Texas Senator John Cornyn was especially vocal about his opposition to the deal. “Why are we buying Russian helicopters when there are American manufacturers that can meet that very same requirement?” Much of the concern with the decision to go to Russia is the corrupt nature of the Russian defense industry. The refusal of the Department of Defense to be more transparent about the maneuver to buy these helicopters made some think that they were purposefully misleading Congress about the deal. The Department of Defense denied it, and former Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter had cited a study about the superior nature of Russian Mi-17 rotorcrafts. Carter stepped down a week ago.

    Image: Wikimedia Commons

  • Yulia Tymoshenko Case May Delay EU Agreement

    Ukraine was one of the fifteen satellite states compromising the Soviet Union from 1922 to the dissolution of the of the USSR in 1991. Since that time, Ukraine has been trying to find its footing as an independent European nation, a journey which has been wrought with struggles due to its proximity to and past with Russia. In 2004, Ukraine experienced the Orange Revolution, a public response to the political and voting corruption occurring within the Ukrainian government. Out of this revolution rose an opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko. Tymoshenko was able to garner enough support due to her progressive political views to be elected as Prime Minister of Ukraine from 2007-2010. Her victories were short-lived, however, as Tymoshenko was sentenced to 7 years in prison due to her alleged abuse of power in constructing gas deals between Ukrainian companies and Russia. While current President of Ukraine, Viktor Yanukovych, contends that the allegations placed upon Tymoshenko were legitimate and that the sentence was handed down with due process of the law, representatives in the EU believe that the verdict was an instance of “selective justice”

    The reason the Tymoshenko case holds so much importance is that it serves as a potential block to achieving a partnership between the EU and Ukraine, something Ukrainian President Yanukovych has been striving for since he took office in 2010. On November 28-29, Vilnius, the capital of Latvia (current head of the EU) will hold an Eastern Partnership Summit in order to attempt to bring former Soviet satellites and Eastern bloc members into the EU and establish an economic relationship with them.

    As it currently stands, Ukraine would not be allowed to sign the partnership with the EU at Vilnius due to the Tymoshenko controversy. One of the driving ideologies of the European Union is a respect of human rights. While the EU has no rights to declare that the trial was the result of political game-playing, the sticking point actually has to do with medical services guaranteed to prisoners. Tymoshenko has battled back issues for many years. Since her stint in prison, Tymoshenko has not been able to receive proper medical care. In order to seek a solution to her back ailments, Tymoshenko would have to be transported to Germany to receive medical treatment, something the Ukrainian Parliament is opposing.

    Most believe Yanukovych opposes the transport of Tymoshenko because the move would allow her to be competitive in the 2015 presidential race. Evidence for this position comes from the fact that Yanukovych has stated that he is willing to allow Tymoshenko to receive medical treatment in Germany, but he is not willing to concede to EU pleas that she be pardoned at the same time.

    If Ukraine does not come to an agreement concerning the Tymoshenko issue by November 19th, the EU will not allow Ukraine to sign the Association Agreement or Deep and Comprehensive Trade Agreement (DCFTA), meaning that the EU’s attempt to expand its influence and economic power into eastern Europe would be a failure. That failure may not be the total fault of the EU, however. Russia has been placing demands upon Ukraine to sign into their Eurasian Customs Union instead of the EU. Putin and the Russians have casually threatened that if Ukraine signs with the EU, it will block certain imports, such as chocolate and gas. In order to combat this pressure, German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced that she “will push in Vilnius for the EU to counteract this pressure with concrete opportunities and real solidarity.” Merkel followed by stating, “This could be done by offering additional sales possibilities for products of our partner that cannot be exported to Russia, or through help in broadening its supplies of energy.”

    The Tymoshenko case holds great import toward the future balance of European economic relations. Ukraine is a burgeoning eastern power with a $330 billion economy. By enacting proper legislation and siding with the EU, Ukraine would be taking a firm stance against the influence of Russia and the historic holdings of the Soviet Union. If Yanukovych and the Ukrainian Parliament fail to sign with the EU, though, Russia will once again showcase just how powerful of a county they are becoming in the 21st century. While most signs currently point toward the latter, there is still time.

    [Image via Wikimedia Commons]

  • Russia Investigating Boeing 737 Crash

    Russian aviation investigators have commenced combing through a Boeing 737 wreckage near the city of Kazan Monday, after the plane crashed Sunday, killing all 50 passengers on board.

    Flags flew at half mast in the city of 1.1 million, which is situated roughly 500 miles east of Moscow. The Kazan crash has raised new concerns over Russia’s poor aviation safety record, as the country prepares to host the Winter Olympics in the southern city of Sochi in February.

    Tatarstan Airline Flight U363 exploded after going down at 15:25 GMT. The jet, which originated from Moscow Domodedovo airport, had been trying to abort its landing when it crashed. Transport Minister Maxim Sokolov said in a statement, “The plane just fell – (it) was vertical, practically vertical.” The jet’s nose reportedly hit the ground during touchdown.

    Below is a clip of the crash:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koUV3xRIraU

    Commenting on initial findings before an examination of the black box recorder, Alexander Poltinin, a senior regional investigator, said “The main versions are pilot error and technical problems, including equipment failure.” Poltinin added that the jet lost altitude quickly, and its fuel tank exploded when it hit the ground. The flames were extinguished several hours after the crash, though the Kazan Health Ministry reported that only two bodies had been found by noon on Tuesday. Poltinin said it could take weeks for all of the casualties in the wreckage to be identified.

    According to the International Air Transport Association, Russia, along with the former Soviet republics, has one of the worst air-traffic safety records in the world, with a total incident count almost three times the world average in 2011.

    Still, the Russian government says security and safety measures have been upgraded for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games, and that city’s international airport has likewise been upgraded.

    A new runway was built at the airport in Kazan, before the World University Games held in the city in July. Kazan is also one of the handful of venues hosting the soccer World Cup Russia in 2018.

    Image via YouTube.