Windows to Russia – Page 1370 – Where a Grouchy Bear lives…

Russia: Is growing Stronger Everyday!

Post author By
Post date March 4, 2008

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & reading an article about the Future of Russia! This article is from a man who has dealt with Russia for many years & knows what he is talking about.
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Russia is emerging as a global economic giant

By Liam Halligan

In the run-up to today’s Russian vote, the Western press has been full of insinuation, slur and downright disinformation about a nation which has risen from the ashes and is now emerging as a global economic giant.

I lived in Moscow for several years during the mid-90s – the roughest period of Russia’s “transition” from state-planning to capitalism. I’ve paid regular visits ever since. I now work for a company that manages foreign investments in emerging markets – including Russia.

So, feel free to sniff at my motives. But please don’t sniff at the facts, which show that Russia, over the last ten years, has achieved possibly the most incredible economic turnaround in human history……

When the Soviet Union imploded in the late 1980s and the planned economy collapsed, Russian growth sunk deep into negative territory. For the next decade, the country lurched from crisis to crisis.

Then, amid signs of recovery in 1998, Russia’s fragile post-Communist economy collapsed again – caught in a financial melt-down affecting all emerging markets. Trying to defend its currency, the country defaulted on its sovereign debt.

Since then, Russia has grown at a real terms average of 7 per cent a year. In 2007, growth hit 8.1 per cent – higher than the year before, despite the US-originated sub-prime crisis that has hobbled much of the world.

Russia’s reserves have ballooned from practically zero in 1998 to $480bn (£242bn) today – the third largest haul on earth. The country is now almost debt-free – with a budget surplus of 6 per cent of GDP, and a trade surplus almost twice as much again.

Goldman Sachs describes Russia’s economic performance as “remarkable”. UBS calls it “awesome”. Russia, India, China and the other large emerging markets are upending the world economic order. Their resurgence has created hundreds of billions of dollars of wealth and lifted tens of millions from poverty.

Western politicians struggle to adjust to these new realities – particularly when it comes to the old “Cold War” enemy. But Russia is now the world’s ninth largest economy – and rising fast. And, in my view, much of the scorn aimed its way is nothing but a small-minded reaction to this rapidly shifting balance of global power.

Three years ago, Russia overtook Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest crude exporter. And the country’s post-Soviet recovery was initially built on a 50 per cent rise in annual crude production.

Had that increase not happened (had Russia chosen to join OPEC, for example), oil would now be way above $150 a barrel, rather than close to $100. Imagine how much that would now be hurting oil importers like America and the UK.

But Russia is now far more than “just an oil and gas economy”. Retail sales are growing at around 13 per cent a year in real terms – one reason why leading multi-nationals are now piling into Russia. Construction is expanding by 16 per cent a year, and domestic investment by 20 per cent – as Russia rebuilds its shattered post-Soviet infrastructure. Again, this trend is now attracting massive – and welcome – foreign investment.

The big blot on Russia’s economic landscape is inflation – almost 12 per cent last year. Like many fast-growing emerging markets, the country suffers from high food prices. But Russian policy-makers are now allowing the ruble to appreciate more quickly – bearing down on expensive food imports. And, while the rest of the world has been cutting interest rates, Russia’s Central Bank just raised them – as part of its bid to tackle inflation.

This is a country, of course, with many problems. As in any nascent capitalist society (think England in the 1780s, or America in the 1870s), there is corruption and the legal system is fragile.

But, in recent years, despite factional in-fighting, the direction of economic policy has been clear. Russia now has a 13 per cent basic rate of income tax. Foreign banks can set up at will. Moscow, St. Petersburg and, increasingly, Russia’s regions are rippling with stores bearing Western names and products. Despite his “hard-man” image, these developments have all happened since President Putin took office in 1999.

And today’s likely winner – Dmitri Medvedev – will encourage further liberalisation. The 42-year-old has made a series of speeches calling for “reduced taxes” and “decentralisation of power”. A trained lawyer, Medvedev will put effort into “improving the legal system”.

Dismiss this as a wish-list if you like. But, again, the direction of travel is clear. Russia wants to be a fully-developed market economy and part of the global system – but on equal terms.

Will it be pushed around by the West? No. Will it allow the West to pull its historic trick of annexing countries with large natural resources, or treating them as supine? No.

Above all, Russia wants to trade with the West. But the West keeps blocking its membership of the World Trade Organization – despite admitting China.

Since the Soviet Union collapsed, Russia has made huge strides – economically, but also in terms of freedom. Today’s election, while imperfect, is a testament to that.

Western businesses are engaging with Russia as quickly as they can, desperate to gain a foothold in what will soon be one of the world’s very biggest economies.

Western politicians, meanwhile, cling to their cold war clichés – replacing the “iron curtain” with an “iron curtain of the mind”.

• Liam Halligan is Chief Economist at Prosperity Capital Management
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I have been making it clear in this Blog that Russia is not what it seems to the American & Europe Brain Washed Media Biased Individual!

Russia is the next World Power Economy!

Ruble as world currency?

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

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Russia: Elections Are The Most Progressive In Europe!

Post author By
Post date March 4, 2008

Hello,

Like we reported the Russian elections were given a clean bill of health and even though they may not have been too exciting! They cost much less than the 3/4 of a Billion Dollars that the American elections have spent so far! The people are happy, government is happy & Putin is happy! (Not sure if Medvedev is happy yet)

Russia’s presidential elections were held in line with international standards, Bolat Nurgaliyev, Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the leader of its observer mission, told a press conference in Moscow today, adding that the election had been free and fair. Nurgaliyev noted that 19 observers from the mission had monitored the elections from February 21 until March 2. The observers visited 96 polling stations of Moscow and the Moscow region on Sunday. They also visited seven polling stations during the vote counting and did not register any violations.

No observer mission has questioned the results of the Russian presidential vote, Russia’s election chief Vladimir Churov told a press conference today. He noted that, “according to the assessment by reputable legal scholars,” the Russian election law is one of the most progressive in Europe. Churov said that the Central Election Commission of Russia had received several comments and recommendations from monitors, and added that his agency would pay particular attention to these, but would probably not be able to follow all the recommendations, as some of them related to the organization of debates, and a number of observers had proposed changes to legislation in this aspect.

Paul Marie Couteaux, head of the European Parliament’s observer mission in Russia, believes that foreign media sources have a rather biased opinion about presidential election in Russia. He made this statement in Moscow today, adding that most foreign correspondents are trying to promote the idea of mistrust for the election. Couteaux also noted that most foreign media companies in Western Europe are owned by large financial corporations and act in their interests. However, he indicated that the general public understood that Russia and Western European countries were partners and disregarded those statements by media companies trying to compromise Russia.

Lets see anyone in America get 70% of the popular vote….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.
USA Presidential Election cost in 2004!
Election Costs are going skyhigh in 2008!

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Russian News: March 4th, 2008!

Post author By
Post date March 4, 2008

RBC, 04.03.2008, Moscow 12:58:39.Gazprom invited independent observers from a specialized company SGS to control natural gas supplies in Ukraine, official spokesman for the Russian energy holding Sergei Kupriyanov told journalists today. However, he pointed out that the country’s authorities did not allow the observers to monitor gas supplies at Ukraine’s gas metering stations.

RBC, 04.03.2008, Moscow 12:24:12.Russian President Vladimir Putin is to remain the leader of the United Russia party after the new President’s inauguration ceremony, State Duma Speaker and United Russia’s Chairman Boris Gryzlov told journalists today. He reiterated that Putin had topped United Russia’s candidate list during the previous State Duma elections. Gryzlov noted that the party was currently reviewing step-by-step plans to carry out the development strategy until 2020 outlined by Putin.

RBC, 04.03.2008, Moscow 11:19:01.Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov is to head the government council for small business development, Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov said during today’s meeting with the country’s leading economists. He reiterated that the decision on the creation of the council was made following Friday’s meeting with representatives of small and medium size businesses. Efficient working groups for the elimination of barriers for businesses in various economic sectors need to be formed within the council, Zubkov noted. The PM urged Zhukov to begin council meetings within a week and make them monthly.

RBC, 04.03.2008, Moscow 11:15:14.Novorossiysk Commercial Sea Port (NCSP) majority shareholders affiliated with Russian businessman Alexander Ponomarenko are poised to acquire a 50-percent stake in a container terminal that is currently under construction near St. Petersburg, the RBC Daily newspaper reported today. Until now, the project worth EUR 300m fully belonged to one of the world’s largest container operators MSC. Meanwhile, the shareholders of Russia’s largest commercial sea port operator decided to increase the terminal’s projected annual capacity from 2.5m tonnes to 8m tonnes. NCSP’s participation in the project is likely to give it a boost, experts say.

RBC, 04.03.2008, Moscow 10:46:11.At today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the low and the high on deals stood at 24.04 and 24.05 RUB/USD respectively, making the spread on deals just RUB 0.01. The narrow spread does not suggest any speculative play at the session. In addition, trading activity has been fairly low as well possibly due to inconsiderable fluctuations of the euro-to-dollar rate abroad, with the trading volume below USD 100m at the UTS.

RBC, 04.03.2008, Chisinau 09:57:54.Fixed investment in Moldova surged 43.3 percent to $300m in 2007 compared to a year earlier, the National Bureau of Statistics told RBC. Foreign fixed investment accounted for 22.1 percent of the total. Investment growth was largely due to the activities of the non-government sector, which received around 72.7 percent of the total input.

RBC, 04.03.2008, Moscow 09:36:10.Russia’s Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov is scheduled to meet today with the nation’s top economists to address the role of the scientific community in drafting Russia’s development strategy until 2020. Scientists will explain the measures they view as necessary to diversify the economy and foster innovation. The meeting is to be attended by President of the Russian Academy of Sciences Yury Osipov, Academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences Abel Aganbegian, Rector of the New Economic School Sergei Guriyev, Director of the Institute of World Economy and International Relations of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Dynkin, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia Sergei Naryshkin, Economy Minister Elvira Nabiullina, Education and Science Minister Andrei Fursenko and heads of other ministries, agencies and research organizations.

RBC, 03.03.2008, Moscow 19:55:37.Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a bill approving amendments to the 2008 federal budget and estimates for 2009 and 2010, passed by the State Duma on February 15 and endorsed by the Federation Council on February 20, the leader’s press office reported.

RBC, 03.03.2008, Kiev 19:24:40.Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has called on the national government to ensure there is no ‘gas war’ with Russia. The leader made this statement at a meeting with Supreme Rada Speaker Arseny Yatsenyuk and Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko today, the President’s press office reported.

RBC, 03.03.2008, Moscow 18:30:56.Russia’s National Welfare Fund amounted to RUB 777.03bn, or USD 32.22bn in dollar terms, including USD 14.31bn, EUR 9.74bn, and GBP 1.62bn as of March 1, the Finance Ministry reported today. Meanwhile, earnings from investing the fund’s reserves from January 30 until February 29, 2008 have been estimated at USD 240m.

RBC, 03.03.2008, Kiev 17:45:55.Gazprom has cut its natural gas exports to Ukraine by 35 percent, or 46m cubic meters per day, spokesman for Naftogaz of Ukraine Valentin Zemlyansky told journalists today. He said that the Russian energy holding had sent the republic’s state-owned oil and gas company two telegrams announcing a 25-percent and a 10-percent cut, respectively.

RBC, 03.03.2008, Moscow 15:34:25.The Russian stock market is likely to reach a new record low in the next two weeks, experts told RBC TV today. The preliminary results of Russia’s presidential elections were expected and already factored into share prices before today, experts say. Meanwhile, poor financial performance of a number of US suppliers caused investor concerns over the possibility of Russian stocks’ decline. However, analysts note that, if the US economy stabilizes, the Russian market can look better than foreign trading floors thanks to positive election results and macroeconomic conditions.

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Svet Sunday: March 2nd, 2008 President Election in Russia. (Good bye Mr.Putin)

Post author By
Post date March 2, 2008

(Pic 1: getting vote slip, Pic 2: Buffet, Pic 3: Foreign observer! )

Hello,

I am just from election. I looked at the voting slip and no Putin anymore there… I don’t know yet who will win this elections but I know that it will not be Vladimir Putin. So it’s time to say Good bye, Mr. Putin.

I think there were good things and bad things during his Presidential term just like in all of life! And I want to tell you that he is very charismatic person. Yes, Naomi, you are absolutely right when you told that Putin is very photogenic! We will see how photogenic in this very good video: “Good bye, Mr Putin!”. I love this video, hope you like it too:

And what to tell you about this Presidential election: I voted in the school what became a place for election for my district. It was a very friendly atmosphere with nice music, a nice woman gave me a slip to vote. I voted and asked could I take some pictures for our blog yes, of course was the answer. I took some. I know that people in Russia often get embarrassed when they notice that someone takes a pictures of them. I really don’t like to embarrass people so I made just a few shots to show you a what an election looked like in Russia :).

Best wishes for everybody,

Svet

PS: Yes that is a food buffet at the Election, old Soviet Tradition! Now you know something new about Russia! 😉

comments always welcome.

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Russia: Election Results!

Post author By
Post date March 2, 2008

Follow Russian Election, On The News Blog!

“Windows to Russia: News!”

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From Russian MIR to International Space Station! (ISS)

Post author By
Post date February 28, 2008

(Top photo MIR & Bottom Photo ISS)

Hello,

I was drinking my wonderful cup of morning coffee & thinking today about the MIR Space Station, which lead me thinking about the International Space Station!

The MIR (Russian: Мир, which can mean both Peace and World) was a Soviet (and later Russian) orbital station. MIR was humanity’s first consistently inhabited long-term research station in space, and the first ‘third generation’ type space station, constructed over a number of years with a modular design.

MIR currently holds the record for longest continuous human presence in space at eight days short of 10 years, and, through a number of collaborations, was made internationally accessible to cosmonauts and astronauts of many different countries. The most notable of these, the Shuttle-MIR Program, saw American Space Shuttles visiting the station eleven times, bringing supplies and providing crew rotation. MIR was assembled in orbit by successively connecting several modules, each launched separately from 1986 to 1996.

The station existed until 23 March 2001, at which point it was deliberately de-orbited, breaking apart during atmospheric re-entry over the South Pacific Ocean.

The Famous MIR was replaced by a joint adventure called, The International Space Station(ISS) which is a research facility currently being assembled in space. The on-orbit assembly of ISS began in 1998. The space station is in a low Earth orbit and can be seen from Earth with the naked eye: it has an altitude of 350-460 km (189-248 statute miles) above the surface of the Earth, and travels at an average speed of 27,700 km (17,210 statute miles) per hour, completing 15.77 orbits per day. The ISS is a joint project among the space agencies of the United States (NASA), Russia (RKA), Japan (JAXA), Canada (CSA) and several European countries (ESA).

The ISS is a continuation of what began as the U.S. Space Station Freedom, the funding for which was cut back severely. It represents a merger of Freedom with several other previously planned space stations: Russia’s Mir 2, the planned European Columbus and Kibo, the Japanese Experiment Module. The projected completion date is 2010, with the station remaining in operation until around 2016. As of 2008, the ISS is already larger than any previous space station.

The International Space Station has a role to play as NASA moves forward with a new focus for the manned space program, which is to go out beyond Earth orbit for purposes of human exploration and scientific discovery. “The International Space Station is now a stepping stone on the way,” says Griffin, “rather than being the end of the line”. He says ISS crews not only will continue to learn how to live and work in space but also will learn how to build hardware that can survive and function for the years required to make the round-trip voyage from Earth to Mars.

I find it wonderful that the world can work together and build this Space Station! It is really something to be proud of, but it makes me wonder why: Even in Soviet Union times, that world scientific groups could work together to achieve great goals, but Governments of Countries have to play games?

Think about it: If governments would get along like the Scientific Community does in the World, We would probably have a lot less problems! Scientist from all over the world work together many times, they respect intellect! Knowledge is Power!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome

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More on: Phillip Miles!

Post author By
Post date February 27, 2008

Update: June 23rd, 2008

Update Feb 29th,

Friday, February 29, 2008

The embassy called Lynn Friday morning to report they were able to visit with Phillip for over an hour. It was a very good and casual visit. Phillip looked well although he is taking advantage of his time away from Lynn to grow his very first beard. He knows when he comes home, the beard will need to stay in Russia.

He told them about each of his cellmates and what they are like. He told lots of funny stories and it was obvious to the embassy officials that he is very fond of the men and the guards who watch over him. He told them all about the cabin in Clayton, Ga. where he and Lynn have taken sabbaticals. He related that he dreams about feeding the deer and watching the birds on the front porch with Lynn. He also told them about some of the people at church and had them all laughing.

They are very impressed with Phillip’s demeanor and how well he is conducting himself while imprisoned. There is not much news to report about his case except that the lawyers continue to make progress on his behalf.

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Interesting article about the Pastor, I will pass it on. Just another part of the Puzzle!
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Grigory Pasko: A Pastor Behind Bars
http://www.robertamsterdam.com/2008/02/grigory_pasko_a_pastor_behind.htm
In Russia they’re accusing an American clergyman of arms smuggling

By Grigory Pasko, journalist

In Moscow, not far from the pretentiously ostentatious building of the state corporation «Rosatom», is found the plain and inconspicuous construction in which the «Slavic legal center» has made its home. At the entrance, on the security guard’s desk, I see a pile of magazines entitled «Religion and law». I find out that these magazines are published by the center. Later, it becomes clear that the editor-in-chief of the magazine, Anatoly Pchelintsev, and I know each other, having met once previously.

Vladimir Ryakhovskiy, the managing director of the center, a former judge, now a lawyer, met me in his office. First we talked about the center: what it does, what cases the lawyers are working on, and so forth. It turned out that Ryakhovskiy and Pchelintsev were the lawyers in the famous case of the religious organization «Salvation Army» which was lost by Russia in the International Court of Human Rights (the essence of the case was that the Russian authorities had tried to prohibit the activities of this religious organization on the territory of the RF on the grounds that it could not call itself an “army”. An army, they had decided in Russia, could be only aviational, marine, or land).

The essence of the case Vladimir Ryakhovskiy is working on right now is as follows: Phillip Houston Miles, a pastor from South Carolina who was part of a group of American missionaries, flew into the Moscow airport Sheremetyevo-2 to fly on further to Perm. There, he’s got a friend, also a pastor, who is called Eduard and who, like Phillip, is an inveterate hunter.

On the eve of Miles’s flight out from the USA, Eduard reported to him that he had acquired a hunting carbine. True, things were a bit tight in Russia with bullets for it.

Apparently, pastor Miles decided to make a present for his friend in faraway Russia. He, as I imagine this is done in America, went to the nearest store and bought a box of American bullets there for 25 dollars. By American laws, there’s nothing bad in this. And by American standards, this is an ordinary thing: to buy bullets.

No doubt the staff at the airport in the USA knew about this ordinary thing too. At any rate, they didn’t show any interest whatsoever in pastor Miles’s bullets.

But the Russian customs officers were very interested. They proposed to Miles – the only one of the group of missionaries – to scan his baggage. Seeing a suspicious-looking box, they asked the pastor what it was. The pastor honestly replied: these are bullets, which I’m taking to my friend in Perm.

They drew up a report, confiscated the bullets, and allowed the pastor to fly on to Perm. Upon returning from Perm, on 3 February of this year, they detained the pastor right at Sheremetyevo, presenting him with a charge of having committed a crime under Article 222 – “unlawful acquisition, transfer, sale, storage, transport or bearing of weaponry, component parts thereof, munitions, explosive substances and explosive devices”. It is not by accident that I have cited the name of the Article. The fact is that in the USA, all this – acquisition, storage, sale, transport, and so on – is not a violation of the law.

In Russia it is. Furthermore. In Russia, they very much love the saying: ignorance of the law does not release from liability (as if though knowledge of the law does…).

In short, they arrested the pastor and sent him off to investigative isolator No. 5 of the city of Moscow. Where the 68-year-old is sitting to this day.

So that is the essence of the case.

I listened to lawyer Ryakhovskiy and waited intently for additional information to that which had been said. “It can’t be”, thought I, “that everything’s so simple”. The fact is that based on my own experience in dealing with the inhabitants of Russia’s jails, I know that Article 222 is not considered a particularly serious crime. The term of punishment there is from two to four years. That is, there was no need to apply a measure of restraint – confinement under guard [during the pre-trial investigative period—Trans.]. Unless, of course, the Russian investigators had far-reaching plans.

It turns out they did have such plans.

Subsequently, lawyer Ryakhovskiy reported the following.

“I understood that there was no reason to have arrested the pastor. After all, in his actions – and this is evident – there was no criminal intent. Furthermore, the pastor from Perm provided to our disposal permission to the right to the use of his winchester – the bullets that pastor Miles was bringing fit it specifically. The identity of pastor Miles also did not raise questions: he was coming to Russia with missionary objectives for the 12th time already.

However, soon after, yet another Article was added to 222: Article 188 – contraband [Russian for “smuggling” or “illegal trafficking”—Trans.]. Now this is considered a “serious” crime. Under it, the term of punishment is up to seven years.

The seriousness of an Article is Russia is considered substantial grounds for holding the accused under guard. Plus add to this that Miles is not a citizen of the RF, he does not have a permanent place of residence in the RF, and he, in the opinion of the investigation, could abscond from the court [Russian for “jump bail”—Trans.].

Lawyer Anatoly Pchelintsev came in and joined the conversation. He recalled an incident from his practice.

“Several years ago, we were defending a certain Okhotin, a citizen of the USA. He’s an emigrant, a Baptist. He was bringing money, 48 thousand dollars, in order to donate it for children’s homes [orphanages—Trans.] in Russia. There was a long line in the red corridor [“Items To Declare” at customs—Trans.] of the airport. A customs officer came up and advised him to go through the green corridor. It needs to be said that Okhotin had already filled in a declaration that he had a large sum of money with him. But he obeyed the customs officer and went through the green corridor. He had just gotten to the exit when they immediately arrested him. Okhotin was sentenced by a Russian court to deprivation of liberty for a term of one year, suspended. In so doing, they did not return the money either to Okhotin himself, or to the children’s homes, to which it was being taken.”

Ryakhovskiy continued.

“These cases differ in that there, there was money, while here, there are bullets. But in both this instance and that one, there is no intent to commit unlawful acts. And there is no cause to speak about the public danger of the criminal act.”

While the lawyers discussed their legal fine points, I was thinking about the more prosaic aspects of Russian life. Come on, do you really expect me to believe that the procuracy investigator, when tacking on Article 188 to the already-existent Article 222, honestly didn’t understand that the “contraband” charge was clearly excessive? Of course he understood. Because there was no intentional premeditated concealment of the bullets from customs control (they weren’t under something that would have screened them or hidden inside something); there was no fact of misleading declaration of goods; there were no counterfeit documents used… That is, many of those items that form the body of a crime under Article 188 were clearly not evident here.

And now let’s take a look at the case from the other side – from the point of view of an ordinary Russian investigator of the times of comrade Putin. The investigator, just like any citizen of the RF, lives in conditions of a permanent state hatred towards the USA. That means, he thinks, they’re not likely going to chew him out for charging a citizen of the USA. Besides, contraband – that’s already a serious crime, and to have an exposed crime under such an Article on your resume – that’s a clear path to praise from the bosses or even a promotion. All the more so given that the mere fact of a conviction of a person under this Article will embellish the statistical reporting of the investigative department.

And one can imagine the situation in which this man of the cloth will find himself. All his life he has been a pastor. And a hunter. It’s his 12th time coming to Russia. Of course he did a stupid thing in never having bothered to learn Russian laws – even if they seem a bit strange – in all these years. But the drama of the situation isn’t in the fact that a person in his seventh decade is going to experience all the charms of a Russian investigative isolator, but in the fact that he could very likely get to learn all the wonders of the Russian GULag as well. Our Russian “most humane court in the world” could simply throw the pastor three, and even five, years in a colony.

Ryakhovskiy recalls.

“In the time when I worked as a judge, it would happen that they would release people right in the courtroom. Although on the whole, cases were well prepared, with a strong evidentiary foundation. And from recent lawyer’s practice I recall the following case. They had set a girl up with narcotics – an acquaintance, without giving her warning, asked her to pass a package on to another person. The moment she took it, out of nowhere there appeared people in civilian attire [“people in civilian attire” is Russian for “undercover officers” or, more often, KGB/FSB—Trans.] and arrested her.

“In court everything was understandable to everybody that the girl had been sucked into this affair without criminal intent on her part. This was clear even to the judge. But the girl didn’t get a suspended term, but a real one – two years of deprivation of liberty. After the verdict I asked the judge how could this be, you all could see for yourselves that she had been set up. The judge replied: such is the judicial practice with respect to these cases.

“And here too it may happen that it is not the spirit of the law that prevails, but that notorious ‘judicial practice’. If the guy’s already sitting [behind bars—Trans.], then you’ve got to give him a real term, too.”

It’s hard not to agree with lawyer Ryakhovskiy. The realities of recent, Putinite times are such that Russian courts have become not simply tough, but downright cruel. Thousands of innocent people are sitting in Russian jails. National-bolsheviks, opposition journalists, faux spies… But here, we’ve even got a formal element of a crime, and a person who is “not ours”… [ne nash: this is the same word as Nashi – “ours”, meaning “the good guys” as opposed to “the other guys”, by default “bad guys”—Trans.]

Not that long ago Putin’s successor Medvedev spoke about judicial reform. Before him, others said a hundred times that it is already complete and had been carried out successfully. So now it turns out that it was not carried out and not successfully? For now it can be seen that the entire reform consisted of now even a petty little judge gets three thousand dollars [a month] in salary. But all the rest –observing the rule of law, the [level-playing-field] adversarial nature of the trial process, the independence of the judiciary, and all that? This all has remained as before – Soviet.

I’m afraid the pastor didn’t know this before. Or else he would have thought a hundred times before buying those bullets in his American store.

P.S. Naturally, we will keep blog readers updated on the results of the court examination of this case.
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This is another item of information that seems to correlate with the rest of what I am posting.
I will keep you all posted as I find new items!
Kyle
http://www.newgeneration.lv/forum/viewtopic.php?f=50&p=78900
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/pastor-phillip-miles.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/russia-important-update-on-american.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/russia-update-on-pastor-phillip-miles.htm l

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Russia: Beautiful Village!

Post author By
Post date February 27, 2008

Hello,

I am sitting here drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about the Village! I think that it is time to make a trip to the Village (Sunrise To Freedom)
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/05/sunrise-to-freedom-russian-village.html
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/10/russia-sunrise-to-freedom.html

We are nearing March and Spring is on its way. Grass will grow, Flowers will bloom, Birds will sing & Mosquitoes will come out to play! 🙂

Speaking of Playing… Maybe my Sweetie wants to go to the Village soon?

Kyle

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Russia: Once Again American Media & Anti Russian Propaganda!

Post author By
Post date February 27, 2008

Yuri Mamchur:
Last weekend, The New York Times published another piece of amazing anti-Russian propaganda. “…the city’s children, too, were pressed into service. At schools, teachers gave them pamphlets promoting “Putin’s Plan”…” Those who have been to Russia in the last decade drop the newspaper either with laughter or with anger.

Pastor Phillip Miles!

Post author By
Post date February 26, 2008

Hello,

More information about Phillip Miles. (This information seems to be accurate and most likely real)
The statements can be observed in the forum of AR15.COM.
In these statements is mention of Vladimir, a Russian interpreter from my last article!
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/02/russia-important-update-on-american.html
The forum is part of a Militia organization based in America! Called the Bushmasters!

These Are Links That Have been Altered By The Site Owners Of Ar15.com. Sad to say they hurt Miles more than helped by not allowing access. Look the site over…..
http://www.ar15.com/
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=670435&page=1

These statements are from Pastor Phillip Miles Cousin! His avatar for the forum is this picture and only two statements are included from other individuals, One statement is from a American Diplomat.

2-04-2008
I need my brothers from ARfcom’s help..we got pictures of the jail, I am hoping to show them, to ya’ll soon. The Jail looks like a rat hole from h**l, it is simply horrible! I am asking all my fellow brother’s in arms to e-mail or call your congressman or Senator. Please??? I don’t have a list of all the Reps. I am losing sleep and losing my mind over this ordeal. They are telling us they will keep him for 2 months in that c**phole!

Please don’t preach to me how he shouldn’t have done this or that..I want my cousin back, that is the only thing that matters right now If you could just send the Moscow Times link and have your Representative at least get back to you on the status, I would be eternally grateful. Please, please e-mail your Rep with the information up top.

Thank you in advance..you don’t know what it means to me to have people outside of famly and friends that care.

Today, Aivars Mecs, a member of Evangel Cathedral spoke with the Russian attorney who only speaks Russian. Roman Maranov, the Russian attorney, said to encourage everyone to write letters on Phillip’s behalf.

So here is where we are:

1. Continue to write or call President Bush. We need his help.
2. Obtain testimonies about Phillip’s integrity and character from elected officials, community leaders, pastors and businessmen. These letters must be notarized. They may be sent to Phillip’s US Attorney, Dominic Starr, who will forward them to the Russian attorney.
3. Everyone who knows Phillip can write a letter vouching for his character and send it to Dominic Starr.
4. If you support Phillip as an American or a gun enthusiast please write or call in support.

Dominic Starr’s address is 3751 Grissom Parkway Beach First Center, Third Floor, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. His fax is 843-448-3437.

Phone: (843) 946-5670

Through our interpretor in Russia, we have found out there might be a possibility he is coming home soon. Why? My Uncle was planning on going in to see him, so was I, my cousin sent word that he did’nt think it would be necessary because he thinks he may getting released soon. How does he know, we do not know that, maybe they have been conveying to him that he will be released..dunno, but this is good news at any rate.

God is faithful and I think resolution is the way.
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2-04-2008
Which has been the case for getting watches, war paraphernalia, other items years ago. From what we understand, you get hunting permits and licenses like here..I am not sure about getting ammo or what calibers would be banned. You can buy 7.62 over there and bribe it out of the country..I have never done it. My cousin was trying fulfill a request from the Russian Pastor..everything was legal on this side of the Atlantic but not over there. I think it may be a “we are Russians” moment for the police. I know this can be sorted out..my cousin is an avid hunter and has been most of his life.
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2-04-2008
Wrong. This is probably his 20th trip in the last 10 years. Speaking Russian does not speak louder than a $20 bill.

You have no idea what you are talking about..not to belittle you trying to analyze the problems..we just don’t what it was that specifically put him in jail. I have personally brought out axes and foot long knives from the CIS..no kidding.
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2-04-2008
Just got a call from my Uncle and he said he has been arrested for unknowingly taking contraband into the country, my cousin had checked the laws beforehand. A decision will be made by noon tomorrow whether he will be released or if he will have to stay and stand trial. They were wanting to know if he actually was a hunter?? So they had to send pictures of him with dead deer and ducks…weird.
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2-05-2008
My Uncle says they have NOT put him into a prison, he is being held at the Moscow airport..U.S. embassy officials have already been to visit him, there is also a lot of the Moscovites (Pastors, workers, etc) who know my cousin, literally flood the airport. It seems there is one airport head of security that is not bending to pressure. NO laws were apparently broken even as written or interrupted by the Russian Govt. according to our embassy officials. Good news is they have not moved him from a holding cell in the airport..I will keep praying, hoping this will end soon.
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2-05-2008 (names removed by Forum admins)
#3.)The U.S. State Department is in touch with *******. They gave her the following information:

1. As previously informed ***** is not arrested but is being detained at the Moscow Airport. He will be there three more days when a formal hearing is scheduled. He is held in a room with a bench.

2. He is getting plenty of water and food.

3. Vladimir, a Russian interpreter and Pastor ********* American Pastor, are staying nearby. Pastor ***** in Perm has hired a Russian lawyer on ***** behalf.

4. The State Department has requested that no one call the American Embassy in Moscow. The embassy has been inundated with phone calls and is doing everything in their power to help in the situation.
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2-06-2008
Update #4, he is going to trial tomorrow for the ammo…prayers needed.
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2-06-2008
Yes..the judge is a 30 year old woman who is loves America, has gone to school here etc…. since this is now becoming a bigger story than they’d probably like to see, I think he’s gonna be ok.
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2-08-2008
It’s not good news, they are keeping him after his hearing today in Moscow…details are sketchy but this sucks for me. I am really worried. If anyone knows anyone “Up top” please advise me or lead me to someone I can talk to or do something.

I am really worried. like I said..I feel powerless and angry right now. Any suggestions? ARfcom firemission? Call congressmen? Any ideas would help me.
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2-08-2008
Anyone have any positive suggestions for the last update? The rest of the quartebacks can hold their thoughts to themselves on this thread. This is a serious family problem for me..I don’t need negative b.s. flying right now. We need to solutions.
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2-08-2008
Which is exactly what I am planning on doing if all else fails. I have called my local congressman and informed his office of the situation. I have also called a few friends in my area who would go with me, I am not sure what to do next..as you can see ourentire family is involved now, we are stressed about this whole deal. My cousin’s son and others are writing letters and calling congressmen.

I will know more the first of the week..I am planning to get over there if there’s anything I can do.
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2-12-2008
Yep…they are going to keep him in until, which is driving everyone over here mad. I know how the jails are over there. My cousin is in great spirits and he feels as though God is in control and he is not worried. He is ok right now…but our family, his wife and kids are stressed beyond measure.

We have contacted various legal and govt. officials looking for help. Jay Sekulow has a law firm in Moscow so they are moving onto the scene. Our State dept. is pretty much puppy dog mentality when it comes to international problems.

5 rounds of ammo for a Russian Pastor friend to go bear hunting…almost sounds like the BATF over here.

I have also e-mailed various news outlets with the story…not much else we can do except pray and wait.
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2-12-2008
I need my brothers from ARfcom’s help..we got pictures of the jail, I am hoping to show them, to ya’ll soon. The Jail looks like a rat hole from h*ll, it is simply horrible! I am asking all my fellow brother’s in arms to e-mail or call your congressman or Senator. Please??? I don’t have a list of all the Reps. I am losing sleep and losing my mind over this ordeal. They are telling us they will keep him for 2 months it that c**phole!

Please don’t preach to me how he should’nt have done this or that..I want my cousin back, that is the only thing that matters right now If you could just send the Moscow Times link and have your Representative at least get back to you on the status, I would be eternally grateful. Please, please e-mail your Rep with the infromation up top.

Thank you in advance..you don’t know what it means to me to have people outside of famly and friends that care.
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2-12-2008
I am trying to do as much as I can..I hope everyone on board can maybe contact their local and state reps about the situation.
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2-13-2008
God is where he has always been, right there with my cousin. He is still his saviour if he were to die for some terrible reason. Just because we are christians does not mean we are immune to problems in life…nope, but we do have a hope in someone higher than ourselves.

I was afraid this would turn into a religious debate..please, let it go for now. This is about my family stuck in a Russian prison, I want to do everything I possibly can to get him out..that is my personal hope now, to get him out. If you have something positive to do or say, now is that time for a fellow brother in arms..that is all I ask.

Thanks.
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2-13-2008
We received an email from Pastor Igor Nikkitim, who is the President of the Association of Christian Churches in Russia. He writes that our churches need to form committee’s to bombard U.S. Senators and Congressmen to use their influence to get Phillip released BECAUSE THE SITUATION HAS POTENTIAL to be VERY SERIOUS. He writes “We are praying for favor.”
He further writes that he has talked to the Russian lawyer of Phillip Miles in Moscow. He states that we need to do several things immediately. We need to encourage as many people as possible to

1.Make calls to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow

2.Write letters from different people to the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.

Pastor Nikkitim says it is very important that we do this in the next two days.

Please help us. We appreciate the help of anyone in contacting the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. The name of the Ambassador in Moscow is The Honorable William Joseph Burns. Contact information:

U.S. Embassy in Moscow

Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok No. 8

Moscow 121099, Russian Federation

PCS-77, APO AE 09721

Telephone: 011-7 (495) 728-5000

Fax: 011-7 (495) 728-5090

(Moscow is 8 hours ahead of Washington.)
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2-13-2008
Email address: comments@whitehouse.gov Fax number 202-456-2461

Below is a sample wording of the message to be sent to President Bush, however, each sender can use his/her own words in making the appeal.

President Bush,

Please help us get Phillip Miles, pastor in Conway, SC, out of detention in Moscow. Phillip is an avid deer hunter and decided to take his pastor friend in Perm, who is a hunting enthusiast, a gift he would appreciate, which was a box of rifle rounds.

Phillip has been held in detention for 10 days now and the state has up to 60 additional days to further investigate. This was an honest mistake on the part of Phillip Miles. Phillip is known everywhere for his integrity.

For the past 15 years he has been making mission trips to Russia. Evangel Fellowship International, of which Phillip is a member, has sent millions of dollars in humanitarian aid to hospitals in Omsk, Vorkuta, and Irkutsk.

Thank you for your assistance in helping a fellow American.

Sign your name

(Or something like this)

President Bush,

Please talk to Preident Putin and help get Phillip Miles, a pastor from South Carolina, out of detention in Moscow. Phillip is a deer hunter and is being held for packing a box of bullets in his checked bag for a pastor in Perm, Russia, who is also a hunter. If convicted, Phillip faces a possible fine or prison sentence.

Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Sign your name

If one of these e-mails gets through, we know that it would help…if a hundred e-mails get through it help even further.

Thank you for helping me…copy and paste if you would like..it won’t take 5 minutes and it will make a difference.
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2-13-2008
Thank you for your help..it seems we are making a difference, they are recieving quite a bit of e-mails and phone calls. Lets keep up the progress, it is helping, no kidding.

Mr. Rosenman said that these testimonials can be sent to him and that he will personally take them to Phillip’s attorney. His address is:

U.S. Embassy in Moscow

Bolshoy Deviatinsky Pereulok No. 8.

Moscow 121099, Russian Federation – PSC-77, APO AE 09721

FAX: 0117495-7285090

EMAIL: rosenmanrg@state.gov

If you can use google translation, word your e-mails and have them translated in Russian the attorneys and workers can then read them openly. We need people to just e-mail and ask for his release…they know this is a frivolous charge when compared to other illegal activities in their society…this is the most corrupt govt. in the world.
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2-14-2008
Today, Aivars Mecs, a member of Evangel Cathedral spoke with the Russian attorney who only speaks Russian. Roman Maranov, the Russian attorney, said to encourage everyone to write letters on Phillip’s behalf.

So here is where we are:

Dominic Starr’s address is 3751 Grissom Parkway Beach First Center, Third Floor, Myrtle Beach, SC 29577. His fax is 843-448-3437.

Phone: (843) 946-5670

Dominic Starr
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2-15-2008 (American Diplomat, Black Passport) Why wouldn’t you check the laws about bringing in guns, knives, ammo, etc before you traveled overseas? I travel to Russia ALOT (like 2x month) on a black passport and I would never try to bring ammo into the country. Russians are pretty anal about searching everything coming in and going out of the country. Although I will say I’ve never had my bags searched when landing at SVO. When you fly back to the US they run everything threw security before you get inside the terminal, then hand search everything before it gets loaded on the plane. Not sure if they had a bomb dog sniffing luggage and thats how he got caught. In any event it does suck and I don’t wish for anyone being in a Russian jail but he’s a big boy and should have known the rules. Their playground, their rules. Not sure how much DoS is going to be able to help as he was legally arrested under Russian law.
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2-15-2008
So you go there every other weekend? And you are an American diplomat too? Is there anyway you can go visit my cousin in jail in the next couple of weeks?
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2-16-2008
Yes, there was a large sum of money to pay fines that was wired to Moscow…they did’nt go for it, seems like they are bent on showing they are a superpower. They ignore calls and have made people wait in an office for 8 to 10 hours just to get information. Russia is a third world nation, not a superpower…they show it each minute that passes.
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2-16-2008
10 grand and a promise for more if needed.
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2-17-2008 (Another Forum Member) Thanks Mr. Legal Beagle. We wouldn’t want anyone disobeying the law. Do you even see how ridiculous it is to throw the book at someone for the mere possession of a single box of cartridges? We get it. He broke the law. It just makes me sick that you believe the government is actually justified in throwing him in jail over this. If you think there is anything right about this situation, God help you. Same laws apply comming into the USA… after all, you wouldn’t want the .Gov throwing the book at a terrorist for importing a box of catridges… Firearms The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regulates and restricts firearms and ammunition; and approves all import transactions involving weapons and ammunition. If you want to import or export weapons or ammunition, you must do so through a licensed importer, dealer, or manufacturer. Also, if the National Firearms Act prohibits certain weapons, ammunition, or similar devices from coming into the country, you will not be able to import them unless the ATF provides you with written authorization to do so. You do not need an ATF permit if you can demonstrate that you are returning with the same firearms or ammunition that you took out of the United States. To prevent problems when returning, you should register your firearms and related equipment by taking them to any CBP office before you leave the United States. The CBP officer will register them on the same CBP Form-4457 used to register cameras or computers. (See the section on Register Items Before You Leave the United States). For further information about importing weapons, contact the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, DC 20226; or call (202) 927-8320; or visit www.atf.gov ( Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives ) . Many countries will not allow you to enter with a firearm even if you are only traveling through the country on the way to your final destination. If you plan to take your firearms or ammunition to another country, you should contact officials at that country’s embassy to learn about its regulations. www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/prohibited_restricted.xml#Firearms Up to 10 years in Club Fed and a $1 million fine for breaking US rules.
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2-17-2008
Wow..awesome after 10 pages and someone cites laws that were broken. Now, do you have any suggestions on how to get him out of jail? You think you might help with a solution?

Thanks again.
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2-17-2008
Wrong..unless you know something that I have’nt been told. They are very concerned and are working on a solution to the problem. None of which is looking backwards but forwards to a solution. They have been in constant contact with our family and updated us daily on any progress being made. They have recommended that we contact our congressman and other foreign relation committee members to our problem.

Man, I am so glad you are’nt a govt. official or even in our military. Are you from France by any chance? Don’t mean to offend you, but I would’nt let you guard my garbage can with your attitude. You remind me of that Major in the movie Heartbreak Ridge. Knows all the rules but when the shtf, have no clue on what to do.
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2-19-2008
Well, the jailers and guards are treating my cousin very well, his interruptor was dismissed for whatever reasons. We have some friends from Moscow who are interruptoring for him now. He is doing ok, just ready to go home. I have contacted just about foreign org or .gov office that I could..we have lot of people praying, writing and calling, keep up the e-mails, it may be the one that sends the message to get something done.

Thank you again for all the support, you have no idea how much this means to me.
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2-20-2008
Does the NRA deal with any international situations like this? I am curious. I just sent them an e-mail…do any of you members know if they deal with these kind of situations?
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2-24-2008
Through our interpretor in Russia, we have found out there might be a possiblity he is coming home soon. Why? My Uncle was planning on going in to see him, so was I, my cousin sent word that he did’nt think it would be necessary because he thinks he may getting released soon. How does he know, we do not know that, maybe they have been conveying to him that he will be released..dunno, but this is good news at any rate.

God is faithful and I think resolution is the way.
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This is all We have as of now, As We get more information we will print it as we find it,
I hope this man is correct and Phillip Miles will be going home soon!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

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