Thursday, May 23, 2013


Ukraine

Freedom House Warns Of 'Putinization' Risk For Hungary, Ukraine

Freedom House accuses President Viktor Yanukovych of "systematically breaking down critical checks and balances" in Ukraine.
Freedom House accuses President Viktor Yanukovych of "systematically breaking down critical checks and balances" in Ukraine.

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By RFE/RL
U.S.-based rights watchdog Freedom House has warned that Hungary and Ukraine are at the forefront of an antidemocratic drive that could lead to what the group calls the "Putinization" of young European democracies.

The group said in its "Nations in Transit 2012" report that steps away from democracy in the two states have raised questions about the strength of the Europe's postcommunist democracies.

Freedom House singles out Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych for "systematically breaking down critical checks and balances" and pursuing the "Putinization" -- referring to the strongman-style of longtime Russian leader Vladimir Putin -- of their governments.

The report said democratic reforms have stalled over the past years in most Balkan states.

Declines were also noted in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and in Russia, where Putin recently was inaugurated for a third presidential term after spending four years as prime minister.
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Comments
     
by: Sam from: Washington, DC
June 06, 2012 14:39
I would say to this: Putinization definitely beats WallStreetinization, as I'm sure Freedom House would prefer!

by: Jack from: US
June 06, 2012 14:58
if CIA-operated propaganda shops like "Freedom House" do not like what countries like Ukraine and Hungary are doing, it only means good for those countries. The major Evil of the World is US government, its agencies, its NATO minions, its proxy regimes like Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Bahrain. If the Axis of Evil do not like something, that thing ought to be Good
In Response

by: Jack from: US
June 06, 2012 16:48
Sorry, I forgot to list Israel among the proxy regimes.
In Response

by: Demetrius Minneapolis from: Your House
June 06, 2012 21:45
Jack, your ignorance of international issues is everlasting.
I'm sure the majority of citizens in the Ukraine are overwhelmed to know they are in the "good".
Why don't you spend more time on Alex Jone's website instead of trolling this one?
In Response

by: LizAucoin from: Canada
June 07, 2012 00:17
Just because something is "US based" does not mean that the US government had anything to do with the report itself. Knowing first hand what the Hungarian government is all about, I can tell you that I would much rather be a citizen of democracy than a citizen in either of those countries. I think you are rediculous and certainly do not know first hand what living in that kind of society is truly like, based on your comment you have no idea what oppression feels like. Whether you agree with the politics of the US or not, does not mean that what they are doing in these countries is a good thing as you state. When you get a chance to live under their roof, then your comments might make sense. You can be angry at your government for alot of things but when you are free, you really should appreciate it. If you were living in either of these countries, you would not have the freedom to even make comments like that without finding "visitors" on your doorstep.

by: Eugenio from: Vienna
June 06, 2012 19:36
Aha, the Putinization of Hungary, Ukraine, and they can already start adding to this list new countries, such as Serbia, and then also Greece, Cyprus and who know who'll be next. At any rate, the "Freedom" House has correctly observed in what direction the wind is blowing on the political arena of Central and Eastern Europe.

by: Oldfogie1 from: Australia
June 07, 2012 03:51
Stalin wiped out between a quarter and a third of Ukraine's population with the Holodomor in the 1930's. He shipped others off to Siberia and replaced them with Russians. He banned the Ukrainian language, closed down Ukrainian schools and churches, and turned Ukraine into a Russian state.

Now Yanukovych has taken over from where Stalin left off. By allowing a separate language, he will divide Ukraine and deprive it of its identity. This is something that would never be permitted to occur in Russia. The Russian regions will then break off and eventually join Russia, followed by the rest of a weakened Ukraine. Ukrainian schools will again be closed down and replaced with Russian schools, and Ukrainian culture, language, religion and identity will be lost forever.

Yanukovych is motivated by self interest and not by the interests of Ukraine. He has already declared that the President should be the richest person in Ukraine. He will be gone by the time Russia takes over, with a significant slice of Ukraine's wealth in his pockets. Ukraine used to be called the "breadbasket of Europe", now it is just a basket case.

Ukraine will then be renamed "East Russia" and people will continue to live as serfs in in their own country while neighbouring Poland prospers.
In Response

by: Oldfogie 1 from: Australia
June 07, 2012 09:56
Sorry, I slipped up again. That should be "West Russia" and not
East Russia. I was thinking of East Poland.
In Response

by: Frank
June 07, 2012 13:56
Oldfogie1,

The Ukrainian language was never banned in Soviet times. In pre-Soviet times, its treatment wasn't noticeably worse than what was evident with minority languages in most other instances with other empires of that period.

Ireland has two official lnaguages, with Gaelic (Ireland's native tongue) not so popularly spoken when compared to English.

Ukraine was a "breadbasket" when it was part of the Russian Empire.

The nationalist anti-Russian views in Ukraine are a minority. Their core views are premised on crackpot notions.

by: Jack from: US
June 07, 2012 12:54
"Freedom House" is a well-known cover for a CIA propaganda shop. Add "Amnesty International", and similar who disseminate propaganda aligned with US government agenda.
People of the Ukraine and Hungary have elected their governments in free and democratic elections. Now since these govenments do not want to bow to criminals in Washington, US propaganda started crying foul about Hungary and Ukraine being "non-democratic". Knowing first-hand, it is US which is ruled by mafia which stages sham "elections" where carefully pre-selected list of "candidates" offered to populace as a "free choice"

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