Putin

Fans of heavy metal could face jail in Russia as Putin bans ‘satanists’

Russian fans of heavy metal and goth music could face prison after the Kremlin’s top court outlawed the “international satanism movement” as an extremist and terrorist group — even though no such organisation exists.

The Russian Supreme Court’s ruling came after appeals from the leader of the Russian Orthodox Church, MPs and other officials. It means that anyone who is alleged to be a member of the non-existent movement could face up to eight years in prison. Critics said the ruling would increase the climate of fear that has gripped Russia since President Putin ordered tanks into Ukraine in 2022.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inPutin, Russia, WTF?

I witnessed horror of Beslan school siege that still stalks Putin

Twenty years after the end of the siege that killed 333 people, the echoes of brutality in North Caucasus still resonate, offering parallels with the war in Ukraine

The first thing I saw as I approached the school was four bodies under a sheet, the feet poking from underneath still domed and plump, so young were the victims.

A few metres away, a man in shredded clothes was curled in a ball, gibbering in terror. Soon I would look on as a woman outside the town hospital was told her child had died in the gymnasium. She let out a cry of grief like a wounded animal and fell to the ground. It was a moment that would haunt my dreams for years to come.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted in"Islamophobia", Islam, Islam and violence, Putin

Putin, Desperate To Reverse Russia’s Demographic Collapse, Moves To Restrict Abortions and Pardon Female Inmates Who Conceive During Marital Visits

Running short of soldiers, Russia is turning to novel, long range societal fixes: restricting abortions, banning gay groups, and pardoning female inmates who conceive during marital visits. The changes come as President Putin looks ahead to presidential elections next March.

It looks like Mr. Putin will seek to position Russia as a bulwark against the, in his view, decadent West. Pro-life groups have erected billboards showing two pictures, one of a fetus, the other of a child in a military uniform. “Protect me today,” the fetus says. “So that I can defend you tomorrow,” the boy soldier chimes in.

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inPutin

Russia Moves to Label Gay Rights Movement as ‘Extremist’

In recent years, L.G.B.T.Q. people in Russia have lived under increasing fear as the Kremlin has ratcheted up measures curtailing gay and transgender rights in tandem with the repressive search for “internal enemies” during the war in Ukraine.

In the latest threat, the Ministry of Justice will seek a court order on Thursday to declare the international gay rights movement an “extremist organization.”

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by Blazingcatfur••0•Posted inPutin

Emails from Ukraine

Emails from Ukraine

I don’t know whether this will be of interest to anyone; I can hardly be the only person in Canada in contact with relatives in Ukraine. Anyway, these are from the 4th and yesterday from my (somewhat removed) cousin. (I should add that she is not a person to swear or become very emotional easily.)

“I’ve been trying to answer your letter for two days and still have no strength to do it. I shall not repeat all those horrible news from every corner of my country.  You have probably read about everything on the web.

My parents are still with Viktor and Geniia in Baryshivka. The village is very close to line of military activity – they permanently hear explosions and gun shots in the neighborhood. To date, they have enough food. And the only thing that I pray for is they stay safe… My sister Alexandra is in Chernivtsi now. Her husband joined volunteers and guards their neighborhoods in case of saboteurs.

We are in Uzhhorod. The region is full of refugees. The first days we even joined group of volunteers and helped in cooking meals for people who had arrived by trains or had been still stuck in unnumbered queues near the border with Slovakia. Now there are so many volunteers that we even can’t find work for us to help with. That’s good! It means that our people are so generous and willing to help.

Last few days were awful. I’m in such shock and feel depressed. I’m desperate from the thought that my children are losing their native land, their roots. That we are forced to leave our home, lose our jobs and become refugees in Europe, with no perspectives – because education that we have doesn’t mean anything in Europe . So we can apply only for low qualified works and live in shelters for refugees.

One of the options we consider is to migrate somewhere far in case of a potential nuclear attack. Canada is one of the choices. Could you please check what is needed (documents) to arrive and become a refugee? Has the Canadian government already launched any programme for Ukrainians?…”

 

“Thank you for your support.
We can see all those people around the world standing for Ukraine. And that helps a lot.
Of course , you can post my story wherever you want. It’s awful that even now so many people (russians diaspora) tell that there is no war in Ukraine, that it’s only military operation of setting Ukrainians free etc. All this propagandic shit !!! (I’m sorry for being rood) I’ve already lost so many friends in russia these days- they even don’t want to hear the truth,  they say – I  am a lier!!! They would rather believe TV news !!! I  really hope that we will survive this horrible war, that we will rebuild everything,  and hope that we will build huge , gigantic wall… such as Great Chinese Wall . And let all of them in russia stay behind this wall  with putin,  with their gas and oil, in their own shit …
Hugging you,  and thank you one more time!!!…”
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by Black Mamba••0•Posted inPutin, Russia, Ukraine