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Sudden resignation of Russian PM Medvedev & his govt

In a wide-ranging speech on Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin made several key announcements. (You can read a full English transcript here).

Although he touched on benefits, pensions and other matters, it will be his comments on reforming the Russian constitution which will stir up the geo-political status quo.

Putin is putting forward several changes:

  • A two-term limit for Presidential candidates
  • Barring dual citizens, or those born outside Russia, from running for President
  • Increasing the powers of the Duma (Russian legislative body)
  • Having the Prime Minister selected by the Duma, rather than the President
  • Enshrining the Russian Security Council in the constitution
  • That the Russian constitution takes precedence over International Law, especially where it might infringe the legal rights of Russian citizens

These changes are to be put to the Russian people in a referendum by the end of the year “if it all is solved quickly”, according to Russia’s Central Election Commission.

Immediately following these announcements, the entire Russian government resigned – including Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev – though he will be offered a new job, reports RT:

During his speech, Putin said he intended to create the position of deputy secretary of Russia’s Security Council, which would be offered to Medvedev.

Medvedev’s replacement as PM is reported to be Mikhail Mishustin, head of the Federal Tax Service:

The reflexively anti-Putin Western press and commentariat have already decided these moves are to secure Putin as “ruler for life”:

A view shared by some figures from the alternate media as well:

This might seem at first glance to be in stark contrast with the analysis of Russia-based journalist Bryan MacDonald:

So, what happens next?

  • Why have Medvedev and his government resigned en masse?
  • Will the proposed reforms pass a referendum?
  • What is the overall aim behind these changes?
  • Does Putin plan to stay on past 2024, or is he strengthening the role of PM with an eye to taking that job, as some western commentators seem to think?
  • Who will be the next President of Russia?

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Amazing
Amazing
Feb 19, 2020 3:00 AM

But he kept lavrov the incompetent?!

Jose
Jose
Feb 19, 2020 5:42 AM
Reply to  Amazing

He got Assad to destroy his poison gas in return for absolutely nothing, not even acknowledgement. Then ordered Assad to negotitiate with the fake, foreign sponsored “rebels”, thus giving them cred in the eyes of the world. Stupid or fifth columnist?

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Feb 19, 2020 7:04 AM
Reply to  Amazing

Lavrov incompetet?

Goodness me, what planet do you live on?

He is the best and most intelligent diplomat in the world.

Jackson
Jackson
Feb 19, 2020 11:27 PM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Goodness me! Were your swaddling clothes kept too tight . . . on your head?

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Feb 20, 2020 5:19 PM
Reply to  Jackson

comment image
comment image

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 17, 2020 2:31 PM

Russia is not a functioning democracy, it is sliding, inexorably towards the status of personality cult. Functioning democracies don’t alter their constitution every few years to indulge one ‘exceptional’ leader. Invariably, only exceptional because any credible rival has been purged.

Ordinary Russians don’t want another Tsar, when you speak to them, they weep for the state of their country, but it seems they are incapable of freeing themselves.

paul
paul
Jan 17, 2020 9:45 PM

Just as well then that they have the CIA, NED, Soros and the human rights brigade to liberate them from Putin by funding terror attacks and the quisling opposition.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 9:46 PM

http://imageshack.com/a/img922/7592/yJB4oG.gif

What a load of ignorant nonsense you wrote.

Yes, ordinary Russians don’t want another Tsar, and they are very far from getting one in the person of putin. On the other hand, ordinary Russians do absolutely not weep for the state of their countryy. Under Yeltsin, they did weep for the state of their country, but Putin did an amazing job redressing the situation and significantly improve the lives of all Russians.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:20 AM

And the UK IS a ‘functioning democracy’ is it. You Integrity Initiative pond-life are nothing if not poisonous hypocrites.

Frank
Frank
Jan 18, 2020 5:39 PM

This isn’t the CNN or Guardian website, you know. You have to back up your nonsense or fuck off. To whit, how about providing one example of how Russia isn’t a functioning democracy and UK/ USA is. Just one will do. Let’s see if you can avoid exposing yourself as a gullible idiot and/ or a liar.

I’m a UK expat who’s been living in Russia for over 20 years, by the way, and Russian civil and media freedom now surpasses that of UK and USA by a considerable great distance.

Let’s have it, bullshitter.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 18, 2020 6:00 PM
Reply to  Frank

I’ll have some of that.

Tell me, when was the last time Jeremy Corbyn was arrested and banged up at the behest Teresa May, or Boris Johnson?

Experts do not generally consider Russia to be a democracy, citing purges and jailing of political opponents, curtailed press freedom, and the lack of free and fair elections

From the Wikipedia page on Vladimir Putin. Maybe you should edit it 😉

Frank
Frank
Jan 18, 2020 6:11 PM

Got it. A gullible idiot AND a liar.

Berlin beerman
Berlin beerman
Jan 19, 2020 3:43 PM
Reply to  Frank

you forgot anti-semite.

paul
paul
Jan 19, 2020 9:53 PM

Wikipedia has about as much credibility as Bellingcat.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 20, 2020 2:29 AM
Reply to  paul

Motivated reasoning…..

Wikipedia cites its sources, and one always has the option of editing and correcting.

Berlin beerman
Berlin beerman
Jan 19, 2020 3:40 PM

Pussy Riot for President ! Credible and purged.

Ordinary Russian’s are obviously intelligent and capable of electing a President under a Russian democratic system. More so than people in the UK are.

Rhys Jaggar
Rhys Jaggar
Jan 16, 2020 6:29 PM

Given the Russia-bashing by US warmongers the past 20 years, it’s been a jolly good thing for Russians that they had a very strong President for 20 years. Otherwise, they would have been back in the 1990s with declining birth rates, mass poverty and bloodsucking foreign oligarchs nicking everything Russian in sight.

As for the future, you can read this one of two ways:

The first option is that Putin now genuinely believes that Russia as a state is ready for democracy, and thus he is seeking to weaken the Presidency and strengthen the Duma as a key plank in that.

The second option is that he thinks that he needs to stay on for quite a bit longer as long as lunatics are running the DC asylum, so he is making plans to be Prime Minister post 2024.

It could of course be that he thinks both will be true, just that democracy may only be strong enough to repel Western rapaciousness after he has been in power for another decade or so.

What can honestly be said about Putin is that he has acted in the interests of Russia, not Zionazi oligarchs.

And as he answers to the Russian people not to Western imperialists, that is precisely what he should have been doing.

OH but Boris Johnson, his predecessors and his successors could do the same for Britain….

Gall
Gall
Jan 16, 2020 9:26 PM
Reply to  Rhys Jaggar

I totally agree with your assessment Rhys. I’ve been reading RI, RT, Fort-Russ etc and contrary to the Western “Media’s” sensationalism this transition of power seems to be fully supported by the Russian people.

What’s hysterical is that once again CIA was left out of the loop but that’s no surprise. Putin once again used the idiotic Russiaphobic morons to his advantage.

Too bad he was born in Russia and not the US because he’d make a great President.

“Putin for President” 🙂

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 16, 2020 9:36 PM
Reply to  Gall

Had Putin been born in the US, he would have made a great Presiden only for ten years, though, not enough time to do for the US what he has done for Russia.

Gall
Gall
Jan 16, 2020 11:36 PM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Actually 8 or 2 terms due to 22 Amendment ratified after Roosevelt won 4 terms. That said I think the Russian voters are more intelligent than the voters in the US who exist on a diet of MSM pap served up regularly rather than any thing substantive and live under the delusion that they have a “free press”. You know ’cause the Constitution says so which aside from the Declaration of Independence has to be the most disingenuous document ever written in history. It took me decades to come to this conclusion.

Whereas the Russian’s are pretty savvy having lived under Communism and know what a controlled media looks like up close and personally.

Unfortunately Tocqueville was right about the place and still is today.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 1:32 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Correction – 8 and not 19 years.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 1:33 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Drat, that darned age-related macular degeneration…
8 and not 10 years.

wardropper
wardropper
Jan 17, 2020 2:27 AM
Reply to  Gall

Agreed, Rhys and Gall.
The pathetic thing about today’s U.S. is that there are plenty of shrewd, perceptive, imaginative and morally decent Americans who would also make great Presidents, and they shouldn’t have to look to Russia to find role models either.
But the simpleton-owned media routinely stop such people in their tracks.

Gall
Gall
Jan 17, 2020 8:05 AM
Reply to  wardropper

Unfortunately those are the last people that corporations and the military want in power they prefer a Kakistocracy since are amenable to their special needs. In fact our Government is full of special needs cases who come to congress and the white house on the special bus. That’s what makes this nation so exceptional 🙂

Berlin beerman
Berlin beerman
Jan 16, 2020 4:58 PM

To me, it seems Mr. Putin is shifting strength internally to limit the power of the PM as evident with the appointing of Mr. Mishustin.

If I were running the show I would want to transfer more power to the General Security Council , place my confidant and trusted number two beside me ( Mr. Medvedev – as evident by creating the new post and appointing him to it ) and then steer the ship from that helm.

Mr. Putin is already the director of the RGSC and with the new changes proposed – he will keep that position at the end of his term.

Most Western reporters like the CBC’s man in Russia will report blundering reports.

I predict the referendum will have the complete opposite outcome to the one Mr. Cameron tried.

This is a win win for the Russian people and the country unless Mr. Putin turns senseless and senile.

Dungroanin
Dungroanin
Jan 16, 2020 12:35 PM

It all sounds pretty sensible.

Meanwhile over here WE are getting started on removing the Supreme Courts legal authority over ‘political’ issues.

So as many illegal prorogations as JRM & the Queen wants!

I think when the prewar german elections resulted in letting in a bunch of beerhall bullies their Parliament didn’t last.

Our Weatherspoon parkbench bullies seem to be going the same way and as the ancient parliament crumbles it becomes likely that it may never be restored!

It seems our establishment has decided it wants Nandy as the safe Blairite leader of the Opposition – and are setting the ground incase another wronguns get in.

Dungroanin
Dungroanin
Jan 16, 2020 3:59 PM
Reply to  Dungroanin

Ooh er upset someone eh? Get back to your park bench.

1. Dual Nationality – there is no record of how many dual (or more) nationals are in government in the US or the UK.

It is evident that having more than one master leads to treachery.

2. Russia, like China,are evolving governing systems don’t forget they didn’t exist 100 years ago – they appear to be dovetailing towards a system less subject to the vagaries of ‘western democracies’ – corporatists; aristocratic; pork-barrelled; lobbied; media manufactured; owned by bankers.

Given that the systems of both countries have delivered massive growth, elimination of poverty and greater benefits for its populations allowing free-markets, entrepreneurs and billionaires to emerge, whilst preserving their resources from the usual global robber barons – it is not surprising that they look to preserve this legacy beyond personal human age limits by institutionalising such oversight. Compare India with it’s legacy system and mass poverty still.

Putin & co are looking at strengthening their nwo that will encompass two thirds of the worlds land mass and the majority of the planets Humans – many still unnecessarily in poverty and being robbed blind as they havd been for centuries by the cover of western ‘democracies’.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 16, 2020 11:46 AM

Putin has made so many enemies, he cannot let anyone else lead Russia.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 16, 2020 12:18 PM

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Gall
Gall
Jan 16, 2020 11:40 PM
Reply to  Vierotchka

😂😂😂😂

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 8:55 PM

Oh you cunning stunt, fancy seeing you crawl out from ‘neath your rock to spew venom at Putin.

Gall
Gall
Jan 17, 2020 12:38 AM

Seems Stunning C’s on a down voting spree.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 17, 2020 2:43 AM

You didn’t like my comment, Dick?

Putin will go the way of Mugabe.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 5:32 AM

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richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:23 AM

You’ll go the way of Julius Streicher, I reckon.

Jen
Jen
Jan 19, 2020 11:33 PM

Dying at the age of 95 years is not a bad way to go.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 20, 2020 2:31 AM
Reply to  Jen

Better than Mugabe deserved, but he completely messed up Zimbabwe….

Seamus Padraig
Seamus Padraig
Jan 16, 2020 11:13 AM

I’m sure Putin’ll be PM again after his presidential term expires. He was already PM once, from 2008-2012. Personally, I find that reassuring. Putin is the greatest statesman alive–probably the greatest since Bismarck.

Dungroanin
Dungroanin
Jan 16, 2020 4:00 PM
Reply to  Seamus Padraig

Merkel has been a giantess in the western hemisphere too and is highly underatted.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 8:56 PM
Reply to  Dungroanin

I prefer Tracy Ullman.

norman wisdom
norman wisdom
Jan 16, 2020 10:57 PM
Reply to  Dungroanin

merkel?
you mean hitlers daughter
she is confused bankers zionist agent
she gave 6 dolphin class nuke subs to israel for free as compensation for the crimes of her dad who was a new york city of london agent
adolf churchill and winston hitler zionist tools
mucky merkel is just blackmailed mind controlled moose

already

Dungroanin
Dungroanin
Jan 17, 2020 1:31 AM
Reply to  norman wisdom

That is the worst bit of knockabout crap NW – you LYING TROLL.

‘Chancellor Angela Merkel’s father ..Horst Kasner was a Protestant pastor who moved to East Germany from Hamburg in the 1950s with his family.

Kasner was born in Berlin in 1926. He studied Protestant theology and eventually taught new clergy in the small town of Templin, north of Berlin.’
https://m.dw.com/en/merkels-father-a-clergyman-under-communism-dies-aged-85/a-15362772

That would have made him 14 years old in 1940.

Unless you want to dispute that fact you should withdraw your LIE and apologise.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 1:36 AM
Reply to  Dungroanin

Well said.

paul
paul
Jan 19, 2020 9:58 PM
Reply to  Dungroanin

Kasner was just an alias used by the Fuhrer after he escaped from the bunker and had plastic surgery. What better cover than a protestant pastor? And why did he move from Hamburg? Wiesenthal was after him.

Dungroanin
Dungroanin
Jan 20, 2020 11:47 AM
Reply to  paul

Adolf and his pals who supposedly died with their partners and families in das bunker could have only escaped to where their Ancient Empire Masters could guarantee their secrecy and security FAR from prying eyes and where they could bring up their families openly whilst controlling what media that would be available in their upbringing – before they could be educated into being deployed again as world leaders and business moguls to deliver the Great Empires old families grand design for humanity.

The place would also have to have the same climate as they were used to – continental & temprate.

So NOT equitorial South America.
Though that may have been good for a sunny sandy beach breaks and raping.

Francis Lee
Francis Lee
Jan 16, 2020 7:51 AM

Much talk of a ‘demographic’ crisis needs further analysis. Russia’s population fell during the Yeltsin years but has stabilised at the present time. Fertility rate is 1.76 but needs to be at least 2.1 for population growth. But this is true of the whole of Europe, East and West and even a fortiori, Japan. The real demographic crisis, however, is taking place in the ex-Soviet republics and Eastern Europe ex-satellites, the figures from the Baltics and Ukraine are frankly disastrous and only marginally better in Romania and Bulgaria. Low birth rates, emigration, increased death rates, drugs and health problems are a real and present threat to the future of these states.

The substantive problem facing Russia is the ongoing struggle between the Atlantic integrationists and the Eurasian sovereignists represented respectively on the one hand by the oligarch in chief and ultra-liberal Alexei Kudrin, and, in the Red corner, Russia’s answer to Michael Hudson, Sergei Glazyev. Putin himself balances precariously between these two factions. But this cannot go on. To quote W.B.Yeats ‘Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.’

The type of long-term nation-building strategy – state capitalism from above – has been the proven route out of semi-peripheral status and which is imperative for Russia is, however, being thwarted by the existence of a cosmopolitan oligarch class whose interests run counter to any such strategy and, moreover, who are perfectly content take profits from extractive exports and then invest them back into the centre of the capitalist system, usually in the shape of paper assets like US Treasury Bills and/or property. Cronyism, corruption, incompetence are endemic characteristics of this powerful group and they are unfortunately firmly ensconced in positions of influence and power in Russia. It would be reasonable to surmise that a political, parasitic system of Yeltsin-lite is now extant in Russia and that a domestic head of steam is, judging by its internal critics, building up in opposition. For every action there is a reaction. (Boris Kargalitsky)

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 16, 2020 9:24 AM
Reply to  Francis Lee

It would be reasonable to surmise that a political, parasitic system of Yeltsin-lite is now extant in Russia

Extanct or extinct?

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 16, 2020 9:26 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Oops! Butter fingers and failing eyesight. I meant “Extant or extinct?”

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extant

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 9:00 PM
Reply to  Francis Lee

Obviously I hope that the Baltics and Ukraine quickly enjoy a decent form of governance, but at present I fear that they are getting their just desserts for returning the spawn of WW2 fascists from emigre’ communities in the West to power, and embracing neo-liberal capitalism and licking the boots of the Empire.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 17, 2020 2:47 AM
Reply to  Francis Lee

Talk to any Russian, they despair of their government, and don’t have any mechanism to change it.

Russians don’t want to live in Russia, that’s the root cause of their population crisis.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 5:29 AM

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paul
paul
Jan 17, 2020 9:49 PM

Yes, they are desperate to return to the democracy of the 1990s and hand over the natural wealth of the country to Wall Street.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:26 AM

You are such a villainous liar that you must be some sort of hypertension troll, designed to given truthful people high blood pressure.

Richard Steele
Richard Steele
Jan 18, 2020 3:55 PM

You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about.

Antonym
Antonym
Jan 16, 2020 2:36 AM

Is president Putin’s move in the opposite direction as president Xi’s?

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 7:05 AM
Reply to  Antonym

Not really-they are great friends and allies. So far Xi has been granted only one extra five year term by the CCP apparatus. He may get more, but ‘President for Life’ or ‘Emperor’ is just Western Orientalist, racist, anti-communist, Sinophobic clap-trap.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 17, 2020 2:48 AM

In defence of the personality cult, I see, Dick.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 5:40 AM

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richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:26 AM

Whereas you represent the ‘personality disorder’ cult.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 16, 2020 2:05 AM

anonymous bosch
anonymous bosch
Jan 16, 2020 12:56 AM

“That the Russian constitution takes precedence over International Law, especially where it might infringe the legal rights of Russian citizens”.

Clearly following the practice of the US State Department.

The complete erosion of any International Rule of Law ? Is that where this is going ?

Jen
Jen
Jan 16, 2020 1:58 AM

The case of Maria Butina, imprisoned for 18 months for supposedly being a foreign unregistered agent of Russia, and apparently subjected to full body searches during the five months she was in jail every time after she met with lawyers and Russian consular officials, comes to mind.

This and other cases where Russian citizens were detained and imprisoned without correct due process in the US and other nations, and denied consular access – the case of Sergei and Julia Skripal comes to mind – may have been the instigation for this proposal.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 7:13 AM
Reply to  Jen

Sexual humiliation through forced nakedness and ‘body searches’ is a favourite tactic of the Israelis, to humiliate and terrorise the Palestinians. There it is used against civilians, even children, and, with added viciousness, like the smearing of ‘menstrual blood’ was gifted to the US as torture tactics in Abu Ghraib ec. And, can you believe it, it has traveled to Australia, where strip searches of young people going to music festivals, have become a frequent and preferred tactic of State police forces.

Gall
Gall
Jan 17, 2020 12:42 AM

Back in the days of Woodstock strip searching was easier. Seriously though it shows just how perverted those in positions of power really are.

paul
paul
Jan 17, 2020 9:52 PM

Why not? Australian pigs just applying the lessons of their training courses in Israel.

lundiel
lundiel
Jan 16, 2020 11:57 AM
Reply to  Jen

Until I see evidence to the contrary, I believe Sergei and Julia were executed.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 17, 2020 3:02 PM
Reply to  lundiel

No, they survived. Was a close run thing though

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 9:49 PM

They did? They survived the alleged poisoning (had it really been Novichok, they would have died almost instantly). But since then, no trace of them. Prove that they are still alive – put up or shut up.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 18, 2020 2:14 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

had it really been Novichok, they would have died almost instantly

The science of poisons is rather more nuanced than that. Every poison has an LD50 dose (the dosage that kills 50% of those exposed). There is no poison that kills everyone exposed to it, at any concentration.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 18, 2020 3:44 AM

We are not talking about common poisons, we are talking about an extremely lethal military grade nerve agent which does kill almost instantly those who have been exposed to it.

The Russian scientists who developed the Novichok agents claim they are the deadliest nerve agents ever made.

While not enough data has been collected to definitively say how dangerous Novichoks are, we do have figures for other nerve agents that may help draw a comparison.

Something to keep in mind while reading the chart: one variant of Novichok is claimed to be five to eight times more potent than VX, and another is up to 10 times more potent than soman.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-06/nerve-agents-novichok-chart-of-the-day/9944910

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 18, 2020 6:58 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

We are not talking about common poisons, we are talking about an extremely lethal military grade nerve agent which does kill almost instantly those who have been exposed to it

Then how did the would be assassins avoid exposure? They must have been exposed to the times, unless you are suggesting they were wearing NBC suits.

Military grade nerve agents, however deadly, are still harmless if they don’t get into the bloodstream. Any poison can either be ingested, breathed in, or absorbed through the skin, in decreasing order of effectiveness.

Whoever did this (and I’m really not going to get into that with you), decided that the method was more important than the result. By my works, you shall know me.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 18, 2020 6:59 AM

‘fumes, not ‘times’

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:31 AM

So, now you’re denying that it was a nerve agent, contradicting the UK authorities. You must be a Putin-bot, or a really stupid, low level, Integrity Initiative sub-troll.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 19, 2020 12:51 AM

comment image

Of course there was no nerve agent involve. The UK authorities lied from the very beginning.

Putin-bot, or a really stupid, low level, Integrity Initiative sub-troll.

LOL!

If troll there is, it certainly is not me. You, on the other hand, could well be a US deep state
comment image

or a microcephalic git
comment image

or highly likely you’re
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Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 19, 2020 12:31 AM

Then how did the would be assassins avoid exposure?

Simple – there never was any Novichok and the alleged would-be assassins were not would-be assassins at all!

Logic 101.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 19, 2020 1:23 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

I’ve never heard the ‘Skripals had hypochondria’ theory before, do elucidate……

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 19, 2020 4:22 AM

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comment image

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 18, 2020 3:51 AM

Expert on UK poison: we have never seen it used

17 Mar 2018

(12 Mar 2018) Britain’s prime minister says ex-spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned with Russian-developed nerve agent Novichok.

Novichok refers to a class of nerve agents developed near the end of the Cold War. Novichok behaves slightly differently than other nerve agents, with some reports that the class of substances is deadlier than similar chemicals like sarin or VX.

Andrew Weber, Former US Asst. Secretary of Defense for Nuclear, Chemical & Biological Defense Programs, described Novichok as “a more advanced, fourth generation agent” and agreed it was more lethal.

“One other fact about the Novichok agent is that they’re not prohibited specifically on a list by the Chemical Weapons Convention. In fact, they were developed by the Soviet military to evade our defenses, our protective suits, our antidotes and also to — as a way to be able to produce them without being covered by the Chemical Weapons Convention,” he said.

“In a civilian setting it’s extremely difficult to know that a chemical attack has occurred and then to have antidote immediately available and it has to be applied quickly and that is apparently what did not happen in this case,” Weber added.

Someone rightly commented that “He forgot option 3 which is the UK intelligence service carried out the crime themselves which is what really happened. Porton Down is 10 minutes away from where the incident happened and the British refuse to cooperate with UN guidelines which is to accept Russia’s request for a sample which the British refuse to give. The whole affair stinks.”

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 18, 2020 3:52 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Sorry about the bold text, it was not my intention to have the whole text in bold, only the title of the video. I must have done something wrong.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:29 AM

Idiotic contribution, illustrating your stupidity. Nerve agents kill almost uniformly at tiny doses, and Novichok is, supposedly, one of the most potent.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 18, 2020 9:27 AM

Nerve agents kill almost uniformly at tiny doses, and Novichok is, supposedly, one of the most potent.

Define “tiny”..

I imagine any nerve gas is lethal if delivered as a gas, but human skin is much more impenetrable than the inner surface of the lungs.

Doesn’t mean you can’t be poisoned through the skin, you clearly can be, but the process is far slower.

If novichok in gel form is really as lethal as you say, how did the assailants

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 18, 2020 9:29 AM

…avoid poisoning themselves

Jen
Jen
Jan 20, 2020 4:44 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Dear Vierotchka,

There have been online rumours and claims that the Skripals were being held at USAF Fairford base in Gloucestershire at the time Julia Skripal was interviewed by a Reuters reporter in May 2018.

In the video of the interview, there was a bird coop behind Julia which was later identified as a crow coop by English plane spotters and bird watchers who saw the interview, and there were sounds of aircraft taking off and landing in the background.

This would explain why the UK government refused to allow Russian consular access to the Skripals: the Skripals were technically no longer on British soil but on US territory.

Should that be the case, then it is likely the Skripals have been taken to North America and given a new home there, in a community where of course they will not be known and which will not miss them should there be a need to whisk them away somewhere else.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 20, 2020 3:39 PM
Reply to  Jen

The United States Federal Witness Protection Program, I suppose. In that case, they have new names and have possibly undergone plastic surgery to make them unrecognizable. But surely they would want to contact their family in Russia, especially Sergey’s old and ailing mother?

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:28 AM

How the eff would you know, you pompous bladder of piss and wind?

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 19, 2020 12:57 AM

How? Because I have done extensive research on the subject. Also, do look up all the OffGuardian articles on the subject, you poor little impotent troll!
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CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 19, 2020 1:42 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Because I have done extensive research on the subject.

Extensive research would involve a sealed laboratory, protective equipment, and experimentation. It is never merely googling it..

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 19, 2020 4:24 AM

Extensive research on the subject, not on the product itself.
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CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 19, 2020 6:08 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

A Google expert…

Antonym
Antonym
Jan 16, 2020 2:15 AM

International law, like European law has overstepped its boundaries too. In Holland a lowly judge could thus single handedly overrule the elected governments policy on CO2.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 7:16 AM
Reply to  Antonym

Well, the ‘government policy’ must be against some law, or the judge will be overruled by a higher and more ‘reliable’ court. Is that not how it works in Holland?

Roberto
Roberto
Jan 16, 2020 4:37 AM

Perhaps, or maybe undoubtedly, Mr Putin is familiar with the example of Sulla, who exercised power as dictator for 6 months as allowed under Roman Law, then relinquished the dictatorship, then served as Consul. The time frame differs, and Putin is a strong leader but no dictator; he did have an awful mess to clean up and restored Russia to self-reliant productive and stable growth and enterprise from the looted ruins that existed at the end of the ’90s.

The stated aim of these changes is to restore more power to the Duma, which cannot be a bad thing. The resignation of the entire government allows the new Prime Minister to restructure the government. It may be that many of the preceding actors are restored in different ministries, or not.

The Russian constitution proposal may mean that Russian citizens in Russia would be protected from vindictive legal process by other nations ostensibly using international law and institutions, but one would think that domestic extradition laws would cover that. Because the comment refers to Russian citizens specifically, there is no implication that it refers to international actions, or the attempt to erode International Law. It’s unlikely that something like a rescue mission would be mounted to recover Yulia who has been held incommunicado, or just disappeared, for two years.

Whatever it means, the practices of the US State Dept are no example; the US have gradually abandoned their Constitution, and even their Congress in the exercise of power throughout the world for generations; the only constant is that the State Dept has had little say in it. This is typical of many nations and not just the US; the political leader wishes to make foreign policy and exercises it directly, the diplomats just fill in the spaces and write the confirming documents, often against their (good) advice and wishes.

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 17, 2020 3:33 PM
Reply to  Roberto

It’s unlikely that something like a rescue mission would be mounted to recover Yulia who has been held incommunicado, or just disappeared, for two years.

She probably remembers what happened to Rasputin, when poisoning didn’t work (spoiler alert), they shot him.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 9:53 PM

You’re comparing Asian watermeals and elephants.

Sophie - Admin1
Admin
Sophie - Admin1
Jan 18, 2020 12:23 AM

Rasputin was murdered in the home of Count Felix Yusupov, a devout Monarchist and probable MI6 asset. MI6 are on record as wanting Rasputin dead for being – as they saw it – opposed to Russia’s part in WW1.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 19, 2020 4:25 AM

He was my third cousin and a close friend to my father. He never was an MI6 asset at all.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 7:07 AM

It would be if ‘International Law’ had not become so sordidly and universally corrupted by US Imperial power. It doesn’t apply to Israel or the USA, so why should it be used as a weapon against Russia?

Jen
Jen
Jan 16, 2020 12:16 AM

A lot depends on how people read this part of VVP’s speech to the Federal Assembly:

I know that people are discussing the constitutional provision under which one person cannot hold the post of the President of the Russian Federation for two successive terms. I do not regard this as a matter of principle, but I nevertheless support and share this view.

VVP supports the provision that a person cannot be President for more than two consecutive terms. This technically means he can legally campaign to be President again for a fifth term in 2030, though at age 78 years he would not likely do so.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 7:19 AM
Reply to  Jen

Putin has to find a reliable, talented, successor. The CCP does it well, by trying potential leaders at ever higher levels of responsibility, but even then chaps like Bo Xi-lai can sneak through on charisma and unscupulousness as well as ability. I suppose they check out their spouses, Bo’s downfall, too.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 15, 2020 10:44 PM

Trump, instead of his promise to drain the swamp, has stocked it and become its king.

Putin is obviously draining the Russian swamp, which he has consistently and patiently been doing since 1991.
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Jack_Garbo
Jack_Garbo
Jan 16, 2020 3:54 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Hardly “King” of the Swamp. More Errand Boy. He has neither the wit nor the nous for anything else but taking orders.

Gall
Gall
Jan 17, 2020 12:46 AM
Reply to  Jack_Garbo

US military policy has already perverted the phrase “draining the swamp” meaning to eliminate any dissenters in what they’re now calling the “urban swamp”

Ex Analyst
Ex Analyst
Jan 15, 2020 10:13 PM

I think there are signs a coup may have been averted. Certainly looks like Putin is house cleaning. The resignations were asked for by Putin I’m sure.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 15, 2020 10:26 PM
Reply to  Ex Analyst

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Go read the ful transcript of Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly at https://off-guardian.org/2020/01/15/transcript-putins-address-to-the-federal-assembly/

Maggie
Maggie
Jan 16, 2020 1:02 AM
Reply to  Vierotchka

Hi Veirotchka, Clearly the ex Analyst hasn’t got the capacity to read. understand and digest what is written… he has been steeped in MSM presstitute soundbites and is now unable to see the truth, staring him in the face. I wish to God we had a leader like Putin and a Government like Russia.
This alone speaks for itself:comment image

Antonym
Antonym
Jan 16, 2020 2:30 AM
Reply to  Maggie

How did the RUB value changed in PPP between these two dates?
How did the Russian population size change?

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 7:32 AM
Reply to  Antonym

All achieved without several billion a year in tribute from the USA, like darling Israel.

Maggie
Maggie
Jan 16, 2020 4:19 PM
Reply to  Antonym

Antonym – Are you serious?
The left column tells you the Pension and Income being paid – IN RUBLES?
The other side tells you the increase in the 15 years President Putin has been in office??????
”How did the Russian population change????”
Did your Momma never tell you about the birds and bees?

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 16, 2020 7:27 AM
Reply to  Maggie

Not bad for a ‘gas station’ attendant posing as a leader. To quote McInsane, posthumously-(and still dead!).

Derek
Derek
Jan 17, 2020 8:38 PM
Reply to  Maggie

I wish to God we had a leader like Putin and a Government like Russia.

Well why not move there seeing as you love him so much and take Offguardian along with the rest of the Putin cult with you.

Maggie
Maggie
Jan 18, 2020 4:03 PM
Reply to  Derek

Show your true colours there Derek…. That is why we are now stuck with a Fascist Government because. ignorant dolts like you promote lies about a man who has spent his life working for the PEOPLE and not the malignant Corporatocracies.
This is how the greedy barstewards should be dealt with:
How Putin deals with Oligarch/Cockroaches for closing down a factory. and the results ten years later.

NOTE: VOX videos are not reliable, they are produced by the CIA and are lies.

In Russia the state owns the Media, in the US/UK the Media own/control the state

Gerda Halvorsen
Gerda Halvorsen
Jan 16, 2020 12:41 PM
Reply to  Ex Analyst

That must be why you are an “ex Analyst”

espartaco
espartaco
Jan 15, 2020 10:11 PM

Putin is just emptying the Presidency of powers and taking them with him… Once again Russia is at the mercy of an ‘unconstitutional’ system, changed and manipulated at will by those in power. Russia will not find stability and will have to change the rules, again and again, to please the ruler of the day.

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 15, 2020 10:28 PM
Reply to  espartaco

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Go read the ful transcript of Putin’s address to the Federal Assembly at https://off-guardian.org/2020/01/15/transcript-putins-address-to-the-federal-assembly/

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 17, 2020 4:03 PM
Reply to  Vierotchka

I read it. It was nauseating bollocks. Fred West posing as Frank Field….

Vierotchka
Vierotchka
Jan 17, 2020 9:56 PM

It is abundantly clear that either you did not read it or you didn’t understand any of it.

richard le sarc
richard le sarc
Jan 18, 2020 7:42 AM

A serial killer posing as a Blue Labour Sabbat Goy arsehole. Is that how you were conceived, from such a union?

Maggie
Maggie
Jan 18, 2020 8:50 PM

Clearly you didn’t read the transcript… too difficult was it…to have to concentrate for so long?
Strikes me that you should stick to perfecting what you think you are good at given your monika, then at least one person might be satisfied???

CunningLinguist
CunningLinguist
Jan 19, 2020 1:47 AM
Reply to  Maggie

I could understand the cloying obsequiousness for former KGB agent Putin, if you actually lived in Russia, but strangely, his greatest sycophants appear to be the unemployed in Leeds, Manchester, Birmingham etc…

Sophie - Admin1
Admin
Sophie - Admin1
Jan 19, 2020 2:41 AM

The fact you seem to think ‘former KGB agent’ is an auto-condemnation says more about you than anyone else

Maggie
Maggie
Jan 18, 2020 8:46 PM
Reply to  espartaco

Ooops you appear to have hit the nail on the head again. You must stop reading the Hasbara rule book.
Mr Putin is not the boggy man, and the Russian Parliament is not the enemy of their people, unlike the Fascist Government of the US and UK.
1. The government resigned
This sounds dramatic – but even though the Russian government has resigned, it will continue to act as a ‘placeholder’ until a new government is formed.
It did not resign as an act of protest, but rather to facilitate the political changes being made in and orchestrated, planned manoeuvre while a significant power shift takes place.
2. Out with Medvedev, in with Mishustin
Firstly and most importantly, Wednesday saw a power shift from the hands of a former President and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, into the hands of Mikhail Mishustin.
When Medvedev served as President, a role which he occupied 2008 to 2012, it was widely understood that he acted as a ‘placeholder’ for Putin before he returned to the presidency.
The lower house of Russia’s parliament approved Mishustin as the new prime minister at Thursday lunchtime.
Like Putin, he also started his career without obvious political aspirations, as something of a background character, and nobody expected his appointment.
The 53-year-old has been the head of the tax service since 2010, and so brings a degree of technological specialisation.
But before Wednesday, Mishustin didn’t even have an English-language Wikipedia page. And in the English language, only one major article exists on Mishustin, written more than six months ago by Chris Giles, economics editor of the Financial Times However, Mishustin may well be just another ‘placeholder’, even as the powers of the Prime Minister see something of an increase. He seems unlikely to take the reins as President after Putin steps down.
Poor, rich Prime Minister Medvedev, who in the past couple of years has been a wildly unpopular figure, shouldering the blame for wealth inequality in Russia with his duck house and expensive sneakers… He symbolises the deluge of domestic issues that befall the average Russian, such as waste management and pension issues, despite having little control over them. He will now take the position of deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, a significant step-down.
3. The proposed constitutional changes
Putin also announced unprecedented constitutional changes on Wednesday, some of which limited the power of the future Presidency. Previously, the constitution stipulated that no Russian president could serve more than two consecutive terms (hence Medvedev’s placeholder status in 2008-2012). Now, the Russian President may only serve two terms in total.
Putin essentially used his speech to diminish the powers of the presidency, with Parliament being granted a new authority to appoint ministers. This suggests that, after 2024 the new Russian president may have to be accountable to someone or somebody – perhaps the State Council which could be assuming a more pivotal role in the future. This currently fairly unimposing institution could see Putin at its helm after being granted these increased powers.
The proposed constitutional amendments also prevent people who hold a foreign passport (Israelis?) from running for president. This rules out a significant cohort of wealthy Russians with a second citizenship.