How does Mr. Putin deal with opponents? Let us look at a recent example. Mr. Navalny has been critical of the Kremlin and policies emanating from its hallways. Since Mr. Putin took over from his surragate Mr. Medvedev, the Russyan political landscape has been littered with the skeletons of Mr. P's opponents. If one chooses not to abide the Novorussya, then you are ostracized, or sent away to prison.
Today, in an earlier than expected decision, a Moscow court found Mr. Navalny and his brother, Oleg, guilty of fraud and money laundering. In Russya, money laundering is a term for exchanging roubles for euros or dollars or anything other than the fiat paper printed by the Kremlin, now worth half what it was just 6 months ago. However, despite being convicted of these "crimes", Mr. Navalny was not imprisoned, only Oleg was sent away to the cooler. This is the Russyan way: "when in doubt, get the whole family involved in the "crime".
Alexei Navalny was then promptly taken to his place of residence where he was placed under "house" arrest, because he had violated an earlier sentence of house arrest to attend a protest against Mr. P.
Other protesters at the demonstration wanted to show their support of the brothers and to rally to the cause of opposing the Kremlin. About 100 were detained by riot police. The brothers were also ordered to pay fines of $8700, and about $48,000 in another case. The court decision will be appealed by both defendants.
Now that the long, cold winter has settled in over the vast lands of Russya, it will be interesting to watch as the price of oil sinks further and the predicted recession grabs the economy by the throat and begins to squeeze the life from those few Russyans who have any life left after living with Mad Vlad for the last 14+ years. What does the FSB do during a Russyan winter, besides drink vodka by the liter?
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