Happy Day of Soviet Political Prisoners!
Interfax reports that today used to be the annual day in Russia for commemorating Soviet political repression. Apparently, Russians now think that repression was a good idea, as the subsequent post on Vladimir Rakhmankov illustrates.
There are some 900,000 victims of political reprisals in Russia, according to the Memorial international charitable human rights society. "Among them are those who suffered political repression and also members of their families, and most of them are elderly people whose ranks are thinning," the Memorial's Executive Director Yelena Zhemkova told Interfax on Sunday.
Victims of political repression will be commemorated in Russia on Monday, October 30. This date was formerly observed as the Day of Soviet Political Prisoners. Zhemkova complained that authorities have not been attentive enough to victims of political reprisals. "The recent shift from social benefits to cash payments had an impact on the Law on the Rehabilitation of Victims of Political Repression, passed 15 years ago, causing the victims' living standards to fall. Matters related to social benefits for victims of political reprisals were relegated to regional authoritieis. Of course, those residing in Moscow and St.Petersburg are better off than in poorer regions. Therefore, ex-prisoners of the same concentration camp, who live in different regions, are entitled to different cash benefits," Zhemkova said.
Labels:
neo-soviet crackdown,
russia
3 comments:
I wonder how many of these "900,000 victims of political reprisals" ironically endorse Putin?
What a sad and sordid country where each generation cannibalizes the next.
Their silence insured with their social benefits, watching before their eyes Putin re-Stalinize the country, there isn't a wimper from yesterday's "victims". What's disgraceful is that this is the very group that should be publically protesting, demanding a free press, fair courts and a healthy politcal opposition in Russia.
People essentially get the government they deserve.
Indeed, well said. And how many of the millions not lucky enough to be alive are now spinning in their graves!
There were protests, and quite productive.
I get it. They productively protested when their benefits were tampered with, but, don't now that fascism is descending upon their grandchildren.
In other words they really don't give a damn that basic freedoms are being violated as long as they've got their daily bread. That's been an enduring theme in Russian literature, hasn't it, rodent?
People get the government they deserve.
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