- Joined
- Oct 20, 2014
- Messages
- 12,199
- Reaction score
- 4,082
- Location
- #TrumpWasAnInsideJob
- Gender
- Undisclosed
- Political Leaning
- Centrist
'Point of No Return': Russia's Libertarians Lead Protest Against 'Sovereign Internet'
A draft law aimed at creating an internet that can be cut off from the rest of the world’s has raised fears that Russia could turn into the next North Korea.
By Evan Gershkovich
22 hours ago
Vladimir Gerdo / TASS
Svetov, 34, is still a relative newcomer to the Russian opposition scene. During the mass protests of winter 2011-12, he was in England getting his degree in political science. He then lived in Japan and New Zealand, where he worked in film, before coming home in 2016.
Since his return to Russia, he has built up a sizable following on social media: His YouTube channel, through which he discusses the social and political topics of the day, has garnered more than 100,000 subscribers.
маша борзунова@mborzunova
маша борзунова on Twitter: "очередь на рамках на митинге в защиту интернета, люди кричат <<пропускай>>… "
очередь на рамках на митинге в защиту интернета, люди кричат «пропускай»
292
7:46 AM - Mar 10, 2019
51 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
Near the stage on a barricaded section of Akademika Sakharova Prospekt in central Moscow, named for one of the Soviet Union’s most famous dissidents, Svetov paced in circles as he waited his turn to address the gathered crowd. Before him spoke fellow members of the Libertarian Party; Sergei Smirnov, editor of the Mediazona outlet founded by ***** Riot members; and a host of advocates for Russian internet freedom.
Then Svetov jumped on stage, pacing from end to end. “The authorities have no interest in having a dialogue with us, so we need to learn how to defend our own interests,” he yelled to applause.
He also attracted high-profile guests. On Sunday, the IC3PEAK techno group, which gained fame after it was caught up in a wave of restrictions on musicians in Russia over alleged extremism, closed out the afternoon with a short performance.
Alexei, 22, said he would likely emigrate if Russia cut itself off from the global internet. Sign reads: "You what, want it to be like in North Korea?"Evan Gershkovich / MT
NEWS
Putin Wants What China’s Xi Already Has: His Own Internet
READ MORE
Svetov, however, believes not taking the authorities seriously would be a “grandiose mistake.”
“You can make an encyclopedia out of articles written arguing the Kerch bridge couldn’t be built,” he said, referring to the bridge connecting Russia to Crimea that was completed last year.
Andrei Soldatov, the author of “The Red Web: The Kremlin’s Wars on the Internet,” told The Moscow Times that the purpose of the law is to “deprive the mobilization power of the internet for bringing the disgruntled to the streets,” like when the authorities cut off internet service in Ingushetia when protests roiled the Muslim-majority republic in September. “To do this, you must have the option to turn off the internet,” he said.
For his part, Svetov believes the new law was submitted to target Navalny and people like himself who have found success on YouTube. If the legislation is passed, he believes that Russia will hit a “point of no return.”
“It’s easy to get rid of me because I will fight to the point that I can, but I will have to quit if I am threatened with a 10-year prison sentence,” he said on Saturday. “But there will be new people after me. I am much angrier than the people who came out to Bolotnaya Square in 2011. After me, the next wave will be even angrier. So my message to the authorities is simply this: Keep that in mind.”
====================================================================================================================
And the furor at Putin's idiocy and corruption continues to grow.
:2dancing::respekt:
A draft law aimed at creating an internet that can be cut off from the rest of the world’s has raised fears that Russia could turn into the next North Korea.
By Evan Gershkovich
22 hours ago
Svetov, 34, is still a relative newcomer to the Russian opposition scene. During the mass protests of winter 2011-12, he was in England getting his degree in political science. He then lived in Japan and New Zealand, where he worked in film, before coming home in 2016.
Since his return to Russia, he has built up a sizable following on social media: His YouTube channel, through which he discusses the social and political topics of the day, has garnered more than 100,000 subscribers.
маша борзунова@mborzunova
маша борзунова on Twitter: "очередь на рамках на митинге в защиту интернета, люди кричат <<пропускай>>… "
очередь на рамках на митинге в защиту интернета, люди кричат «пропускай»
292
7:46 AM - Mar 10, 2019
51 people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
Near the stage on a barricaded section of Akademika Sakharova Prospekt in central Moscow, named for one of the Soviet Union’s most famous dissidents, Svetov paced in circles as he waited his turn to address the gathered crowd. Before him spoke fellow members of the Libertarian Party; Sergei Smirnov, editor of the Mediazona outlet founded by ***** Riot members; and a host of advocates for Russian internet freedom.
Then Svetov jumped on stage, pacing from end to end. “The authorities have no interest in having a dialogue with us, so we need to learn how to defend our own interests,” he yelled to applause.
He also attracted high-profile guests. On Sunday, the IC3PEAK techno group, which gained fame after it was caught up in a wave of restrictions on musicians in Russia over alleged extremism, closed out the afternoon with a short performance.
NEWS
Putin Wants What China’s Xi Already Has: His Own Internet
READ MORE
Svetov, however, believes not taking the authorities seriously would be a “grandiose mistake.”
“You can make an encyclopedia out of articles written arguing the Kerch bridge couldn’t be built,” he said, referring to the bridge connecting Russia to Crimea that was completed last year.
Andrei Soldatov, the author of “The Red Web: The Kremlin’s Wars on the Internet,” told The Moscow Times that the purpose of the law is to “deprive the mobilization power of the internet for bringing the disgruntled to the streets,” like when the authorities cut off internet service in Ingushetia when protests roiled the Muslim-majority republic in September. “To do this, you must have the option to turn off the internet,” he said.
For his part, Svetov believes the new law was submitted to target Navalny and people like himself who have found success on YouTube. If the legislation is passed, he believes that Russia will hit a “point of no return.”
“It’s easy to get rid of me because I will fight to the point that I can, but I will have to quit if I am threatened with a 10-year prison sentence,” he said on Saturday. “But there will be new people after me. I am much angrier than the people who came out to Bolotnaya Square in 2011. After me, the next wave will be even angrier. So my message to the authorities is simply this: Keep that in mind.”
====================================================================================================================
And the furor at Putin's idiocy and corruption continues to grow.
:2dancing::respekt: