If you dissent….

Freedom of speech is a messy thing, but precious

T

he sentence handed down to Alexei Moskalyov on March 28th was outrageous: two years in a prison colony for posting a few anti-war comments on social media, which were investigated only after his daughter, Masha, made a pro-Ukrainian drawing in class. But prosecutors had signalled this was the sentence they required, and in Russia’s judicial system they were not going to be disappointed. The surprise was that the defendant was not actually in the room when the sentence was read out. After the verdict, the court press officer loudly explained why: he had fled house arrest overnight. 

The prosecution and conviction herald a new type of Kremlin clampdown: separating families as a punishment for anti-war activism. Outside the courtroom, Mr Moskalyov’s lawyer, Vladimir Biliyenko, expressed shock. “Never have I seen a verdict delivered without a defendant,” he said. “All I can say is I hope he is safe. Where is a secondary concern to me.” A day later, Mr Moskalyov was detained in a safehouse in Minsk, the Belarusian capital. He had apparently been in the process of being smuggled to the West

The Moskalyovs’ story began just under a year ago when Masha, 12 at the time, was asked to produce a drawing in support of Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine. For most of the students at her school in Yefremov, a fossilised town five hours’ drive south of Moscow, it was a straightforward task. But Masha produced a drawing showing her understanding of the truths: a young family, missiles flying, with the captions “No to war” and “Glory to Ukraine.” Her horrified teacher reported the matter to the headmistress, who apparently passed it on to the police. A day later, both Masha and her father were frogmarched out of the school by men in uniform. “The other students looked out from the windows, as if we were terrorists,” Mr Moskalyov later told local media. 

A case against Mr Moskalyov was opened when prosecutors discovered his own anti-war posts on social media. He was fined 32,000 roubles ($415) for expressing his anger over reports of Russian soldiers who had raped Ukrainian women. He tried to put a line under the incident by taking his daughter out of school and moving to another town. But just before the new year, security services again raided his home. Mr Moskalyov says they confiscated his family savings (worth about $4,750), beat him, smashed his head against the wall and played the Russian national anthem at high volume. Prosecutors opened a case against him for “repeated discrediting” of the Russian army, which could mean up to three years in jail and separation

 from his daughter.

On March 1st Mr Moskalyov was arrested on his way home from work. The same day, Masha was taken away and placed in a children’s home. A parallel process to strip Mr Moskalyov of parental rights, amounting to a complete separation between parent and child, is due to be heard on April 6th. 

Mr Biliyenko said the legal process was being used to punish father and daughter for their anti-war positions. The two are very close, he said, and separation would hurt both of them: “They support each other. They are happy in each other’s company. Everything else is irrelevant for them.” A letter written by Masha from the shelter, later released by activists, emphasised the close bond. “Hi Dad,” the letter reads. “I love you a lot and want you to know that what you are doing is right…You are my hero.”

When your correspondent tried to visit the children’s shelter, a spartan building behind a tall green fence, a security guard shouted him away. Mr Biliyenko says he fears for Masha’s well-being, and that there are rumours she has attempted suicide. 

Mr Moskalyov’s case is the most egregious of its kind, but similar ones have been reported elsewhere in Russia. In February police prosecuted a family in Moscow after their daughter posted a St Javelin avatar, a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, on social media. In Dagestan, a region in southern Russia, a schoolgirl was forced to apologise on camera after saying “Glory to Ukraine, Putin is a bastard” at assembly on the last day of school.

And in Buryatia, in Siberia, authorities placed a 16-year-old disabled boy in care after his foster mother, Natalya Filonova, an anti-war activist, was arrested. His foster father was hospitalised after a heart attack. The boy was not allowed to attend his mother’s court case. A leaked recording of a conversation with an orphanage worker suggested Ms Filonovaya should have “known better…than to piss against the wind”. 

According to ovd-Info, a human-rights watchdog, over 500 minors have been arrested and seven criminally prosecuted since the start of the war. With the authorities encouraging loyalists to snitch on their anti-war neighbours, the practice of hitting dissenters where it hurts—their families—is set to continue. “They will go after others, imprison more people, and take more children away from their parents,” says Mr Biliyenko. “Children of enemies of the state. That’s the example they are creating for anyone who might think about opening their mouth.” ?

The West will soon follow with all their hate speech laws. Here in SA they're already pushing a law that will make hate speech a crime - in many poorly defined forms.

Zombie Apocalypse is the only thing to save us from self-destruction. 

Mozart

I agree with you about freedom of speech.   It should be allowed universally and not selectively.   In Russia the situation is unacceptable - but what about the USA where -

*   the FBI and Cia are let loose on any opposition to the Biden Regime - many examples of that;

*   the Justvice Department and White House call parents protesting about the education takes place including sex education for children - they are indoctrinated to hate their parents -  Domestic Terrorists;

*    the WH tried to establish a Disinformation Body to declare any opposition to the Regime Disinformation - they claimed the idea that the body is not functioning - but all indications are they are indeed operational;

*     The Biden Administration liaise with the media and internet platforms to declare any criticism that could damage the image of the Democratic Party - proven by the Twitter files released;

*      The January 6 incident was turned into a terrorist attack on democracy - which it definitely was not the case - reference here is to disinformation and Government lies.

As much as I detest the Russians attack on freedom of speech - the same can be siad of efforts by the USA to also oppress free speech.     I never saw you once criticizing the above - so why not?        

Covid was used as a weapon to declare unwanted opinions dangerous….that’s been extended to other things. Not a welcome development, but a far cry from jailing dissenters for the written word and splitting up families.

Mozart

What about jailing over 500 people for more than 2 years  without charges and trials - that is more than the Russian concerned got.   Try again - the Justice Department and FBI an d CI A has been captured and is now subsidiaries  of the Biden Regime. 

The latest BS is charging an 85 year-old woman with charges of participating in a riot by entering the Capitol n January 6.   She entered with a crowd and did nothing bar standing around and the dumb and biased Justice Department is charging her with an attack on the Capitol,    I call it dumb and based on lies - but it is in reality just as bad as the case of the Russian you quoted.                 

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

Winston Churchill

So to condemn Moscow on freedom of speech is also to condemn Ukraine. Reporters just don't get visas in Ukraine if they are merely neutral.

Mozart

Why are you quiet about the over 500 people held for near to 30 months in jail in the USA without any charges after the Alleged January 6 "terrorist attack"  on the Capitol.   with the Justice Department withholding  critical evidence from the defense lawyers illegally and unconstitutionally.    Looks to me the glorious democracy is fast going the Chinese way and that Democracy in the USA are under serious attack by the Biden puppet regime.             

"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

Winston Churchill"

^^^^^

This!!!

^^^^^        ???

Who are those that place trust on a media platform that tells lies about other people they know absolutely zero about. Who form opinions by regurgitating automatically what they read from media that creates and designs false atrocity propaganda to weaponise and ostracise and blacken them?

It clearly appears, it is those that know the very least, if any at all. Not that any, certainly here know very much.

There is more than one side to an issue. Listen to the parties involved in a matter. As it is said in Latin, audi alteram partem, which means hear the other side; hear both sides. (Black’s Law Dictionary). In other words, “no man should be condemned unheard.” Don’t judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay. All you’re told may not be the truth or the whole truth. Get the other side of the story. There can’t be justice without a fair hearing.

Nicodemus, a secret disciple of Jesus who was a member of the Jewish Council asked his colleagues, “Does our law condemn anyone without first hearing him to find out what he is doing?” (John 7:51 New International Version). That didn’t sit well with them because they had made up their minds about Jesus. But Nicodemus was right. He wanted them to do the right thing and not condemn a man without giving him a fair hearing. They eventually crucified Jesus even when Pilate didn’t find Him guilty. What manner of justice was that?

Don’t judge by hearsay. The first time David had the opportunity of killing Saul but didn’t, he said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Indeed David seeks your harm’?” (1 Samuel 24:9 New King James Version). Saul was acting on hearsay, pursuing David everywhere to kill him. Don’t act on mere hearsay. Establish the truth. Proverbs 18:13 says, “What a shame-yes, how stupid!-to decide before knowing the facts!” (The Living Bible). As a child of God, don’t ignore His help as you seek to know the facts. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6 New King James Version). This is very important.

Treasury of Scripture

Woe to them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Proverbs 17:15

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.

Malachi 2:17

Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?

SebKleb

UN: Nearly two-thirds of Ukraine's children have fled homes

BB

I am sorry - but that was not an original Churchill statement - it was originally coined by Byrnes in the 1800's.   Another example of a misquote is Roosevelt who siad "every American must have a chicken in the pot every Sunday".    That one came from King Henri IV of France in the 1600's.   

Henri IV was called Henri the Great by the French - he was a benevolent ruler - but the French admired his sexual prowess more - he had 249 illegitimate children with 52 mistresses - he became father of his first child when he was 14 years old.   

A dead give away to liars is that they don't want investigation.

An innocent suspect should have no qualms about a fair and thorough joint investigation into one of worst acts of terrorist sabotage recorded in history, Nord Stream.

USA and its cowardly sycophants avoids this.

The silence is deafening.

Don't worry about hypocrites, it's obvious to see the pots calling the kettles black.

A dead give away to liars is that they don't want investigation.

Except there is 3 ongoing investigations conducted by Germany, Sweden and Denmark.

An innocent suspect should have no qualms about a fair and thorough joint investigation into one of worst acts of terrorist sabotage recorded in history, Nord Stream.

Hmm so you think its a good idea that potential suspect in the attack jointly conducts the investigation. Russia has proven itself to be a dishonest and corrupt state actor and quite correctly should be let no where near the investigation.

Don't worry about hypocrites, it's obvious to see the pots calling the kettles black.

Look in the mirror.

"Russia has proven itself to be a dishonest and corrupt state actor and quite correctly should be let no where near the investigation".

Not any more or less perhaps than any other nation and who was the judge and jury...the western kangaroo court of media opinion...Bahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Look in the mirror, suggest we all do the same.

But I prefer seeking God for guidance...He shows every day, our sins, faults and iniquities and where one should up their game and I trust Him. Far better. You and Blob Bot  have a lot hatred, disdain and anger. I pity you. Life is much better without it.

We have enemies in the world as they hate Christ and God so I do expect scorn, but thats ok.

Going fishing before the lord of the flies, Sgt Peeper and Beezlebub start buzzing around. Over and out.

Senior player

2241 posts

But I prefer seeking God for guidance...He shows every day, our sins, faults and iniquities and where one should up their game and I trust Him. Far better.

You and Blob Bot have a lot of hatred, disdain and anger. I pity you. Life is much better without it.

We have enemies in the world as they hate Christ and God so I do expect scorn, but that's ok.

------
This clown assumes that the biblical God is true.
Someone needs to break it to him that he is talking about an imaginary friend that he uses for moral guidance or more often for virtue signalling.
He explains his own opinions as the word of God. 

Keep on trusting in yourself and ultimately the devil, Sharkbait. 

Thing is about Satan, he doesn't have a plan for his followers. Ever thought of that?He knows he's doomed and yet he used to walk in the very presence of God. 

He knows he's doomed and yet he used to walk in the very presence of God.

Doomed to what? He seems to be going pretty strong for the last few thousand years. If you believe in this kind of thing, you might even say he's winning.

Stav

If it comes to lies and dishonesty I would not blame Russia alone for being dishonest.   The USA Democratic Party has a record on lying  that is beyond comparison by any country in the world today.

*    five years of lying about collusion between Trump and  Putin - you should have been embarrassed as to how you fell for it.

*     There is no US controlled biolabs in Ukraine and then the US Government admitted there ar indeed biolabs in Ukraine in a Senate hearing.   The Assistant Secretary of State  knew she could not lie in Senate because that entails a 10 year jail sentence and she knew the evidence denial would end her in jail.

*     The Nordstream pipeline - Putin had it blown up

*      The Covid pandemic originated from the wet-market selling fish in Wuhan - not from the  gain-of-function research done in the Wuhan Laboratory - funded by US taxpayers

*       When parents protest about education and the Stalinist method in education children ins schools to hate their parents and receive sexual porn in schools  and advancing sex change operation in schools  by children without the parents being involved - they are called domestic terrorists and the FBI assigned to take action against protesting parents.

*       When the Mexican border is wide open and over 7 million illegal migrants entered the USA since Biden took over - they claim the border is not open.   Criminals, terrorists and drugs are flooding into the USA with the help of the Mexican cartels.

*       The Hunter Biden laptop is Russian disinformation.   

*      The murder of 5 police officers in the "insurrection"  on January 6 - the was a protest that got out of hand and the result was a stream of lies that came out as propaganda lies.   .   

*       Biden does not know the difference between lies and truth.   He dreamed up stories about his past achievement - one actually involve a tale he came up with about him being detained by the S A Police when eh was n his way to meet Mandela in Soweto - Johannesburg.   It was a lie - Mandela was then in the Paarl near Cape Town -1600 kilometers from Johannesburg.   The erstwhile  Secretary of State Young - who was with him on that visit - said it never happened.    Biden claimed he was involved in the chaotic evacuation of Vietnam - he never was near Vietnam.   H e was involved in the civil rights movement of the 1960's when he was mentored  by the erstwhile  KKK Grand Wizard. 

If the US President comes up with consisted lies - what can one expect from his subordinates?  Lies - lies and lies.                    

"doomed to what"

Satan is on a leash but as you rightly say still very powerful.

Math25v41 says he is ultimately bound for the eternal fire. 

"^^^^^        ???

When life was simple and good, my late father loved this song when people were sane and without malice and hatred and fixed things...a beautiful era, now its very rare, there is just hatred, pain and perversion and they just lap it up. Thanks to the blessings and good things that I was privileged to grow up in. Dad saw war in the desert, was wounded but rarely spoke of it. He worked all his life at Greenmarket Sq., for Shell and had a German work colleague who he befriended who fought on the opposite side. In those days men were greater than their circumstances.

https://youtu.be/ePbVNAf11bY

There is no such thing as a perfect generation….the world is just more complex today. One thing remains true though, democracy and its handmaiden capitalism have created the magnificent material world we occupy. 

So three Ukranian writers boycotted the Adelaide Writers week because Palestinian writer Susan Abulhawa,  was included.

She had shared a tweet from Putin

Zelenskyy would rather drag the world into the inferno of World War III, instead of giving up NATO ambitions. He would rather pull us all into slaughter than allow Ukraine to prosper as a neutral nation.

MR

Zelenskyy is making a massive personal fortune out of the war and so are politicians in the USA - the Biden Cabinet in particular - but also politicians from both major parties in the USA as well.   Why should they not continue with this lovely war they so strongly support?

Things are going fine for the warmongers on site.    World War 3 is being  promoted by them - but there is a problem - no ordinary people anywhere in the world would support WW3 starting because of the weak US Government promoting war to hide the effects of corruption and with the Biden Administration turning everything they touched into shit.