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Post by Mr. Tony Weckström on Jan 17, 2008 7:17:33 GMT -6
The DPD strongly condemns the actions of the Russian Government to harass and scare local British Council workers, by having them "interviewed" by the FSB (formerly KGB), which still scares the local Russian people, working with or for the British Council in Russia, for example claiming that the British Council's work in Russia is "illegal"!!! The DPD calls upon all nations, the UN, the EU and the US to intervene and allow the British Council to continue it's work without let or hinder as soon as possible. Tony Weckström Royal Ambassador to the Republic of Finland Founder of the DPD |
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Post by Aspra Roseta Laira on Jan 17, 2008 20:54:28 GMT -6
Correct me if I'm wrong, but when the Council was given orders by Russia to close its doors, it remained open -- after it was commanded to close by the Russian government. I don't think the Council (a private establishment) consulted the British government on their decision to remain open. With the tense relations between Russian and Britain already, I wonder if it was wise for the Council to not act on the orders given by their host country. If they "legally" produced orders to ensure that the Council close up shop, then wouldn't it be "illegal" for them to continue their work after given those orders?
Again, I'm not an expert on this by any means, my info just came from a BBC interview. I still don't think harassment of any sort should be condoned, if that is what the FSB are, in fact, doing. Just wondering if I don't have all the facts.
Aspra aka Mollie
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Post by Deleted on Jan 17, 2008 22:09:29 GMT -6
Is it really necessary for individual parties to start condemning things like this?
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Post by Mr. Tony Weckström on Jan 18, 2008 3:54:21 GMT -6
Dear Sir, I believe it to be very important for the political parties to involve themselves in these affairs. It is one way of showing the party's political line in the matter. It is just as important as individuals showing their views, and other institutions, agencies, governments etc... Kind regards, Tony WeckströmIs it really necessary for individual parties to start condemning things like this? |
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Post by Mr. Tony Weckström on Jan 18, 2008 4:02:53 GMT -6
The Russian Government has no legal right to tell the British Council to close it's doors. The British Council is registered in Russia, pays taxes, and it is protected by the Vienna Convention and other international laws. The actions of Russia is as it was before; "to be respected, it must be feared"... This is the mentality, and the clear actions it is taking again. The FSB is the former KGB - extremely feared by all Russians. Now taking into account, that most of the staff at the British Council in Russia are Russian nationals, it is clear harassment by the FSB to question them into the night about their habits, or even how their pets are doing, and telling them that their work for the British Council is illegal. The Russian Ambassador to the United Kingdom has been called to the Foreign Office to answer for this - what the answers will be, we will see in the near future. Her Majesty's Ambassador to Russia was already at Russia's Foreign Office to extend his country's condemnation to the actions of Russia. The UK could just as easily expel Cultural Attachés from Russian Consulates and the Embassy in the UK - but it won't, as it follows international law, and respects that law - unlike the Russians are doing in this matter. As Talossa's Ambassador to Finland, the neighboring country to Russia, I would ask the official opinion of the Talossan government in this issue - do we condone the actions of the Russians, or condemn them like nearly all other countries have? Kind regards, Tony WeckströmCorrect me if I'm wrong, but when the Council was given orders by Russia to close its doors, it remained open -- after it was commanded to close by the Russian government. I don't think the Council (a private establishment) consulted the British government on their decision to remain open. With the tense relations between Russian and Britain already, I wonder if it was wise for the Council to not act on the orders given by their host country. If they "legally" produced orders to ensure that the Council close up shop, then wouldn't it be "illegal" for them to continue their work after given those orders? Again, I'm not an expert on this by any means, my info just came from a BBC interview. I still don't think harassment of any sort should be condoned, if that is what the FSB are, in fact, doing. Just wondering if I don't have all the facts. Aspra aka Mollie |
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Post by Owen Edwards on Jan 18, 2008 5:36:34 GMT -6
Aspra:
You ask a valid question. Indeed, the real issue here is that the Russian Government chose to remove an organisation from their soil that they saw as a Westernizing influence. The order was legal only insomuchas Putin is virtually a dictator and creates law; by any common standards it was bizarre and illegal, as well as an obviously desperate attempt to cause friction and put the West at a remove (it's so much easier for the common man to hate them then).
I had thought we'd gotten this whole...ahem...defecating contest out of our systems 20 years ago.
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Post by Aspra Roseta Laira on Jan 18, 2008 10:05:22 GMT -6
Thank you Tony and Owen for the additional information on the matter. I suppose that if the Council had followed Russian orders and disbanded, that would not have solved the issue at hand. Yes, I too thought the cold war was over.
Aspra
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Post by Sir Alexandreu Davinescu on Jan 18, 2008 13:03:15 GMT -6
As Talossa's Ambassador to Finland, the neighboring country to Russia, I would ask the official opinion of the Talossan government in this issue - do we condone the actions of the Russians, or condemn them like nearly all other countries have? The government has taken no position on the matter, to my knowledge, nor has the Ziu. |
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Capt. Sir Mick Preston
Capitán of the Zouaves
Posts: 6,511
Talossan Since: 9-21-2006
Knight Since: 10-12-2010
Motto: Cuimhnichibh air na daoine bho'n d'thainig sibh
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Post by Capt. Sir Mick Preston on Jan 18, 2008 14:05:01 GMT -6
If the King would like to send the Secretary of State on a fact finding mission...
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King John
King of Talossa
Posts: 2,415
Talossan Since: 5-7-2005
Knight Since: 11-30-2005
Motto: COR UNUM
King Since: 3-14-2007
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Post by King John on Jan 18, 2008 16:57:00 GMT -6
OK, sure.
"Hey, Mick. Go to Russia and find facts."
There, that was easy.
It's *good* to be King.
— John R
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Capt. Sir Mick Preston
Capitán of the Zouaves
Posts: 6,511
Talossan Since: 9-21-2006
Knight Since: 10-12-2010
Motto: Cuimhnichibh air na daoine bho'n d'thainig sibh
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Post by Capt. Sir Mick Preston on Jan 18, 2008 18:32:04 GMT -6
WAIT!!! RUSSIA?  I thought you meant London.... Hold on a second here... |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2008 0:40:44 GMT -6
Let's compromise, Siberia!
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Post by Catrina Þestra on Jan 19, 2008 6:39:09 GMT -6
In the dead of the Siberian winter?!  |
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Brad Holmes
Cunstaval to Maritiimi-Maxhestic
Atatürkey, and flying by the seat of my RUMP
Posts: 1,014
Talossan Since: 3-16-2006
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Post by Brad Holmes on Jan 19, 2008 8:55:04 GMT -6
WAIT!!! RUSSIA? I thought you meant London.... Hold on a second here... Frost BURRRRN! |
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Vit Caçeir
"I hated being AG so much I fled as far from it as literally possible."
Posts: 810
Talossan Since: 11-19-2007
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Post by Vit Caçeir on Jan 19, 2008 14:09:19 GMT -6
While I agree that the Russian government, particularly the questionable election results (and motives used by the United Russia Party in the afformentioned election) under Vladimir Putin, deserves suspicion from the international community, and I also believe the international community should work to prevent the purported Russia/Belarus merger between Putin and Lukashenko, this particular situation is still shrouded in much diplomatic mist.
Do not misunderstand me, S:reu Weckström, I do not condone actions taken by the Russian Government, in fact I strongly condemn them. However, I believe no official action should be taken in this particular instance until more information is known about the current situation.
Putin's executive power, backed by the now dominating force of United Russia (a political party which has more seats than required to make both Constitutional Amendments and Normal Laws without any fear of veto or any "real" opposition within the Russian Duma) has gotten to the state of dictatorship in all but name. Communism as a economical policy in the Russian Federation may be gone, but authoritarianism is not. Scrutiny should be taken into consideration when dealing with anyone from Czar Putin's regieme.
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