Crime as a deterrent for justice: it seems an interesting if not farcical statement, especially given our affection for prosecuting those who dabble in criminal activity. Were you to rob a bank today and be caught, chances are you would face some measure of justice in the courts. The very idea that you could rob a bank in plain sight of police, the crown attorney and a judge as a means of furthering your own interests/power while making obsolete and impotent your opposition is the stuff that Machiavellian rappers and wannabe gang-bangers dream of. Still even the dullest and daftest of those kinds of dreamers would eventually realize that you simply can’t walk away from justice, unless of course you’re talking about Russian politics.
A few days ago, the Russian courts handed down a guilty verdict for the men who were already serving prison sentences for the related crime. Confusing? Let me break it down then: In 2005 oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev, were found guilty of fraud and tax evasion. No real surprise that fraud and tax evasion occurred (or still does) within the upper echelons of Russian society, the real interesting point is the timing of the previous trial. Khodorkovsky was a political opponent to Putin and directly financed and supported opposition to his government. It sounds unfathomable, but for an individual – and one would suspect an upper class/government/society – with a “Motherland complex” it is brushed off as defending the interests of Russia against those who would weaken it.
Sure, in all likelihood the two men in question likely did commit some measure of white-collar crime, but here they are effectively being found guilty in a second trial simply because their first sentence was due to expire. Oh and interestingly enough, they’re accused by the prosecution of stealing what adds up to ALL of the oil produced by their company Yukos. They have had many in government and the private sector state in their defence that there is no way they could have stolen some $27-30 billion worth of oil, and even logic seems to be a sound member of their defence team in this matter.
Enter the wild wild West, who have accused the Russian government and judiciary of once again purging the good natured will of democracy for the sake of power and tyrannical rule. It’s not the first time that dissidents have been silenced mind you as those who oppose Russia, or specific individuals to be sure (including those who pen words against their elite), tend to find themselves in a paranoid exile or as an assassination headline. Charming. But nonetheless Secretary of State Clinton said the ruling would hurt Russia’s reputation (which was apparently more Winnie the Pooh than Russian Grizzly), and the German foreign minister said it was a step back from democracy, while others said it was a selective application of justice.
From a political perspective, the very fact that Russia is acknowledging Western concern over the trial by saying the West is “meddling” lends a lot more credibility to the idea of it being a rigged verdict rather than saying something like “the Russian legal system is separate State actor that has no direction from any special interests or government, and only deals with the merits and arguments surrounding each individual case.” Really, does that sound so difficult? Well to a degree it is, since the implication surrounding the idea of an individual being charged a second time for a crime for which his current sentence is due to expire seems incredibly crooked. But attacking the credibility of your opponent is no way to make friends, while at the same time it exposes you to the same kind of critique.
With this in mind countries like Canada, the United States and Great Britain should be ever mindful of their own shortcomings – both domestic and global – and work towards eliminating or at the very least minimize them before they take pot-shots at other nation’s behaviours. For Canada this can range anywhere from our continued ignorance of aboriginal issues, to the case of Omar Khadr, to our policy of blanket support for Israel. The United States is a bit of an easy target with the war in Iraq, its hot and cold stances towards human rights centered on what one presumes to be either a magic 8 ball or their own interests, or their constant finger pointing towards other governments, as well as their mistress in the form of Israel, not to mention their incredibly selective application of the principles of democracy as they continue to support oppressive governments who stunt democratic institutions. Britain has an issue similar to the latter of the US, as well as their role in invading Iraq, bowing to pressures from Libya concerning the release of the Lockerbie bomber, increased xenophobia around their Muslim communities and so forth.
I’m not trying to suggest that Russia is an angel, nor am I going to label them a pariah in the global community. Their government actively contributes to areas of genuine good and cooperation at times – for what intention is almost irrelevant – but should embrace change and transparency in an attempt to soothe the discontent both at home and abroad. Oppression is a marvellous tactic for the unimaginative and insecure, maybe that’s all this whole situation really comes down to. Think of it as high school in that it’s the guys who act with the most bravado and ignorance that are really the most insecure; and yet the girls somehow fall for them and end up unhappy in later life. This time the guy is represented by Russian politics, and the girl is somehow represented by the Russian people. Let’s just hope that the Motherland doesn’t get too upset when her daughter comes home crying and wondering how it could have gone so wrong. While he continues to exert authority and influence over Russian domestic and foreign policies, it is important to realize that until there is a stronger image of justice and mature behaviour from other nations, such criticism of any individual or government will be met with the same wave of the hand. Putin may go the way of the Czar - and what a shame it would be to miss out on Russia’s James Dean - but we too must leave what is our worst in pursuit of higher virtues. 
No comments:
Post a Comment