Please feel free to weigh in.

Given what happened with the Kremlin and Yukos earlier this year, and now news today that a similar thing is happening with Russian wireless infrastructure companies, not to mention what's going on with the Ukranian elections right now...do you think that the Russian government is trying to nationalize the country's infrasttructure? I'm really thinking less and less of Putin as I think he may be trying to revert back to a much more totalitarian state. Maybe even communism...who knows.

For those that don't know, earlier this year, the Kremlin hit Yukos(The largest publicly traded Russian oil company) with a tax bill(something in the billions of dollars if memory serves) that they couldn't pay, essentially forcing the company to go bankrupt, and then allowing the Kremlin to take over their assets. Yukos management ended up fleeing the country.

Now today, the Kremlin is doing a similar thing with Vimplecom, a large, publicly traded Russian wireless infrastructure company. They are hitting them with a $157M tax bill, which is more than the company can pay..similar situation.

Not to mention the Ukranian elections...

My recollection of the stories may be a bit off on some details, but the big picture should be correct. I speculate that this is all very telling of more to come.


Before long it'll be back to bread lines and total control from the helm. What do you guys think? Seems to me like the Kremlin is finding the most profitable, fastest growing companies and then systematically finding ways to take over their assets. Frankly, this shit scares me.

Last edited by Shakka on Dec-08-2004 at 16:09

think your essentially right, i really think russia might fall back into a communist state, which would be pretty scary. Hopefully things will slowly turn around but right now i agree it isnt looking good. Any other thoughts?

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David & Carr

supposedly very soon after the chechnya massacre, the russian gov't had then decided that the people are incapable of voting a suitable person into office... if that is actually accurate, that is already a sign that the iron curtain may make a come back...

i read this from the new york times and seeing as how i don't have an account, maybe someone here could find and post it...

What you have to realise is the russian peope feel vunrable and weak now, they want the old days back. And Putin is promising to do that. And they like it.

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If you can read this, I'm seriously fucking bored.

quote:

Originally posted by Dervish What you have to realise is the russian peope feel vunrable and weak now, they want the old days back. And Putin is promising to do that. And they like it.

The old days of bread lines, food shortages, and poor quality services? Or are you referring to the "stability" of a 5 year plan?

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka The old days of bread lines, food shortages, and poor quality services? Or are you referring to the "stability" of a 5 year plan?

lol, tusche, but i think the russsian people are thinking that they might be better off back in their communist state of being rather then the corruptness which exists now... dont ask me, its sad either way

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David & Carr

quote:

Originally posted by Petrogad lol, tusche, but i think the russsian people are thinking that they might be better off back in their communist state of being rather then the corruptness which exists now... dont ask me, its sad either way

lol...it's touché...but I agree, it is in a sad state right now. One might argue that they are still struggling because the government continues to refuse to give up its power and control to the people in the form of increased personal and economic freedom. They're in limbo, which is really not a better position to be in.

touche''' cant do that e thing so ah well.

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David & Carr

quote:

Originally posted by Petrogad touche''' cant do that e thing so ah well.

Me neither. I had to cut and paste a symbol out of MS Word. I would hate to correct someone and not be technically correct myself!

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka The old days of bread lines, food shortages, and poor quality services? Or are you referring to the "stability" of a 5 year plan?

If you ever see any reports on your news channels (which I am most certainly convinced you wont have) about the new EU states from eastern Europe and you hear the people there talking about capitalism, they all say they were better off under communism. Practically zero unemployment and zero crime. Nationalisation is not a bad thing, in fact it is a very good thing for alot of things, including health care, education and every natural monopoly. Just because it is hammered into your culture that everything has to be run by private companies and fuck everyone who cant afford it, its no reason to pass judgement on a process that many people not only thing is good, but want...

quote:

Originally posted by George Smiley If you ever see any reports on your news channels (which I am most certainly convinced you wont have) about the new EU states from eastern Europe and you hear the people there talking about capitalism, they all say they were better off under communism. Practically zero unemployment and zero crime. Nationalisation is not a bad thing, in fact it is a very good thing for alot of things, including health care, education and every natural monopoly. Just because it is hammered into your culture that everything has to be run by private companies and fuck everyone who cant afford it, its no reason to pass judgement on a process that many people not only thing is good, but want...

P'sha. Nothing like living life at the level of the weakest link. I prefer something above mediocrity, thank you. The standard of living under communist rule in Russia was the best!

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka The old days of bread lines, food shortages, and poor quality services? Or are you referring to the "stability" of a 5 year plan?

Well, I don't see the majority of Russians living any better now than they were before. Infact, they're mostly living worse off than they did in the communist regime, aside for a few exceptions.

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