Georgia's South Ossetia Conflict - Political Commentary

[kaur]

badtux wrote:

In other words, if you want to prove a conspiracy theory whereby Russia chose the time that Georgia invaded, this won't do it. Not to mention that it greatly mis-states the role of the Russian government in the Russian press. Russia is not the former Soviet Union, and the Russian press isn't a branch of the government. The Russian press is not a free press by any means -- media outlets that report things not beloved by the government find themselves charged with "extremism" and shut down, so they tend to self-censor very well, and as with the U.S. many major media outlets are owned by government supporters -- but a government official can't just say "Report on this or you go to the gulag" like back during Soviet days.

What firm is the owner of biggest TV companies? Gazprom media. Who is the owner of the firm? Bank Rossija. Who are the owners of the bank? 2 brothers, who are friends of Putin from the middle of 90s. How the state bacame owner of Gazprom? Too long story. Who is the owner of English language Russia Today? Russian state structures. How does Presidential administration give direct orders to TV? Just read Russian free newspapers. This show is really manipulated. Belive me. Plus there is intensive narrative building. You can't underestimate this. To fight terrorists or states, in the end this is all the same. It is all about belief and narratives.

To illustrate little bit this thinking I suggest you to look at this table that is originally from Russian business daily "Vedomosti".

http://www.compromat.ru/main/putin/image/kovalchuki.gif

If you can read Russian, then in the beginning of August this article was published by Russian "Newsweek."

http://www.compromat.ru/main/prismi/tvcenz.htm

Conspiracy theories started already couple months ago. For example. During 10 days in may Jamestown reported.

ANNEXATION AND MILITARIZATION OF ABKHAZIA CONTINUE APACE
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373020

RUSSIA REINFORCES FORCES IN ABKHAZIA AS A POSSIBILITY OF ARMED CONFLICT LOOMS
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373024

RUSSIA DOUBLING ITS TROOPS IN GEORGIA’S ABKHAZIA REGION
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373028

RUSSIA’S STRANGE “PEACEKEEPING” OPERATION IN ABKHAZIA
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373029

INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PASSIVE AS RUSSIA MOVES TROOPS INTO ABKHAZIA
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373032

THE WEST RESPONDS WEAKLY TO RUSSIAN CHALLENGES IN GEORGIA: PART I
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373036

THE WEST CAN RESPOND MORE EFFECTIVELY TO RUSSIA'S ASSAULT ON GEORGIA: PART II
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373040

THE WEST CAN RESPOND MORE EFFECTIVELY TO RUSSIA'S ASSAULT ON GEORGIA: PART III
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373044

WILL PRESIDENT MEDVEDEV’S FIRST CRISIS BE GEORGIA?
http://www.jamestown.org/edm/article...cle_id=2373050