Keywords: State

State affairs – look from below

233 degrees Celsius: what literature could not be read in the USSR?

Big soviet brother is watching you

Reading time 7 minutes

«It was impossible to find these two volumes on sale, only in libraries and without taking out» – say Kirill Sorvin, HSE sociology professor, about one book which he was looking for when he was a student in USSR. Some literature was banned in USSR due to official ideology. Very few people at the time knew about it. Nevertheless, such books were read and even distributed with Samizdat that was illegal in the country. However, the majority of citizens found out about banned literature only after the collapse of the USSR.

Contradictions of Early and Late Marx

For the first time it became possible to buy «Economic-philosophical manuscripts, 1844» in the USSR only in 1983.
For the first time it became possible to buy «Economic-philosophical manuscripts, 1844» in the USSR only in 1983.

«The work is called Economic and Philosophical Manuscripts 1844, it was the 42nd volume of the Works of K. Marx and F. Engels collection or a separate volume From Early Works. This work was not presented in any other form. Western Marxists discovered in this book another Marx’s philosophy, they called it «Marx-humanist». There was a discussion about the contradiction of «Early and Late Marx», which, of course, was denied in our official philosophy». Accordingly, this work was not among the «canonical» books like «The Capital» which was close to Russian vision of communism.

As a student, Kirill Sorvin tried to exchange a two-volume book of the Strugatsky brothers, which was highly valued among the youth of that time, for «Economic and philosophical manuscripts», but such a book anybody from his classmates did not have.

Second volume of ‘Robinson Crusoe’

The Novel of English writer Daniel Defoe started publishing in Russian Empire in 1762. Only the first part of the series entered the treasury of world literature, which spawned a fashion for pseudo-documentary fiction. Nevertheless, people knew about existing of the sequel and even the book was popular among Europe readers. However, in Russian Empire the second volume was not published and in USSR from 1935 to 1992 it was banned.

In 1971, the publishing house «Pravda» published a retelling of the work with a limited edition.
In 1971, the publishing house «Pravda» published a retelling of the work with a limited edition.

Only In 1971, the publishing house «Pravda» published a retelling of the work with a limited edition. The main reason for this was that Robinson during his Siberian trip faced a lot of corruption and said that Moskovia is «barbaric, powerless and poorly managed mob of slaves».

«In the second part Robinson, among other things, travels in Russia, gives her not all the appropriate characteristics. Why did publishers have to take the responsibility to comment on «such» past of people?» – Kirill Sorvin explains.

George Orwell and Yevgeny Zamyatin

Yevgeny Zamyatin is considered a pioneer in the genre of anti-utopia. The novel «We» became the cause of serious criticism of the writer, and since 1929 his books have stopped at all publishing in the USSR. Zamyatin describes a society of rigid totalitarian control over the individual. Actually «We» is a critic of the Soviet system, with which the genre of anti-utopia began to flourish. Although, for example, Aldous Huxley, one of the first writers in this direction, categorically denied acquaintance with the work of the Russian writer.

Illustration to the novel E. Zamyatin «We»
Illustration to the novel E. Zamyatin «We»

The satirical story «Animal Farm, 1945» by George Orwell depicts the transition of the animal society from their freedom to the dictatorship of a pig named Napoleon. According to playwright Arkady Bartov, «Animal Farm» is an allegory of the 1917 revolution and subsequent events in the USSR. Orwell wanted to portray how easily totalitarian propaganda could control people’s opinions and at the same time to condemn «Stalin’s distortion of socialist ideals». Last but not least fact about this book is that boar Old Major is an allegory of Karl Marx. And how you find out from the first paragraph: Soviet authorities couldn’t stand when somebody represented the idol of their philosophy in «wrong way».

The Russian aphorism «All are equal, but some are more equal» belongs to George Orwell. The complete version in the book «Animal farm» sounds like this: «All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal».
The Russian aphorism «All are equal, but some are more equal» belongs to George Orwell. The complete version in the book «Animal farm» sounds like this: «All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal».

Subsequently, most of the books in this genre, including the Soviet ones, were banned in the USSR. Anti-utopias will appear in Soviet society only with the introduction of a policy of publicity near the end of the 1980s. For example, George Orwell’s most popular novel «1984» was declared anti-Soviet immediately after its release in 1949 and remained banned until 1988. The policy of publicity is a controversial process in the history of the USSR. Some believe that it has undermined the people’s belief in the system, while others thank Gorbachev for it. But the fact is that these books can now be read legally – both online and offline.

Double Christmas and New Year?

How Russia came to the different celebrations of the same holidays

Reading time 6 minutes

The humanity invented many calendars such as moon and moon-solar, Julian and Gregorian, also new Julian one. Let’s know what calendars used in Russia and how they affected contemporary holidays.

Ancient Slavic tribes had many customs connected with tne Moon
Ancient Slavic tribes had many customs connected with tne Moon

Our ancestors espoused paganism so they closely associated life with the cycle processes of nature. The ancient Slavic tribes counted time via moon calendar. The term between moon appearing and its disappearing constituted approximately 30 days and was called a month. The celebration of New Year started at around December 25 and lasted for a dozen days after the solstice. Then the duration of daylight started to expand, and the Slavs launched a new sowing circle.

The calendar changing in Russia happened in the X century because of a new faith arrival of. Knyaz Vladimir baptized his territories to the Byzantine rite. Christian date calculation came with the new religion. Since then Slavic tribes started distinguishing years from the Creation of the World and stated the 1st of March as the new year’s first day. Months’ names also were changed according to the Julian calendar that was invented in Rome at 46 B.C.

Ivan III removed the New Year from the 1st of March to the 1st of September. The tzar sought to unification of holidays in Russia, so in 1492 combined the New Year with the harvest festival and the tax collection time.

Gregory XIII is famous for the calendar introduced into the Catholic countries in XVI century. the author of the calendar is a priest and astronomer Christopher Clavius
Gregory XIII is famous for the calendar introduced into the Catholic countries in XVI century. the author of the calendar is a priest and astronomer Christopher Clavius

In the XVI century, people found out that the duration of year in the Julian calendar did not correspond to the astronomical one. The Earth revolves around the Sun 12 minutes faster than the Romans believed in ancient times. In 1582, the discrepancy constituted 10 days. That was the reason why Christmas shifted to spring, and Easter to summer. To improve calculations, Pope Gregory XIII suggested a new calendar which was named Gregorian later. It was accepted so in Catholic world October 15 came after October 4 to annihilate the gap between calendars.

This gap between calendars accumulates over every 128 years. Therefore, before 1701, it made up 10 days, while nowadays it amounts to 13. While the dissimilarity between the Gregorian and astronomical year amasses over 3333 years. New Julian calendar is the most precise. It lags from the astronomical year no sooner than over 40,000 years pass. Until 2800, the New Julian and the Gregorian calendars are alike.

Peter I was that who moved the New Year to the 1st of January, though he left the Julian calendar. Therefore, Russia stepped into the 1700th year A.D. from 7208th year from the Creation of the World. However, due to the gap of 10 days Russians in St. Petersburg celebrated The New Year when, for instance, in Amsterdam people lived in the 10th of January.

Tikhon is the first Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia after the restoration of the Patriarchate in Russia in 1917
Tikhon is the first Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia after the restoration of the Patriarchate in Russia in 1917

The second New Year occured in Russia after 1918 when the Bolsheviks finally switched to the Gregorian calendar. Although, the secular state accepted it, the Church still stuck to the old style. Patriarch Tikhon reject the calendar because according to it, the Orthodox Easter could fall before the Jewish holiday Pesach. It contradicted the decisions of the first Ecumenical Council in Nicaea in 325 A.D. Therefore, the Orthodox celebrate Christmas Eve not at the 24th of December as Catholics do but at the 6th of January. And they celebrate the Old New year at the 13th of January.

Thus, since the tenth decade of the last century, Orthodox people in Russia have been living simultaneously on two calendars with two new years and Christmas in January.

A stepping stone for young professionals

Registration for “I am a professional” olympiad has opened

Reading time 5 minutes

The registration for the third season of Russian-wide olympiad for students “I am a professional” has begun in early October. Application form for choosing the subject and uploading the certificate from the University is available for filling out until November 18.

The competitions will be held in seven areas of knowledge, therefore both students of technical programs and those who study in the Humanities and natural Sciences will be able to choose tasks to their liking. The program for the contestants will be compiled by specialists from leading universities and enterprises of Russia. The competition is open for bachelors, masters and specialist students. Participants do not have to pay for the Olympiad.

More than 98000 of students decided to patticipate in the olypmiad this year to the 10th of October
More than 98000 of students decided to patticipate in the olypmiad this year to the 10th of October

The olympiad has two stages. From November 22 to December 8 students need to complete the tasks of the qualifying stage which is held online. Those who show the best results go to the final face-to-face stage. It is held at several venues across the country from late January to early March. The finalists will be able to choose the most convenient city.

Winter schools are planned between the two stages. They consist of practice-oriented educational forums based on major universities of the country. Meanwhile, contestants who have already passed qualifying stage of the Olympiad also have to pass additional tests.

Winter school «Software and Radio Engineering» in Sochi
Winter school “Software and Radio Engineering” in Sochi

To prepare for the competition, participants can solve demo-versions of qualifying stage tasks and watch online courses available on the site. Besides giving additional information, online courses are handy because certificates of completion allow to participate in the final stage, bypassing the selection process.

The results of the Olympiad are to be summed up in March or April, after the organizing Committee have determined the winners. They will receive cash payments, invitations to internships, and privileges for entering universities as awards. The amount of payments will depend on the participant’s status.

Awarding of medalists, winners and prize-winners last year took place in Moscow. Approximately 3500 people received prizes
Awarding of medalists, winners and prize-winners took place in Moscow last year. Approximately 3500 people received prizes

All winners will be awarded with diplomas and included into the national database “I am a professional”. This is a student registry that is open for recruiters and human resources specialists from leading firms. The organizers will help to make a portfolio and give suggestions for improving work skills to all who will be included in the database. Educational privileges depend on the University where the student is getting education. They should be checked on the website.

The “I am a professional” olympiad has become one of the main projects of the presidential platform “Russia is the country of opportunities”. This year it is held for the third time. The competition is designed to find the most talented students and give them both additional space for career and professional growth with the development in the scientific field.

Vedomosti, Kommersant and RBC published the same front page for the first time in history

They were all dedicated to Ivan Golunov, who was supported by the journalistic community

Reading time 4 minutes

Russia’s three major business newspapers supported the decision of the Moscow Nikulinsky District Court. It placed journalist Ivan Golunov under house arrest. Earlier, the Investigative Committee of Russia demanded that Gounov be placed in a detention facility. Journalists called to check the actions of the investigation and provide the results of the check to the mass media.

Ivan Golunov in court

Historical editions of newspapers were sold in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Interfax reports. Residents of cities also reported this on social networks. The owners of newsstands claim that such a rush around the publications Vedomosti, Kommersant and RBC has never happened before. New editions of newspapers are available on Aeroflot’s aircraft, as well as in Starbucks, Coffeemania, and Maccafe coffee shops.

В очереди к очередному киоску поинтересовалась, журналисты ли:- Студент Бауманки- Преподаватель английского – ИнженерСпасибо

Опубликовано Каролиной Гладковой Понедельник, 10 июня 2019 г.

Medusa’s special correspondent Ivan Golunov was detained on June 6. He is suspected of drug trafficking on a large scale. Golunov does not recognize the guilt. He is convinced that the persecution is related to his professional activities. We are talking about the investigation of the funeral business – the material on corruption. The journalistic community stands with him.

Ivan Golunov denies participation in the sale of narcotic drugs. As proof, he offered the investigators to take the nail cuts, but he was refused. Journalists considered such a response illegal and arranged a rally of support. The next day, the examination was still appointed – tests did not reveal any drug traces.

У здания управления МВД по Москве пикеты не прекращаются и ночью
Single pickets near the Ministry of Internal Affairs

Pickets in support of the journalist do not stop. The special correspondent of Novaya Gazeta and the municipal deputy Ilya Azar said that the actions at Petrovka in Moscow would continue until the release of Ivan Golunov. The journalist was one of the first to speak out in support of a colleague on June 7 and went to a single picket.

Hundreds of people gather at Petrovka to support the journalist

Actions of solidarity are also held in other regions of Russia, for the first time the journalistic community has united on such a scale.

Wikipedia became unavailable in the Middle Kingdom

China blocks access to all language editions of the Internet Encyclopedia

Reading time 4 minutes

Now China blocks access to Wikipedia, although previously only Chinese-language online encyclopedia publications were censored. The blocking began last month, according to an online monitoring service that runs under the Tor project. Attempting to access any Wikipedia page from a country, regardless of language, produces a connection error.

In April, Wikipedia joined to thousands of websites blocked in China

A separate group on the control of censorship Greatfire.org reported that China has blocked access to Wikipedia since April 22. Local users of Chinese network platforms also confirm limited access to the site.

It is not clear why the Chinese government blocked sites. But observers suggest the restriction may be due to the upcoming 30th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre (June 4, 1989). The government has banned all discussions on this event. The block may be temporary. A similar situation: in January, China, without informing, blocked, and then unlocked the Microsoft Bing search engine.

Over the years, the country selectively blocked some Wikipedia pages that criticized its communist government. However, in 2015, China began blocking access to Mandarin-language Wikipedia pages after the encyclopedia website switched to HTTPS encryption to protect users from unauthorized monitoring.

Attempting to access a Wikipedia page from a country, regardless of language, causes a connection error

Last month, the Wikimedia Foundation confirmed the blocking and reported that Wikipedia is not available in China. In addition, Wikimedia added that it did not receive notification of government plans. Previously, only the Chinese version of the site was banned in the country.

In a statement, the foundation said: “In late April, the Wikimedia Foundation determined that Wikipedia was no longer accessible in China. After closely analysing our internal traffic reports, we can confirm that Wikipedia is currently blocked across all language versions.”

“With the expansion of this block, millions of readers and volunteer editors, writers, academics, and researchers within China cannot access this resource or share their knowledge and achievements with the world. When one country, region, or culture cannot join the global conversation on Wikipedia, the entire world is poorer, ” the group added.

Wikipedia has been censored in other countries, including repression in Turkey and Venezuela (Photo: TWITTER / BALKANS123)

The encyclopedia edited by the community is periodically blocked by authorities around the world.

In 2017, the site was blocked in Turkey, and this year it was periodically blocked in Venezuela.

 

Swedish truant was nominated for the Nobel Prize

Greta Thunberg's sitting pickets gave impetus to the environmental protest children's movement

Reading time 5 minutes

School strikes for climate, Fridays for the Future, Youth for Climate, Youth Strike 4 Climate – variations of movements of teenagers who want to prevent climatic and environmental disasters. They organize school strikes, trying to convey the idea that knowledge makes no sense if there is no world in which they can be applied.

Members of the School Strikes 4 Climate.
Members of the School Strikes 4 Climate.

The movement started in 2015, when an independent group of pupils and students urged students around the world to skip classes on the first day of COP 21, the Climate Conference, which was held in Paris. Over fifty thousand students from more than a hundred countries took part in the strike on November 30. The movement had three basic requirements: the ubiquitous transition to clean energy, the non-withdrawal of minerals from the earth, the assistance to climate refugees.

Greta Thunberg.
Greta Thunberg.

In 2018, instead of studying, Swedish schoolgirl Greta Thunberg began a single picket in front of the Swedish parliament. She sat in silence, and next was a banner with a slogan, which later became one of the names of the activist movement – “Skolstrejk för klimatet” or “School strikes for climate” in the English version. Its main requirement for the government was a gradual decrease in the emission of harmful substances into the atmosphere.

In the interview, Greta said that the idea of ​​strikes for climate came to her after talking about skipping classes because of shooting in US schools. After that, the journalists had a question: can it be possible to skip classes to draw attention to climate problems? She found this idea viable, and she began to implement it. At first, no one responded to her proposal, but after a couple of days, someone kept her company, someone began to bring food to her. She attracted the attention of the media and some members of parliament.

Later, Greta still forced to return to classes. But on Fridays, she still continued to sit in front of Parliament with the same banner. The rumor about her actions went beyond Sweden. Soon, schoolchildren and students all over the world followed her example.

“I do it because no one else takes it. It is my duty to do what I can,” said Greta. “If several children can get into the headlines all over the world just skipping school, just imagine what people can do if they combine their efforts”.

In November 2018, three months after the start of the strike, she was invited to become one of the speakers at TEDxStockholm. At the conference, she spoke about the inconsistency of modern consumer culture, about ignorance, about silence and about the possibility of people starting to change the world for the better. March 14, 2019, Greta was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Members of the School Strikes 4 Climate.
Members of the School Strikes 4 Climate.

On the next Friday, March 15, students and schoolchildren organized an international strike. Tens of thousands of teenagers in different countries appealed to governments and large companies to take a more responsible attitude towards the environment. Young people called it the beginning of active actions to preserve the world in which they are to live.

Greta Tunberg talks about protest marches around the world on her Twitter account.

 

China continues to support coal projects

The risk of environmental consequences does not stop investors from the Middle Kingdom

Reading time 4 minutes

Environmentalists are sounding the alarm: China is funding dozens of coal projects far beyond its borders. Coal is considered the most environmentally hazardous of fossil fuels, including because of the amount of carbon dioxide that it emits during combustion (about one and a half times more than natural gas). According to the latest research of the World Meteorological Organization in 2017, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere reached its highest level in the last 5 million years. Last month, the UN climate expert group said that the use of coal in production should be stopped by 2050. This solution should bound the global temperature rise to a limit of 1.5 degrees.   

Угольная электростанция в Китае
Coal power station in China

China-supported coal projects are being implemented in South America, Africa, Southeast Asia and the Balkans. The contracts concluded between the participants of such projects are often not completely transparent, but groups of environmental companies, including the non-governmental organization Bankwatch, try to monitor the situation. Energy Group Coordinator Ioana Chiuta says that efforts to combat the dirty air of Chinese cities have led many energy companies to limit their investments in coal-fired power plants in China and instead have targeted their technology and capital to foreign markets. 

Coal smoke must be cleaned, but this is not always done

Тепловая электростанция Kostolac
Thermal power station Kostolac

In Serbia, one of the country’s main coal-fired power stations is being expanded with a loan from a Chinese bank. Works have been carried out since 2017 under the leadership of a large construction company in China. An hour east of the capital city of Belgrade, in the coal-rich valley of the Danube, construction takes place on a site known as Kostolac B3. The power plant is managed by the national Serbian electric power company EPS, which provides about 70% of the country’s electricity by burning coal, while the rest is electricity produced by hydroelectric power stations. It is expected that Chinese investment in the project will amount to 613 million US dollars. The installation of the new power unit will bring Serbia 350 MW of additional capacity. The project must be implemented in accordance with environmental standards. 

Смог в Пекине
Smog in Beijing

However, the Serbian Center for Environment and Sustainable Development (Cekor) questions the project’s compliance with all environmental standards. After a series of relevant inspections of the project, Cekor found it impossible to ensure that EU standards for environmental pollution are in force.

 

Pandora’s box

Единый портал персональных данных может появиться в России уже в 2019 году

Reading time 6 minutes

Sorry, this text was translated with Google machine. Mistakes and misunderstandings are possible!

What happened?

In the draft programme of Digital economy forum, sent by the Ministry of communications to the government in early may, the establishment in Russia of a unified portal of personal data was mentioned. It is assumed that on the website the user will be able to see to whom he provided details of your passport and, if desired, to limit their future use. The project should start work in 2019.

What is the idea of the portal?

Ilya Massukh, President of the information democracy Foundation, in the interview to the newspaper “Izvestia” explained the principle of operation of the single portal of personal data. The author of the project believes the website will help people to control information about themselves, which they leave in the Internet and outside of it. Massukh proposes to introduce a special fixing system using the passport data, which will help to find out who exactly has the right to use them.

For example, the citizen at the entrance to the protected object was required to present a passport. The guard recorded the necessary data and returned the document, but the informationwas already transferred to the company that will be able to dispose of at their discretion. The project requires that this fact be recorded on a single portal of personal data where the user will be able to see to whom he provided information about themselves, and to restrict its further use.

Ilya Massukh said that the creation of the personal data portal requires the adoption of new legislation relating to the collection and use of personal data. It is necessary to determine the order of entering to the site information on obtaining data of the passport and to establish responsibilities for organizations that will forget to do it. To regulate the operation of the portal, according to the idea of Massukh, Roskomnadzor will be involved: “This question has been discussed with them”. The source of financing of the project, however, has not yet been determined.

How to work the portal?

Single portal of personal data, according to the creators, will be similar to modern smartphone apps. They, when you download or first use, prompt the user for permission to access the special features of the phone: camera, notification, etc. Person may agree to the terms or reject them. Refusal of the application required capabilities, however, will lead to its deinstallation.

In the case of the uniform portal the user can monitor the data usage of his/her passport. It will be enough to login, presumably with the help of personal data. Next, the user will be prompted to see which organizations have the rights to use the information, and, if desired, to limit those rights. The restriction, according to the idea of the portal will be done in a single click and does not require considerable effort.

Experts’ opinion

Despite the apparent convenience and productivity of the single portal of personal data, some experts reacted to the idea with skepticism. So, Karen Kazaryan, chief analyst at the Russian Association for electronic communications, believes that website creation would entail a new problem:

Kazarian“In European countries this form of interaction provided. In Europe this is done by independent organizations. Roskomnadzor has very many duties, his representatives do not always have time to deal with personal data. The creation of such a portal may impair the protection of personal data of users against leaks”

However, other experts considered the idea of a portal quite feasible and even expressed their ideas for its improvement. Managing partner of the company “Softest” Vladimir Varfolomeev, for example, suggested to use the website portal of public services to login. This model, according to Varfolomeyev, will allow to avoid errors and ensure all citizens equal opportunities of access the new portal.

Public opinion

RIA-Novosti, after the publication of news about the creation of a single portal of personal data, launched vote for users in which they were asked to assess the prospects of the bill. In the survey participated 5037 people, and the results have been disappointing. Only 10% of voters believe that the single portal will be useful the rest were divided into two roughly equal camps. The first believe that an effective website is necessary to punish violators (40%), and the second at all think that the portal will not be effective under any circumstances (50%).

Hit.Media has decided to conduct its own survey with the same answers, but among a younger audience. As it turned out, young people in relation to the project of the single portal is more optimistic. Of the 103 respondents, 33% believe in the possible success of the website, 37% attended to the need to punish offenders and only 30% felt that the portal will not work as it should.

Additional information:

 

“I hope, my last word will not be the last”

Блогеру Соколовскому грозит три с половиной года колонии за ловлю покемонов в храме

Reading time 12 minutes

Sorry, this text was translated with Google machine. Mistakes and misunderstandings are possible!

What happened?

The prosecution demanded to sentence the new Ruslan Sokolovsky to three and a half years in a penal colony. This statement in the judicial debates in the Ekaterinburg district court gave the Prosecutor Ekaterina Kalinina. In her speech, she also noted that a blogger accused of extremism and insulting the feelings of believers, expresses a negative attitude not only to the Church but to the state as a whole. “The information in the video “Anus itself block, Roskomnadzor”, shows how Sokolowski refers to the state, the President, the citizens. Expression of disrespect to the state is unacceptable, and suspended sentence will only breed a sense of impunity,” – said Kalinin. Ruslan Sokolovsky, in turn, is not guilty. The final verdict will be announced on 11 may at 11 o’clock.

what judge Sokolowski?

In early August of 2016 blogger filmed a prank video about how he plays the popular mobile game Pokemon Go in the Temple-on-Blood in Ekaterinburg. A video posted on the Youtube channel Sokolowski, attracted the attention of both media and the Ministry of internal Affairs. A few weeks later the blogger was arrested on charges of offending religious feelings (article 148 of the criminal code) and inciting hatred or enmity, and humiliation of human dignity (article 282 of the criminal code). First, Sokolovsky was placed in jail, but the defense appealed this decision, and he was transferred under house arrest.

During the investigation it became known that since may 2013 to September 2016 Sokolowski posted on his channel nine videos that, according to experts, contain signs of extremism and insults the feelings of believers. In addition, after searching the apartment of blogger, the investigation found a ballpoint pen with a hidden camera in the housing. This finding has led to the fact that Sokolovsky, among other things, accused in one episode according to the article 138 of the criminal code (trafficking of special technical means for secret obtaining of information) – use hidden camera.

At the time of trial Sokolovsky accused of committing 17 criminal episodes.

What is the reaction of the accused?

During the meeting on April 28 Ruslan Sokolovsky made the last word. The blogger admitted that he was shocked by the requested time: “I was in jail and realize that this is only a prelude to hell.”

Sokolovsky also said he still considers himself an atheist, a cosmopolitan and libertarian without any religion and nationality. According to videoblogger in prison, he met many believers and realized how vulnerable and sensitive they really are. Despite this blogger about religion have not changed. Some of the offended believers threatened Sokolowski rape. The reasons for this hate blogger doesn’t understand.

“I am not an extremist. I may be an idiot, but I am in no way an extremist. As told by the experts, is not my fault that I denied God, and that I denied God using math. And I don’t know since when the Mat is considered to be extremism”, – said Sokolowski, before thanking the public for their support.

Also, the blogger admitted that he knows, if he survives in prison and released after three and a half years, you will lose everything that he has now: work, school, girls.

“I hope, my last word will not be the last,” added Sokolowski.

Why Sokolovsky generally hunted in the temple?

In the summer of 2016, when the scandalous video Sokolovsky only beginning to gain popularity, many YouTube viewers were convinced that the main goal of the blogger is to cause as much “hype” (hype) around his person. In response to this, Sokolowski recorded another video, which explained his position: “Many people are accusing me that I pursue HYIP. But, you know, first, all bloggers are chasing the hype because it is the work of blogger. And secondly, if I really was chasing a HYIP, I would now filmed DIY (stands for Do It Yourself – “do it with your hands.” Sokolowski says on the popular online video-lessons hand-made approx.ed.), but not video, which I could go to jail. It just has a more difficult path”.Also, the blogger added that catching pokemon in the temple is, first and foremost, a protest against the law on insulting the feelings of believers: “We don’t have to live in a country where we are bound hand and foot because of some sectarians. Why do they come to schools and teach some “Word of God”, and we teach the theory of evolution in the churches have no right?”.

In addition, Sokolovsky assured his audience that to insult or humiliate any he was not going: “I wanted to draw attention to the problem of obscurantism, but not to insult any specific people. I, in fact, did nothing wrong – was in the temple with the phone. All”.

How to relate to the ongoing social network users?

untitled (3)

untitled (4)

untitled (5)

untitled (6)

Leonid Volkov, head of the election headquarters of Alexei Navalny tweeted:

untitled (8)

Alexey Navalny, commenting on the severity of the sentence, wrote the following:

untitled (7)

Sports journalist Vasily Utkin and does put forward his own theory, which explains the drop in popularity of Pokemon Go:

untitled (9)

What is the “law on insulting the feelings of believers”?

Blasphemy laws exist in many countries. Their main task is to protect the citizens belonging to a particular faith from harassment. The attitude of legislators to the defamation of religion varies greatly from sentence to death for insulting Islam (Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia), or long imprisonment (Indonesia, Algeria, India) to complete absence of structure of a crime (European Union, USA).

In Russia up to 2013, the insult of feelings of believers was considered only an administrative offence. Under the ban got the deliberate desecration of the liturgical books and religious documents and ritual objects of special veneration: signs, emblems, slogans and symbols.

In early June 2013 the State Duma adopted the amendment to increase liability “for insulting the feelings of believers.” On 29 June, the law approved by the Federation Council entered into force. The most significant change was the establishment of criminal liability in the form of imprisonment for “public actions expressing clear disrespect for society and committed to insult the religious feelings of believers”.

expert Comments specifically for HIT.MEDIA:

Gleb Bogush

Gleb Bogush, PhD, associate Professor, faculty of law, HSE:

— I believe that this whole process is the unjustified use of criminal law and misappropriation of state resources needed for more important and useful purposes. For example, the fight against terrorism.

In Russia up to 2013, the insult of feelings of believers was considered only an administrative offence. Under the ban got the deliberate desecration of the liturgical books and religious documents and ritual objects of special veneration: signs, emblems, slogans and symbols.

In early June 2013 the State Duma adopted the amendment to increase liability “for insulting the feelings of believers.” On 29 June, the law approved by the Federation Council entered into force. The most significant change was the establishment of criminal liability in the form of imprisonment for “public actions expressing clear disrespect for society and committed to insult the religious feelings of believers”.

expert Comments specifically for HIT.MEDIA:

Gleb Bogush

Gleb Bogush, PhD, associate Professor, faculty of law, HSE:

— I believe that this whole process is the unjustified use of criminal law and misappropriation of state resources needed for more important and useful purposes. For example, the fight against terrorism.

Punishment Sokolowski requested by the representative of the state prosecution, is not only an act of extraordinary cruelty, but demand not in accordance with the law. In accordance with the Criminal code (article 60), the sentence must reflect the public danger of the crime and the identity of the perpetrator, take into account the influence of the appointed punishment on correction of the perpetrator and the living conditions of his family. Even if we agree that the actions Sokolowski contain structure of the crime to imprison a young person for a non – violent act- the measure is unjustified. Isolation from society is the exclusive means, especially in relation to persons not previously convicted. It is obvious that she is beyond any reasonable court of coercive measures. We should not forget that the requested sentence Sokolowski exceeds the maximum term of punishment for some kinds of murder (intentional killing of another person).

I’d like to remind the Prosecutor that the provisions of the Criminal code for him as required, both for the court and other state bodies. Of course, far beyond the powers of the Prosecutor are heard in the debate Sokolowski wishes to leave the state because he supposedly negatively related to it. A negative attitude to the state, not to mention the individual institutions, if it is not manifested in illegal actions, is not subject to criminal-legal assessment. Freedom of opinion and expression is guaranteed by the Constitution of the Russian Federation and international law. Not the Prosecutor to decide where and how must the citizens of the Russian Federation.

The use of deprivation of liberty in the fight against free speech is futile and harmful.

The blog is in prison not jail. Unlike blogger, unfortunately.

read more:

“Well, what happened while I was gone?”

Барак Обама выступил с речью впервые после того, как покинул Белый дом

Reading time 10 minutes

Sorry, this text was translated with Google machine. Mistakes and misunderstandings are possible!

What happened?

During the first public appearances after stepping down as President Barack Obama spoke about the intention to work with young people and to prepare politicians of the new generation. At the meeting with students of the University of Chicago, the former President spoke about America, leadership, appropriate behavior in social networks and even marriage. “What he is not touched, so it’s his successor,” the otmechaet by the Associated Press.

Return to home

His speech, the politician decided to start with a joke: “Well, what happened while I was gone?” After a short introduction-story of a native city and the University of Chicago, where he led constitutional and electoral law before he was elected to the Senate, Obama admitted that this stage of life wants to work with young professionals.

“Despite the fact that there are many issues that need attention, the most important thing I can do to help prepare the next generation of leaders to take our relay in this changing world”.

Post to Twitter the University of Chicago
Post to Twitter the University of Chicago

Obama stated with confidence that to get rid of the rift that formed between parties after elections in November 2016, I can only young Americans. For this reason, it will work with those who are planning to take seats in the government.

“In whatever state I may be, I always meet a witty, insightful, patient, thoughtful and enterprising guys. They are the reason I remain optimistic, even when things don’t go the way I want”.

Most of the time, Obama asked the students, while talking about their own way to the head of the United States. Topics raised at the forum was the transformation of the judicial system, the influence of money on politics, ecology and citizenship of young people.

“It’s something that prevents us to face the problems and to achieve success in political and public life,” said the ex-President.

Obama gave the students some advice. For example, to watch what they post in social networks, to be closer to family, “listening to understand, not to reply”, and, most importantly, “to worry less about who they want to be, but more about what you want to do.”

Press Reaction

For half an hour, during which lasted the forum, Barack Obama never mentioned the name of the current President of the United States Donald trump, and has also avoided direct criticism of his actions, notes CNN.

Obama has made it clear he was not going to become a “mouthpiece of the Democratic party” and to participate in the current political struggle. “He prefers to play the role of a counselor and stay in the shade. However, at the right time, when needed, he will go out from there,” quotes CNN.

Yuri Rogulev on radio Sputnik
Yuri Rogulev on radio Sputnik

“the American presidency directly after the withdrawal from his post did not interfere in politics. So the current policy it to intervene will not. Obama chose the path of public activities — work with young people. I think that’s what he will do,” noted the Director of Fund of studying of the USA Franklin Roosevelt MSU Yuri Rogalev on radio Sputnik.

Another point which attracted the attention of the American media, is the level of the speech of the former and present owners of the White house. American journalist and comedian Andy Borowitz in The New Yorker magazine prokomentiroval it’s the 44th President of the United States: “In his speech at the University of Chicago, former President Barack Obama unleashed on the listener merciless barrage of complete sentences, which was perceived as a brutal attack on his successor”.

Column by Andy Borowitz at the New Yorker
Column by Andy Borowitz in the New Yorker

On Obama’s speech and reacted to in social networks, Twitter and Instagram was full of posts with the hashtag #IMissObama.

post with the hashtag #IMissObama
Posts with the hashtag #IMissObama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

American Reaction to Obama's speech in Instagram
American Reaction to Obama’s speech in Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Up to this point, the former head of US tried not to appear in public. In March the Washington Post soosaluthat Obama moved to the island of Tetiaroa in the Pacific ocean, to begin work on his memoirs. But after Chicago, ex-President of the performances in the major cities of America and Europe. In addition, turned out that Obama is bound by a contract with the Bank Cantor Fitzgerald, who arranges a meeting on health issues for the largest companies on wall street. For the show, which will take place in September this year, he will pay $400 thousand, which is twice the amount received for lectures Hilary Clinton, former Secretary of state and candidate for U.S. President in 2016, notes TASS reported.

What was remembered in Russia for eight years of the reign of Barack Obama?

From the statements of Obama on the “Russian theme”.

“Russia is a regional power”

In March 2014, the meeting with mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Obama was asked to comment on remarks Republican MITT Romney that Russia is the biggest geopolitical enemy of America.

“Russia is a regional power, and not because of strength, but its weakness is a threat to some of its neighbors, Obama said. — Russia’s actions do not represent the number one threat to the national security of the United States. I remain much more concerned about the question of our security in connection with threat of distribution of nuclear weapons”.

“Russia is isolated and its economy in tatters”

In January 2015, the traditional state of the Union address Barack Obama said that sanctions have completely destroyed the Russian economy:

“Last year, on the background of the aggression of Mr Putin, we, together with allies carried out the hard work of imposing sanctions, strengthened our presence in the frontline States. Some said that Putin’s actions workshop was a demonstration of strategy and power. But today, that America is strong and United with our allies, while Russia is isolated and its economy in tatters”.

“will he (Putin) is to destroy the economy of his country?”

From the speech at the G7 summit in June 2015:

“Will he (Putin) is to destroy the economy of the country, worsen the position of Russia in its quest to restore the glory of the Soviet Empire? Or recognizes, finally, that the glory of Russia not to violate the territorial integrity of neighboring countries?”

“Ronald Reagan in a coffin would be turned over”

At a press conference at the White house December 16, 2016 on the choice of the Republicans:

“37 % of Republican voters approve of Vladimir Putin, the former head of the KGB. Ronald Reagan in a coffin would be turned over”, — said the President of the United States.

“Russia is smaller and weaker country, they do not produce anything that others want to buy”

16 December 2016 at a press conference in the White house Barack Obama is constantly talking about Russia. Particularly striking was the comparison of Russia with the United States:

“Russia is smaller and weaker from the point of view of Economics, they do not produce anything that others want to buy, with the exception of oil, gas and weapons. They do not innovate”.

What else to read?