Russian Dissent: Does it exist? I thought not...

Over the weekend I've come across an interesting story, a "murder mystery" that well, sure is a murder, but I see the mystery as absent.

We are lead to believe that the country of Russia is moving forward, that it has become democratic. In a democratic society, dissent is something that is allowed; as much as the American Left gets on my nerves, it's their right to protest, to dissent against things they don't agree with. In Russia, apparently if you're a loud enough critic of the indiviuals in power, you get a bullet in your skull. Somehow I don't see that as "democratic", "Stalinistic" sure, but democratic, not so much.

If that wasn't enough, the situation with the former USSR satalite country of Georgia is worsening (scroll down on the above link for this). Crackdown, deportation, and blockade seem to be the MO here, with a possible military takeover on the way; the old Bear wants to come out of hybernation, to awake once more, and Vlad is more than willing to accomidate...

HT: Joel Rosenberg