No Laughing Matter -- Karelian Mayor Says Complainers Should be Shot

Paul Goble

            Staunton, November 20 – Sergey Prokopyev, the mayor of the Karelian city of Olonetsk, says that many in his municipality are “social parasites” and that four who have complained openly about government services should be shot. His supporters say this was a joke but activists he said he’d like to shoot believe he meant it (severreal.org/a/30283108.html).

            Meanwhile, several deputies in the Russian Duma say there should be a law against those who train in “camps” virtual or real to protest that would allow the authorities to send them to another kind of very real camp – prison -- and that they are drafting such a measure (belsat.eu/ru/programs/gosduma-razbiraetsya-s-lageryami-dlya-protestuyushhih/).

            Such suggestions highlight two very dangerous developments as the Putin regime enters its third decade: the increasing contempt Russian officials have for the citizens under their control, and the increasing repression that such officials think is entirely appropriate to visit against them if they speak out against the government.