On June 22, 2022, the Gagauz News - Gagauznews telegram-channel hosted a conference dedicated to the protection of freedom of speech in the countries of the former Soviet Union and the West.
Opening the conference, Nikolai Kostyrkin, moderator and editor of Gagauznews, noted that the date of the conference, June 22, was not accidental, since what is happening in Moldova and other countries today echoes the events of 81 years ago. In particular, this concerns the issues of freedom of speech and freedom of expression.
According to him, in Moldova, journalists, bloggers, and opinion leaders who adhere to a pro-Russian position are constantly being obstructed. Russian news and analytical programs are being banned in the country, and control over publications and other ways of expressing opinions by law enforcement agencies is increasing.
Kostyrkin recalled article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that every person has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to freely adhere to their beliefs and freedom to seek, to receive and disseminate information and ideas by any means and regardless of state borders. He also recalled the fourth article of the Moldovan Constitution, according to which Constitutional provisions on human rights and freedoms are interpreted and applied in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, covenants and other treaties to which the Republic of Moldova is a party. Nikolai Kostyrkin expressed his bewilderment about what the "lawmakers" who adopt laws contrary to these norms are guided by.
The editor of the newspaper Novosti Gagauzia noted that this is happening not only in Moldova, but throughout the post-Soviet space, all over the world, in particular, in Latvia, where Vladimir Linlerman, a publicist and human rights activist, was detained the day before. Earlier, journalists from Sputnik Latvia and Baltnews were arrested in this country.
Kostyrkin recalled that Kiara Schumacher, a resident of the German city of Saarbrücken, faces three years for posting a poster thanking the Russian president. This is now considered a criminal act in Germany. Journalist Alina Lipp faced the threat of prison, covering events in Donbass not in the way required by official propaganda.
According to Kostyrkin, all these cases became the basis for the creation of the International Union of Free Journalists, which will be aimed at protecting representatives of the profession, including from persecution and lawlessness of the authorities. The initiative group also plans to create an expert council, which will include lawyers, political scientists, etc., to provide comprehensive expert support to the union. He called on everyone to join the project.
Valery Korovin, director of the Center for Geopolitical Expertise, noted that there is no freedom of speech, it is an empty concept that everyone will fill with their own meaning. According to him, both "freedom of speech" and "human rights" are concepts formed in the West, filled with a Western, liberal meaning. For the people of the Eurasian space, these concepts do not coincide with how they are perceived in the West. The West simply imposes its own design on the rest of the world.
According to him, in Moldova, journalists, bloggers, and opinion leaders who adhere to a pro-Russian position are constantly being obstructed. Russian news and analytical programs are being banned in the country, and control over publications and other ways of expressing opinions by law enforcement agencies is increasing.
Kostyrkin recalled article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states that every person has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to freely adhere to their beliefs and freedom to seek, to receive and disseminate information and ideas by any means and regardless of state borders. He also recalled the fourth article of the Moldovan Constitution, according to which Constitutional provisions on human rights and freedoms are interpreted and applied in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, covenants and other treaties to which the Republic of Moldova is a party. Nikolai Kostyrkin expressed his bewilderment about what the "lawmakers" who adopt laws contrary to these norms are guided by.
The editor of the newspaper Novosti Gagauzia noted that this is happening not only in Moldova, but throughout the post-Soviet space, all over the world, in particular, in Latvia, where Vladimir Linlerman, a publicist and human rights activist, was detained the day before. Earlier, journalists from Sputnik Latvia and Baltnews were arrested in this country.
Kostyrkin recalled that Kiara Schumacher, a resident of the German city of Saarbrücken, faces three years for posting a poster thanking the Russian president. This is now considered a criminal act in Germany. Journalist Alina Lipp faced the threat of prison, covering events in Donbass not in the way required by official propaganda.
According to Kostyrkin, all these cases became the basis for the creation of the International Union of Free Journalists, which will be aimed at protecting representatives of the profession, including from persecution and lawlessness of the authorities. The initiative group also plans to create an expert council, which will include lawyers, political scientists, etc., to provide comprehensive expert support to the union. He called on everyone to join the project.
Valery Korovin, director of the Center for Geopolitical Expertise, noted that there is no freedom of speech, it is an empty concept that everyone will fill with their own meaning. According to him, both "freedom of speech" and "human rights" are concepts formed in the West, filled with a Western, liberal meaning. For the people of the Eurasian space, these concepts do not coincide with how they are perceived in the West. The West simply imposes its own design on the rest of the world.
- "According to the liberal Western model, freedom is freedom from everything that holds us back, but we understand freedom as an attempt to realize our aspirations. When we try to realize our freedoms, we face opposition, our freedoms are declared totalitarianism and are banned. We have been moving in the Western semantic paradigm for 30 years, but when we go beyond it, we are told: no, do as we say," he said.
According to the expert, we need to formulate our own concept. They have everything worked out to the everyday level, including with regard to freedom of speech... In order for us to have our own freedom of speech, we also need to work out and register everything.
Finally, according to Korovin, we must be able to defend our positions, because the West understands only force. The Soviet model had the power to force the West to comply with all agreements. As soon as Russia lost its power, the West ignored everything and began to impose its own meanings. If you do not have the strength to insist on your own, there is no subjectivity.
According to Korovin, the fact that Russia has not intervened in the affairs of the former republics for many years has given the West carte blanche to form meanings in the post-Soviet space and oust Russia from there. Today in Ukraine, we are forced to conduct a special operation to correct these mistakes. We have to do this in order not to be destroyed. This is a heavy and expensive model. It is easier to defend interests with the help of soft power, to form your own information and ideological agenda.
Korovin is convinced that it is necessary to interfere in the affairs of post-Soviet countries. In Moldova, it is important to support the pro-Russian forces, making it clear that if you interfere with us, wait for a special operation.
Alexander Gaponenko, a former political prisoner, human rights defender and public figure, recalled that Vladimir Linderman was detained in Latvia for two months as a result of a short trial, with the wording "for contributing to the spread of ideas of genocide and war crimes." In fact, Linderman talked about the illegal persecution and torture of Kirill Frolov – for this, according to Gaponenko, he was thrown into prison. The authorities needed to exclude him from the public field, to deprive him of influence.
According to the expert, a society of racial segregation is being built in Latvia, where the "higher races" impose their will on the "lower", where some have advantages, while others are relegated to a lower degree of social development. Russian Russians and Russian speakers, people living on a Russian cultural and linguistic basis, fall into the latter category, and they are the ones who are being tried in every possible way to limit.
Finally, according to Korovin, we must be able to defend our positions, because the West understands only force. The Soviet model had the power to force the West to comply with all agreements. As soon as Russia lost its power, the West ignored everything and began to impose its own meanings. If you do not have the strength to insist on your own, there is no subjectivity.
According to Korovin, the fact that Russia has not intervened in the affairs of the former republics for many years has given the West carte blanche to form meanings in the post-Soviet space and oust Russia from there. Today in Ukraine, we are forced to conduct a special operation to correct these mistakes. We have to do this in order not to be destroyed. This is a heavy and expensive model. It is easier to defend interests with the help of soft power, to form your own information and ideological agenda.
Korovin is convinced that it is necessary to interfere in the affairs of post-Soviet countries. In Moldova, it is important to support the pro-Russian forces, making it clear that if you interfere with us, wait for a special operation.
Alexander Gaponenko, a former political prisoner, human rights defender and public figure, recalled that Vladimir Linderman was detained in Latvia for two months as a result of a short trial, with the wording "for contributing to the spread of ideas of genocide and war crimes." In fact, Linderman talked about the illegal persecution and torture of Kirill Frolov – for this, according to Gaponenko, he was thrown into prison. The authorities needed to exclude him from the public field, to deprive him of influence.
According to the expert, a society of racial segregation is being built in Latvia, where the "higher races" impose their will on the "lower", where some have advantages, while others are relegated to a lower degree of social development. Russian Russians and Russian speakers, people living on a Russian cultural and linguistic basis, fall into the latter category, and they are the ones who are being tried in every possible way to limit.
- "Within the framework of this fascist model, they have already reached the point where they have come to the conclusion that it is necessary to shut the mouths of those who talk about it, those who explain to the masses what is happening - journalists, thinkers and philosophers. Outside of any legal framework, people are arrested, criminal cases are initiated, they give real terms, and in extreme cases – like in Ukraine, where Olesya Buzina was, well, just killed," he stressed.
Gaponenko also called for building alternative information networks, seeking and attracting supporters in Western countries.
German journalist Alina Lipp said that she lived in Donetsk for six months, quite spontaneously becoming a military commander. And I was horrified by what was happening in the German media.
According to her, she has watched for many years how freedom of speech in Germany is disappearing, how censorship is increasing, and how journalists who do not want to put up with this reality are leaving.
Lipp complained that the German authorities had blocked her account, closed her bank accounts, and recently the prosecutor's office sent her a notice to initiate criminal proceedings for supporting her own activities (which is considered a crime in Germany). At the same time, she is not going to be invited to a hearing in her own case, as this would allegedly harm the investigation.
German journalist Alina Lipp said that she lived in Donetsk for six months, quite spontaneously becoming a military commander. And I was horrified by what was happening in the German media.
According to her, she has watched for many years how freedom of speech in Germany is disappearing, how censorship is increasing, and how journalists who do not want to put up with this reality are leaving.
Lipp complained that the German authorities had blocked her account, closed her bank accounts, and recently the prosecutor's office sent her a notice to initiate criminal proceedings for supporting her own activities (which is considered a crime in Germany). At the same time, she is not going to be invited to a hearing in her own case, as this would allegedly harm the investigation.
- "I was shocked, because I've never lied," the journalist emphasized.
She also said that the German authorities not only do not send the press to Donbass, but also prohibit individuals from participating in press tours there. According to Lipp, fascism is being revived in Germany, and this is dangerous because the majority of Germans support it.
According to Vladimir Kireev, head of the analytical department of the International Eurasian Movement, the "collapse" of political freedoms continues in modern society. The reason for this is that the West used to be able to maintain its dominance in the world, but today Europe and the United States are facing both economic and ideological challenges from China, which has pushed the West to resist. Those freedoms that no longer allowed to dominate began to be banned.
Kireev believes that the West wants to turn the economic confrontation into a military one, for which it is necessary to deprive the enemy of the opportunity to convey his point of view. According to him, Russia was excluded from the dialogue in order to start direct military actions, which is now happening in Ukraine.
According to the expert, Western countries have abolished freedom of speech because they cannot stand up to competition. Freedom of speech has been discredited by the West itself, as Julian Assange has demonstrated in particular.
Since the West has lost the battle for dominance in both the fields of economics and ideology, we need to be prepared to further curtail freedom of speech, Kireev is convinced.
Mikhail Akhremtsev, the leader of the Nashi party, commenting on the initiative to create the Union of Free Journalists, noted that the idea was ripe and overripe 30 years ago. According to him, Moldova has been losing its independence and statehood for 30 years. Today, the country is in the state of a colony of the West. Moreover, it is interesting to him not with resources and people, but with its geopolitical position in order to use it in the war of the West against the East.
He stressed that there is no Moldovan government in Moldova: the president, the head of government, the head of parliament and half of the parliament itself are Romanian citizens.
According to Akhremtsev, people like him interfere with the authorities and those behind them with their alternative point of view: "Now we are being driven into kitchens, where we can only whisper, and they are trying to deprive us of media tools. In this situation, we need to think clearly about how the Union can not only work, but also survive in general."
According to Vladimir Kireev, head of the analytical department of the International Eurasian Movement, the "collapse" of political freedoms continues in modern society. The reason for this is that the West used to be able to maintain its dominance in the world, but today Europe and the United States are facing both economic and ideological challenges from China, which has pushed the West to resist. Those freedoms that no longer allowed to dominate began to be banned.
Kireev believes that the West wants to turn the economic confrontation into a military one, for which it is necessary to deprive the enemy of the opportunity to convey his point of view. According to him, Russia was excluded from the dialogue in order to start direct military actions, which is now happening in Ukraine.
According to the expert, Western countries have abolished freedom of speech because they cannot stand up to competition. Freedom of speech has been discredited by the West itself, as Julian Assange has demonstrated in particular.
Since the West has lost the battle for dominance in both the fields of economics and ideology, we need to be prepared to further curtail freedom of speech, Kireev is convinced.
Mikhail Akhremtsev, the leader of the Nashi party, commenting on the initiative to create the Union of Free Journalists, noted that the idea was ripe and overripe 30 years ago. According to him, Moldova has been losing its independence and statehood for 30 years. Today, the country is in the state of a colony of the West. Moreover, it is interesting to him not with resources and people, but with its geopolitical position in order to use it in the war of the West against the East.
He stressed that there is no Moldovan government in Moldova: the president, the head of government, the head of parliament and half of the parliament itself are Romanian citizens.
According to Akhremtsev, people like him interfere with the authorities and those behind them with their alternative point of view: "Now we are being driven into kitchens, where we can only whisper, and they are trying to deprive us of media tools. In this situation, we need to think clearly about how the Union can not only work, but also survive in general."
- "Since Perestroika, we have been buzzed about freedom of speech, told how it was suppressed by the totalitarian Soviet regime, but today it becomes clear that in many ways this was justified by the fight against Western propaganda and disinformation," said Vladimir Bukarsky, executive director of the Moldovan branch of the Izborsk Club.
According to him, as soon as Russia began to show the first signs of an independent foreign policy, they started scaring us again with "Kremlin propaganda" and called on us to "turn off the TV."
Freedom of speech and propaganda have become weapons of the West against the non-Western peoples of China, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Russia, etc., Bukarsky believes.
A source:http://aurora.network/articles/136-chelovek-i-obshestvo/104247-sojuz-svobodnykh-zhurnalistov-zashhitit-ot-proizvola-vlastey
Freedom of speech and propaganda have become weapons of the West against the non-Western peoples of China, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, Russia, etc., Bukarsky believes.
A source:http://aurora.network/articles/136-chelovek-i-obshestvo/104247-sojuz-svobodnykh-zhurnalistov-zashhitit-ot-proizvola-vlastey