Cyrill Vatomsky, Where All Politics Are Global: How to Defeat Freedom of Speech Without Really Trying.

How to Defeat Freedom of Speech Without Really Trying.

Posted At : May 16, 2007 7:02 PM | Posted By : Cyrill Vatomsky
Related Categories: Russia,Free Speech

How does a democratically elected authoritarian ruler (nice one, isn't it?) deal with freedom of speech? After all, if he is democratically elected, then he and others had aired out issues and controversies, speculations and disagreements in the grand ancient tradition of Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité, right? Strictly speaking a democratically elected leader can not be authoritarian. At least for a day. At least until ballots are cast, counted and he is shown to be a real winner of democratic process.

After that all bets are off of course.

Naturally, if that democratically elected leader is an authoritarian jerk at heart, he will not like pesky critics. Imagine how much does it hurt to hear wild untruths about yourself after all the years slaving to improve lives of your subjects. Where is the gratitude, dammit?!

Imagine one Yuri Luzhkov, the boisterous and uppity mayor of Moscow. On his watch the city sprawled and turned into one of the most expensive cities on Earth to live in. Billions were made and lost in Moscow over the years and some of them were made by his wife. And who would be so uncouth as to begrudge Mr. and Mrs. Mayor a penny saved for retirement? Only Forbes would but those damn Americans are so uncivilized anyway.

It hurts to no end I imagine to hear that damn free speech. Even if it is true. Especially when it is true. But what do you, an accomplished authoritarian with a passion for tennis, do to stop it? After all, you were democratically elected and an affront against you is an affront against all the millions of devoted and thankful Moscovites that had voted for you. This can not stand, but you are a democratically elected authoritarian and you can not just send OMON after the offenders and have them beaten and arrested, can you? Especially when one of the offenders happens to be a member of the Parliament. Dang!

But the world is not as bleak for Mr. Luzhkov as it might seem to your uninitiated glance. If you take the letter of a law and bang it over and over and over you will eventually subvert and defeat the meaning of the law. Sue their sorry derrières. Sue often and early. Sue when you are in office and sue when you are out for a couple of sets. Sue and persevere and the pesky freedom of speech will eventually collapse entangled in Laocoönic web of roots, vipers and sweat. No need for a GULAG.

Echo Moskvy reports today via RIA Novosti (translation is mine, since I could not find an English text of the same news piece)

Basmanny District Court of Moscow will hear a lawsuit filed on behalf of Moscow Mayor Yuri Luizhkov and the City Government to defend honor, dignity and business reputation. RIA Novisti learned that Alexander Lebedev, a Duma Member and Komsomolskaya Provda Newspaper were named as defendants. The law suit followed Lebedev's interview with Komsomolskaya Pravda and his remarks made at a Duma press conference last December. In particular, the Parliamentarian stated that "(Moscow City Government) policies threaten the capital's security," "multi annual haphazard city development caused negative ecological processes," "hundreds of historical monuments were destroyed in Moscow under pretense of city redevelopment". The city leader demands retraction and asks the court to call the data invalid" (SIC!)

I kid you not. Our democratically elected authoritarian wants the court to call somebody's expressed opinion invalid. Do you see the huge potential in this approach? It will take the court months if not years to count destroyed monuments and assess pretenses for their demolitions.

When I was in Russia earlier this month, I had a chat with my family there. We talked about defamation law suits and I told them that anyone in the US can call George W. Bush whatever nasty words they could think of and accuse him of every existing sin.

"We are just as good as America," replied my brother in law. We can call Bush whatever we want too.