Putin's getting nervous about Russia's sinking economy

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Kremlinologists think it’s no coincidence that Russian authorities seized Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich just a day after he co-authored a Journal story on how Russia’s economy is “starting to come undone.”

Russia says Gershkovich was spying, which the Journal adamantly denies. It’s safe to believe the Journal because Russia passed a law last year that basically criminalizes what journalists do: ask questions about things the government doesn’t want anybody to know about.

That law focuses on anybody spreading information about the Russian military, which may apply to Gershkovich because he was reportedly researching a story on the Wagner paramilitary group that’s part of Russia’s invasion force in Ukraine. But that’s just a pretext for Russian President Vladimir Putin to punish and silence one voice highlighting the economic price Russians are starting to pay for Putin’s disastrous invasion of Ukraine.

For several months after Russian forces invaded Ukraine last February, the Russian economy seemed resilient. A spike in energy prices boosted Russia’s oil and gas revenue, its largest source of funds. Deft maneuvers by the Russian Central Bank helped the country withstand tough sanctions imposed by the United States and other allies of Ukraine. Russian forces floundered in Ukraine, but that was due to poor military planning and execution, not sanctions.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/putins-getting-nervous-about-russias-sinking-economy-201143630.html

[Tetrachloride]

1. I didn't want to say in the other thread, but

the US State Department warned Americans for over a year to get out of Russia.

[uponit7771]

8. +1

[Igel]

2. Ah, the Putin over 7 hills.

But I gotta question, [ W ]what journalists do: ask questions about things the government doesn’t want anybody to know about ...".

Some reported on tornadoes today. This was subversive?

Read about Trump's indictment. Biden objected to this reporting?

Let's say that "part of what journalist do." May report what they think is correct and right, in keeping with the government's "line".

As for Gershkovich, I don't know that he was doing in Ekaterinburg. Those against are outraged and say that for the most part; those less outraged don't say why he was there. They cite obviously false statements from the Russian government. Far from my top 99/100 of sources, nobody said *why* he was there. For the varenniki in a given restaurant? The natural scenery?

Was there a dissident or event worth reporting on? You want to rebut a claim, simply saying, "It's not so" is not sufficient, however much you prefer the claimant or despise the adversary.

It's after day 2 (which ends for me in minutes) but after a dozen articles left, right, and center, all I know is "Putin bad." Gee, I knew that over a decade ago.

I want journalists doing their jobs, "what journalists do," which I think of as revealing facts I wouldn't have thought of.

Now, perhaps that would have gotten Gershkovich shot on site. Fine. Say so. "Knowing why he was there, which would have gotten the reporter killed, we're withholding that information." They say it for other causes.

[stopdiggin]

4. reporting on a war is pretty tricky business

for the simple reason that a LOT of information (event some seemingly fairly mundane) IS consider military and strategic. Who is where on a map? Are they moving? Are they being attacked? How often? What kind of armament? What is the mood? To command (and thus to the state) it's all sensitive.

So - Wagner group? If you're reporting on anything more detailed than what kind of shoelaces they're wearing ...

And then you have the fact that Putin's Russian is a fascist dictatorship. And also known for jailing dissidents, journalists, political opponents - and strategic foreign 'hostages.'

[Kennah]

3. Window poisoning is real

[Earth-shine]

6. It often results in an uncurable case of fatal defenestration.

[roamer65]

5. The predominant currency in Siberia will soon be Chinese yuan.

That will be the beginning of the end of Russian control of Siberia.

[Just A Box Of Rain]

7. Is Putin aware that (to a significant degree) Rupert Murdoch owns the WSJ?

[Takket]

9. Seems a pointless maneuver

Everyone in Russia is spoon fed government propaganda. I doubt any of them have ever seen or read WSJ. So not sure what info Putin is actually stopping by falsely kidnapping another American.