ARTICLE CRITIQUE

Response to the Wall Street Journal "Anti-Authoritarian Protests in Moscow Meet Stern Response"  by Alan Cullison, June 1, 2011

by Gordon Hahn

The article reviewed below gives a false impression about the state of affairs regarding freedom of association and the ability of opposition groups to hold demonstrations in Russia, especially in Moscow.  It also omits some very relevant and piquant details in the biography of the main subject, the head of the National Bolshevik Party, Eduard Limonov, the prism through whom the article discusses demonstrators’ freedoms in Russia.  Specifically, it fails to mention that demonstrations by more moderate democrats recently have not been dispersed in this fashion or its leaders Lyudmilla Alekseeva and Lev Ponomarev detained in the fashion the article describes.

To access the full analysis, click here  Download WSJ_Cullison_1June2011