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Revolutionaries Given a Voice
// Interfax unmasks colorful conspiracies
The Science of Conspiracy
Citing unnamed sources in the law enforcements agencies, Interfax reported yesterday that a coup would take place in Russia in 2007. It would begin with mass disorder caused by rumors of tampering with elections to the State Duma. According to Interfax, the driving force of the coup would be a previously unknown youth movement called Golos [Voice] similar to the Georgian Kmara [Enough] and the Ukrainian Pory [It's Time].
Citing “anonymous sources in the law enforcement agencies,” Interfax reported that “an organization similar to the youth movements that were the driving force of the Rose and Orange revolutions in Georgia and Ukraine has been formed in Russia.” According to the agency's information, the organization is called Golos and is an “association of various groups, including human rights organizations.” An Interfax source claims that Golos is still not registered anywhere, but maintains close relations with activists of the Kmara and Pory movements. Interfax ended its report with a very ominous prediction: “Golos' plan of action will be identical to the scenario used in Georgia and Ukraine. There are plans for a large number of observers from this organization to take part in the State Duma elections in 2007. Then, they will declare mass tampering with the elections, and on this pretext, they will try to get thousands of people out on the streets.” In the opinion of the agency's anonymous source, “the goal of forming such organizations is a change of power in a country by unconstitutional and unlawful means.”
Russian politicians have already been talking for a long time about how a mass youth movement similar to those in Georgia and Ukraine must appear in Russia. The leaders of existing youth movements also make no secret of the fact that their organizations are prepared to become the Russian Pory. None of the youth leaders questioned by Kommersant had heard of the appearance of a previously unknown competitor called Golos. “I think it's another delusion of the authorities, who are busy looking for nonexistent youth organizations,” says Sergey Shagunov, the leader of the Rodina Party's youth wing. “There's a hunt going on for young witches, and a new enemy is being created for propaganda purposes.” In addition, Shagunov is certain that his movement will become the real Russian Pory. “Dmitry Olegovich Rogozin and I are forming the Ura [Hurrah] movement,” Shagunov said. “It, and not some mythical Golos, will unite all protesting youth.” Ilya Yashin, the leader of the Yabloko youth wing, in his turn, is certain that the Oborona [Defence] coalition, an organization he is forming will become that movement. Besides Yabloko youth, it includes several small youth movements, such as the youth wing of the Union of right Forces. “When they quote the law enforcement agencies in political news, it looks a lot like provocation,” says Yashin, who also knows nothing about the Golos youth movement.
Meanwhile, an organization called Golos was actually registered in Russia by the Ministry of Justice in 2000. Lilia Shibanova, the executive director of this association of nonprofit organizations in support of voters' rights, is sure that the Interfax report refers to this Golos. “Rumors that we're planning to overthrow someone in Russia have dogged us ever since 400 of our observers returned from the Ukrainian presidential elections,” Shibanova told Kommersant. “The authorities need these rumors to spread negative information about imminent coups in order to prepare public opinion for a ban on human rights organizations or other repressive measures.” Shibanova calls the Interfax report “typical special services dirt”. However, according to Kommersant's information, in recent months, the Golos association has started preparing documents for setting up a new political party based on Golos. It is possible that the source in the law enforcement agencies is actually a member of the leadership of some party that may see the emerging Golos as its potential rival. At Interfax, they told the Kommersant correspondent that the agency did not reveal its sources.
Oleg Kashin
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 01, 2005
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