Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok • Hacker News Board

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#211

Post by SomeoneFromCA » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:12 PM UTC

trhway wrote: post #29

Putin regime wants to make sure that Belarus fire wouldn't spread to Russia, and thus the timing of the message that they sent to whatever little opposition still exists in Russia. I mean the chances of actual popular uprising in Russia in near future is nil, yet Belarus can definitely embolden and make the opposition bigger, thus basically reverting the effects of all the opposition squashing Putin's efforts probabl…

Success in Belarus would embolden opposition in the Central Asia though, yet another group of Russian allies.

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#212

Post by JoeAltmaier » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:12 PM UTC

tanyatik wrote: post #83

JoeAltmaier wrote: post #35

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They're Russian. They work differently...

We are a lot less different from you than you think.

Sure. But Russians are notorious for various things - being blunt and serious; depressive, black humor; risk-takers. Not everybody, but the stereotype can inform the discussion, which was Why would anybody do this?

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#213

Post by caiobegotti » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:12 PM UTC

I'm just eager for some international stability as the next person and I don't want the Cold War back (and I'd hope for a more Europe'zed world to be honest) but it's incredible how much reach of Russia and China tentacles the US allows these days. As a third-world citizen I'm very much surprised the US is basically on its knees hoping the two nations don't punch too hard.

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#214

Post by sam_lowry_ » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:13 PM UTC

actuator wrote: post #198

sam_lowry_ wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By matching what happens in Belarus now to Russia. It was long believed, even in US, that Lukashenka had the majority. In reality, he faked all elections since 1994. Once his deeds became hard to ignore even for pathetically peaceful Belarusians, all the population turned against him. Gosh, the exit poll in my voting station recorded only one vote for Lukashenka among 358. I was there watching the exit poll for a cou…

The election results had him at ~80% votes, if he is really rigging elections, would he really go for such unrealistic numbers. If I have just 40% support, I might go for showing it to be about 55%, so that it at least looks close. I think he did rig elections but he might have had majority already, which makes his numbers look so unrealistic or he is just plain stupid to not even rig elections to make them look beli…

He just told his long-time ally the head od Central Electoral Comission to give him 80%. It is THAT simple.

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#215

Post by drran » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:13 PM UTC

chinhodado wrote: post #17

Maybe I'm too skeptical, but this seems a bit too obvious to me. Why would you try to poison someone with no real threat to you and risk him becoming a martyr, using a method that immediately brings you to mind, with a nerve agent that is also strongly linked to you?

To install puppet as "opposition leader". It's typical scenario, which works extremely well in many situations. "Look, Putin hate him so badly. He is true leader of opposition!"

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#216

Post by ardy42 » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:14 PM UTC

m12k wrote: post #162

odiroot wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brandenburg airport, Wirecard, gas deals with Russia, diesel emissions scandal and probably much more of these high-profile cases I cannot even recall now. Indeed, there have to be systemic issues.

Da, comrade - it is very important that we discuss all these German issues in a comment section about a news article about the poisoning of a critic of the Russian regime.

> Da, comrade - it is very important that we discuss all these German issues in a comment section about a news article about the poisoning of a critic of the Russian regime.

Very important, yes. Also, have you heard about the poor treatment of Blacks in the Amerika? I recently found this interesting article on the subject: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_you_are_lynching_Negroes

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#217

Post by actuator » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:14 PM UTC

throwaway8941 wrote: post #207

actuator wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The election results had him at ~80% votes, if he is really rigging elections, would he really go for such unrealistic numbers. If I have just 40% support, I might go for showing it to be about 55%, so that it at least looks close. I think he did rig elections but he might have had majority already, which makes his numbers look so unrealistic or he is just plain stupid to not even rig elections to make them look beli…

>would he really go for such unrealistic numbers I am from Kazakhstan. If you've ever heard of it, would you consider it to be an autocratic state? Because according to the official results our beloved leader received 98% of votes in an election a few years back. Now that's an unrealistic number for sure.

At that point, why even a facade. :)

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#218

Post by notahacker » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:15 PM UTC

actuator wrote: post #198

sam_lowry_ wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

By matching what happens in Belarus now to Russia. It was long believed, even in US, that Lukashenka had the majority. In reality, he faked all elections since 1994. Once his deeds became hard to ignore even for pathetically peaceful Belarusians, all the population turned against him. Gosh, the exit poll in my voting station recorded only one vote for Lukashenka among 358. I was there watching the exit poll for a cou…

The election results had him at ~80% votes, if he is really rigging elections, would he really go for such unrealistic numbers. If I have just 40% support, I might go for showing it to be about 55%, so that it at least looks close. I think he did rig elections but he might have had majority already, which makes his numbers look so unrealistic or he is just plain stupid to not even rig elections to make them look beli…

That depends on whether the purpose of the election result is to be universally accepted as an accurate reflection of public sentiment or just to say, the opposition couldn't have won

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#219

Post by actuator » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:16 PM UTC

sam_lowry_ wrote: post #214

actuator wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The election results had him at ~80% votes, if he is really rigging elections, would he really go for such unrealistic numbers. If I have just 40% support, I might go for showing it to be about 55%, so that it at least looks close. I think he did rig elections but he might have had majority already, which makes his numbers look so unrealistic or he is just plain stupid to not even rig elections to make them look beli…

He just told his long-time ally the head od Central Electoral Comission to give him 80%. It is THAT simple.

If that is true, quite stupid of him then. I hope things work out for you guys.

Re: Russia opposition leader poisoned with Novichok

#220

Post by WhompingWindows » Wed, Sep 02, 2020, 6:18 PM UTC

actionscripted wrote: post #91

If you ever wonder about the extent of Russia's online efforts consider that the comments on this HN thread might be part of things. Not saying anything in here is good/bad/other but you rarely see this level of flagged and down-voted comments in a HN thread.

Just wondering, do you think it more likely that:

A) Russian-sympathetic people post their own sincere views

B) Russians for hire in Russia are brought in on all forums/social media

C) Russians use bots or non-Russian farms for the B)'s purpose?