Putinland
Putinland is a political neologism referring to Russia under the rule of Vladimir Putin. The term has been used in various contexts, from portraying Russia as a corrupt and murderous regime where the line between the security forces and organised crime is blurred to an oil and gas powered state that is ready to swat away criticism at home, squash troublesome neighbours and sacrifice personal freedoms in the name of a strong centralised state.[1]
Definition
Professor of International Affairs,
Usage of the term
The term was used by Anna Politkovskaya in an interview held 18 months before her death, she said in relation to the murders of 15 investigative journalists: "It's the same old story, nobody who tells the truth in Putinland is safe."[3]
A five part French documentary called Murder by Numbers in Putinland was made which probes the suppression of dissent in Russia and the murder of Alexander Litvinenko in London, along with interviews of the prime suspect in the Litvinenko murder, Andre Lugovoi, who is considered a hero in Russia.[4]
British journalist and author Roger Boyes, who is the Berlin correspondent for British newspaper The Times covering Germany, noted that "even the Germans have come to realise that Holy Russia has become PutinLand, ready to swat away criticism at home, squash troublesome neighbours and sacrifice personal freedoms in the name of a strong centralised state",[6] a view published in his column in German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel.[1]
Books
- ISBN 978-3-426-27899-4.
See also
References
- ^ a b Boyes, Roger (6 September 2008). "Putin-Land ist abgebrannt" (in German). Berlin: Der Tagesspiegel. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ a b Khrushcheva, Nina (10 August 2007). "Russia's new inspector general". Moscow: International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
- ^ "The truth can be fatal in Putinland". London: The First Post. 8 October 2006. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
- Sydney Morning Herald. 28 July 2008. Retrieved 2009-01-26.
- ^ Lucas, Edward (29 September 2005). "Gulag gets short shrift from Putinland publishers". Retrieved 2009-01-26.
- ^ "My Berlin - About Russia". Roger Boyes. 9 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-29.