Keeping Freedom Alive 1709

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I want to make one or two points for you to ponder while I am in jail. This is the last post until about Christmas; we are not legally able to post anything while I am imprisoned. But the Justice for Craig Murray Campaign website is now up and running and will start to have more content shortly. Fora and comments here are planned to stay open.

I hope that one possible good effect of my imprisonment might be to coalesce opposition to the imminent abolition of jury trials in sexual assault cases by the Scottish Government, a plan for which Lady Dorrian – who wears far too many hats in all this – is front and centre. We will then have a situation where, as established by my imprisonment, no information at all on the defence case may be published in case it contributes to “jigsaw identification”, and where conviction will rest purely on the view of the judge.

That is plainly not “open justice”, it is not justice at all. And it is even worse than that, because the openly stated aim of abolishing juries is to increase conviction rates. So people will have their lives decided not by a jury of their peers, but by a judge who is acting under specific instruction to increase conviction rates.

It is often noted that conviction rates in rape trials are too low, and that is true. But have you ever heard this side of the argument? In Uzbekistan under the Karimov dictatorship, when I served there, conviction rates in rape trials were 100%. In fact very high conviction rates are a standard feature of all highly authoritarian regimes worldwide, because if the state prosecutes you then the state gets what it wants. The wishes of the state in such systems vastly outweigh the liberty of the individual.

My point is simply this. You cannot judge the validity of a system simply by high conviction rates. What we want is a system where the innocent are innocent and the guilty found guilty; not where an arbitrary conviction target is met.

The answer to the low conviction rates in sexual assault trials is not simple. Really serious increases in resources for timely collection of evidence, for police training and specialist units, for medical services, for victim support, all have a part to play. But that needs a lot of money and thought. Just abolishing juries and telling judges you want them to convict is of course free, or even a saving.

The right to have the facts judged in serious crime allegations by a jury of our peers is a glory of our civilisation. It is the product of millennia, not lightly to be thrown away and replaced by a huge increase in arbitrary state power. That movement is of course fueled by current fashionable political dogma which is that the victim must always be believed. That claim has morphed from an initial meaning that police and first responders must take accusations seriously, to a dogma that accusation is proof and it is wrong to even question the evidence, which is of course to deny the very possibility of false accusation.

That is precisely the position which Nicola Sturgeon has taken over the Alex Salmond trial; to be accused is to be guilty, irrespective of the defence evidence. That people are oblivious to the dangers of the dogma that there should be no defence against sexual assault allegations, is to me deeply worrying. Sexual allegation is the most common method that states have used to attack dissidents for centuries, worldwide and again especially in authoritarian regimes. Closer to home, think of history stretching from Roger Casement to Assange and Salmond.

Why would we remove the only barrier – a jury of ordinary citizens – that can stop abuse of state power?

I am worried that this abolition of juries will have been enacted by the Scottish Parliament, even before I am out of jail. I am worried Labour and the Lib Dems will support it out of fashionable political correctness. I am worried an important liberty will disappear.

I want to touch on one other aspect of liberty in my own imprisonment that appears not understood, or perhaps simply neglected, because somehow the very notion of liberty is slipping from our political culture. One point that features plainly in the troll talking points to be used against me, recurring continually on social media, is that I was ordered to take down material from my blog and refused.

There is an extremely important point here. I have always instantly complied with any order of a court to remove material. What I have not done is comply with instructions from the Crown or Procurator Fiscal to remove material. Because it is over 330 years since the Crown had the right of censorship in Scotland without the intervention of a judge.

It sickens me that so many Scottish Government backed trolls are tweeting out that I should have obeyed the instructions of the Crown. That Scotland has a governing party which actively supports the right of the Crown to exercise unrestrained censorship is extremely worrying, and I think a sign both of the lack of respect in modern political culture for liberties which were won by people being tortured to death, and of the sheer intellectual paucity of the current governing class.

But then we now learn that Scotland has a government which was prepared not only to be complicit in exempting the Crown from climate change legislation, but also complicit in hushing up the secret arrangement, so I am not surprised.

What is even more terrifying in my case is that the Court explicitly states that I should have followed the directions of the Crown Office in what I did and did not publish, and my failure to not publish as the Crown ordered is an aggravating factor in my sentencing.

If the Crown thinks something I write is in contempt and I think it is not, the Crown and I should stand as equals in court and argue our cases. There should be no presumption I ought to have obeyed the Crown in the first place. That Scottish “justice” has lost sight of this is disastrous, though perhaps as much from stupidity as malice.

My next thought on my trial is to emphasise again the dreadful doctrine Lady Dorrian has now enshrined in law, that bloggers should be held to a different (by implication higher) standard in law than the mainstream media (the judgement uses exactly those terms), because the mainstream media is self-regulated.

This doctrine is used to justify jailing me when mainstream media journalists have not been jailed for media contempt for over half a century, and also to explain why I have been prosecuted where the mainstream media, who were provably responsible for far more jigsaw identification, were not prosecuted.

This is dreadful law, and my entire legal team are frankly astonished that the Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal on this point. This excellent article by Jonathan Cook explains further the chilling implications.

Those articles which the Court ordered me to take down, have been taken down. But I was not ordered to take down this one, which was found not to be in contempt of court. I was also not ordered to take down my affidavits, which though slightly redacted are still extremely valuable. I swore to the truth of every word and I stick by that. At the time I published these, far less was known about the Salmond affair than is known now, and I believe you will find it well worth reading them again in the light of your current state of wider knowledge – absolutely nothing to do with learning identities, but to do with what really happened on the whole plot to destroy Alex Salmond (something the judgement states I am allowed to say).

Finally I urge you to consider this truly remarkable speech from Kenny MacAskill MP. Scotland’s former Justice Secretary, and consider its quite staggering implications. It tells you everything you want to know about the British Establishment’s capture of the Scottish government, that the mainstream media felt no need to report the main points he was making, which constitute a simply astonishing outline of corrupt abuse of power.

An explanation: this blog is going dark because I cannot by law publish from prison or conduct a business from prison. Access to this blog has always been free and open and subscriptions have always been a voluntary contribution and not a purchase. It is understood that all new and continuing subscriptions from today, until we go live again, are voluntary contributions to the welfare of my family and not in exchange for anything.

I am afraid one off contributions to the defence fund are also still urgently needed. Legal costs so far paid amount to over £200,000 and continue to rise as we head towards the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, which has to be via another Scottish Court called the nobile officium. Astonishingly, over 13,000 individuals from over 120 countries have contributed to the legal defence fund. People all over the world value freedom and realise the terrible precedents established by this case must be overturned.

We are equally grateful for all donations and all really do help – donations of £5 or less total over £30,000. But I must mention the special generosity of Roger Waters and Vivienne Westwood, and the anonymous individual who gave one bitcoin. 80% of the fund is reserved for legal fees, but up to 20% may be used to fund campaigning to raise public and political awareness of the human rights issues involved.




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1,709 thoughts on “Keeping Freedom Alive”

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  • M.J.

    Craig’s speech on release generated an interesting mathematical problem. Suppose he had 2000 letters during the first two months, and 1000 in the scond half. He also mentioned getting “hundreds” of books, and 4 letters from New Zealand on his last day. Can we predict the pattern in the last week?
    I will assume that the number of letters in a given period (e.g a month) would have been about the same proportion of the one before. Now if the number decreased by half over 2 months, for that to happen the number received over a single month would have been about 70% of the number a month before. So if Craig got about 1200 letters or cards in August, 800 in September, 600 in October and 400 in November that would account for the facts. Over a week the proportion would be just over 90% of the week before to make this happen. Therefore, I predict that in his last month Craig would have gotten about 110 pieces of post in the first week, 100 in the second, 90 in the third and 80 in his last week, which would make sense of his getting at least 4 on his last day.
    What about books? Craig mentioned “hundreds” which could be consistent with the ratio of letters to books being 5 or 10 to 1. So he could easily have gotten over a dozen in the final week, with the majority of days bringing in books (even several). Looks like he must have been busy sorting it all, and will need rest from that activity as well!

    • Jo

      I wonder if appointing just two was a deliberate policy so they cannot agree and it must start all over again….especially when the red faced one has links to mates .

  • DunGroanin

    As CM girds his loins to give us his take on all the monumental events I hope he has a silver lining with the inadvertent therapeutic break ?
    A couple of items as the ‘west’ attempts to reman relevant. Liz Truss being top of my list – i refer all to the pissed up nato ministers (almost all white) singing ‘we are the world’ to themselves – a comic opera Nuremberg if you will.
    To clear our taste buds and stop our ears and eyeballs bleeding I refer everyone to the Global Times – as it runs in detail through the ‘Color Revolutions’ in a straight batted series of articles. Brilliant.

    • Giyane

      DunGroanin
      Global Times The US , ” fomenting extremist ideologies and promoting economic unstability “.

      In other words taking the teachings of the Holy books, and twisting their meanings by plucking them out of context, to create extremist ideologies that will turn civilised nations into wastelands from which the US can easily extract oil and minerals. And creating political vacuums which threaten the political and economic stability of neighbouring nations, such as Russia and China.

      • Giyane

        DunGroanin

        Stop the lying would be enough for me. It’s just so embarrassing to led by liars. I don’t mind the emperor being pleased with his birthday suit, but why do the rest of us have to be made a total laughing stock by being allied to a society that allows a child to use an automatic weapon in a school?

  • Fwl

    Clark, thanks for posting the link. That was nice to see the video of CM being released. Can’t be many children proud to see their Daddy come out of prison. I know it sounds trite but reminds me of The Railway Children. Best wishes to Craig and his family. I’m one of those who only agrees with some of Craig’s views, but he continues to have my support and if only there were more like him whatever their views.

  • Lapsed Agnostic

    Great to see our liberated host delivered safely into the arms of his waiting family on Tuesday and, having now seen it on YouTube (thanks M.J. for the link), I can only add to the mighty chorus of praise for his speech outside the prison gates.

    • Wikikettle

      It’s a sad fact that the main stream media has been very successful in disseminating false information to it’s populations. Craig had to go to jail for speaking the truth. Yesterday the Brookings Institute released a poll showing the majority big Americans believe Iran has a nuclear arsenal and Israel doesn’t !

      • Steve

        And, I would suggest the majority of Americans could not point to either Iran or Israel on a map. Ignorance is the new black !
        But as someone once said: “Opinions are like a$$holes, everyone has one”.

  • Xavi

    Great to see you out Craig. Astounding speech without notes outside the jail. Doubt there have been many better ones by a prisoner immediately upon release. Looking forward to again reading you highlight the clear and obvious facts suppressed by corporate and state media. By God we have missed that.

  • Clark

    The two latest Tweets on Craig’s Twitter account say that Craig’s Facebook account was broken into back in August, and that Craig has been unable to regain control of the account:

    https://twitter.com/CraigMurrayOrg/status/1466919223033311236

    Of course it could be Craig’s Twitter account that has been compromised, and the adversary is lying about the Facebook account – I regard this as unlikely, but beware of leaping to conclusions.

    • Justin

      I see Craig’s Twitter is peppered with offers of help to recover his Facebook login for a fee. If they have that ability, how do we know they aren’t responsible for hacking his account in the first place? It would be a simple way to drum up business, after all. Is there some sort of certification scheme for white hackers?

      Incidentally, people should be wary of the ‘This account has been hacked’ phishing scam which starts with an email saying your account security has been breached and you need change your password – and then directs you to a website that looks like the real thing but is actually designed to steal that password.

      It’s best to use 2-factor authentication instead of a singular password. Gmail recently announced they’re switching acounts to 2FA automatically.

    • BrianFujisan

      Hi Clark.
      I just tried Crag’s Facebook page, and it went up right away.. and all seems normal.. Wonder what is going on

      Keep up the good work.

  • Squeeth

    Open letter to the Craigster.

    Life amongst bridge working folk, the end (for now)

    Thanks very much for your letter, which was waiting for me on my return from the bridge at 2:00 a.m. yesterday morning, after a rather chilly bike ride.

  • DiggerUK

    It will interesting to find how the different Scottish Independence factions respond to the turn against oil and gas.

    Shell have now abandoned plans to exploit the Cambo oil reserves.
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-59517776

    I’m not surprised that Greenpeace and the coalition Scottish Green Party are happy at the decision…..but how are the various independence groups going to plug the hole in the budget plans for an Independent Scotland, especially if the plan to phase out fossil fuels is supported by the various factions. The SNP seem very happy at the prospect.

    I have no position on Scottish Independence, if it happens, it happens. But at least explain how the financing of a Scottish State will now be worked out and how you will keep the lights on.

    I am as clear as I need to be that an energy policy without fossil fuels in the mix is poppycock. I’m equally sure that winding down the oil industry will be a major financial hole to fill…_

    • Jimmy Riddle

      DiggerUK – well, I’m fundamentally against Scotland leaving the union, basically for reasons of shared cultural heritage.

      But whenever anyone comes up with the `oh we cannae afford independence – it will be an economic catastrophe – we need the English to keep the lights on for us’ – such an argument just defies common sense and at that point I find myself strongly inclined to change sides and support independence.

      • Vivian O'Blivion

        “shared cultural heritage”

        Just spat out me cornflakes.
        Pull up a map of the Brexit vote by local authority.
        https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/img/dynamic/1/590x/secondary/Brexit-vote-map-1391420.jpg?r=1533315270894
        There’s a line running from the Solway to the Tweed. That ain’t an approximation of the Scottish border, that is the Scottish border.
        People living in Scotland voted to Remain by a 24% margin of victory. People in England voted to Leave by a 5% margin of victory. That’s a compound differential of 29%.
        A thought experiment. What if all the votes of Scots born folk were tabulated in Scotland and all votes of English born folks were tabulated in England. Now, English born folk living in Scotland (a substantial portion of the total electorate) wouldn’t necessarily vote Leave by a 5% margin (local sentiment and media) and Scots born folk living in England (a small proportion of the electorate but a strongly partisan one) wouldn’t necessarily vote Remain by a 24% margin (same reasons).
        My guess would be a compound differential in the mid-30’s.

        • Republicofscotland

          “Just spat out me cornflakes.”

          Vivian.

          I wonder if Jimmy typed that with a straight face, I know I couldn’t have.

      • Republicofscotland

        “basically for reasons of shared cultural heritage.”

        Jimmy Riddle.

        Scottish culture and heritage within this union has been suppressed, our languages such as Old Scots and Gaelic was beaten out of pupils in Schools, we’ve been fed propaganda for decades via the BBC, in which Scots had no control and still don’t over broadcasting when the likes of Catalonia and even a small enclave in Moldova does.

        We have no say whatsoever who can stay in Scotland, hell we can’t even open a drug consumption room to aid those addicted to drugs without asking permission from Westminster first.

        Scots need out of this rancid union in order to fully restore our culture and our languages, and take our place in the international community once again.

        • Jimmy Riddle

          Republicofscotland – yes, well, to some extent I agree about the language. Robert de Brus was Anglo-Norman and had three languages – the Anglo-Norman language, a working knowledge of Latin and was probably fluent in Gaelic.

          So we have lost something since 1314 – the education system has gone downhill and the standards, as evidenced by the Education (Scotland) Act 1872 have deteriorated.

    • DunGroanin

      Digger, do what any sovereign nation does. Start with establishing your own Scottish Reserve Bank with sole right to issue a Scottish Currency.

      It’s pretty simple.

      • DiggerUK

        @ DG, I was thinking more along the lines of a crypto currency….. AlbaCoin and GaeliCoin have a certain ring to them, CeltiCoin may cause a few problems.
        Alternatives on a postcard please…_

      • Republicofscotland

        DunGroanin.

        There’s a few great ideas and necessities that are required to be put in place for independence, Sturgeon has no real interest in Scottish independence, she’s even said that Scotland doesn’t need independence, she’s quite happy to govern Scotland as part of the union, and only rolls out the word independence, pre-elections or when she can’t get her way with Westminster, as long as she’s FM there will be no indyref. The SNP governments business for next year DOESN’T include anything to do with Scottish independence.

    • Clark

      But not winding down the oil industry would create an even bigger financial hole, because oil extraction is in a death spiral. Shell seem to have seen the writing on the wall; maybe the Scottish Government has too. Nafeez Ahmed covers a scientific report to the French government:

      https://bylinetimes.com/2021/10/20/oil-system-collapsing-so-fast-it-may-derail-renewables-warn-french-government-scientists/

      – By 2024 – within the next four years – the amount of energy we are using for global oil production is going to increase to 25% of energy production. In other words, the world will be using a quarter of the energy produced from oil just to keep producing that oil. […] By 2050, fully half of the energy extracted from global oil reserves will need to be put back into new extraction to keep producing oil. The authors have an interesting name for this self-defeating phenomenon: they call it, “energy cannibalism.”

      Meanwhile, the ongoing semiconductor revolution is causing the cost of solar generation to plummet. Watch solar panels being fabricated just by spraying a layer onto plastic sheet:

      Perovskite Solar Cells Could Be the Future of Energy – YouTube, 14 minutes.

      • nevermind

        Great report from Nafeez, thanks Clark, they did manage to print solar cells on to material a while ago, but I can’t see Blimps or sailing boats sporting such simple idea yet.
        Equally the car industry, forever trumpeting their technological break throughs and innovations, yet failed to equip their car surfaces with solar cells, the least they could do.

    • Lapsed Agnostic

      Scotland has an estimated 25% of Europe’s potential offshore wind power, 25% of its tidal power and 10% of its wave power – but only around 1% of its population. In 2019, current installed Scottish wind capacity generated enough electricity to power 4.5 million homes. I’d imagine Scotland will be able to just about manage.

      https://www.businessforscotland.com/new-figures-show-scotland-is-leading-the-renewable-energy-revolution/

      For those times when an anticyclone parks itself over the nation for a few days and there’s very little wind, fossil fuel-burning power stations can be utilised as a back-up, and in summer thermal solar panels on south-facing roofs can be used to heat water.

      Relative to how things were, UK petroleum taxes haven’t been generating much revenue at all these past few years: around £100 per Scot per year.

      https://obr.uk/forecasts-in-depth/tax-by-tax-spend-by-spend/oil-and-gas-revenues/

      The large hole in the Scottish finances which will occur upon independence when the Barnett formula funding is withdrawn can either be filled by higher taxes, or Scots will have to get used to English levels of public services. The choice will be theirs.

  • Paul Cunningham

    For what its worth everyone, this is what I’ve said in sharing on Facebook the You tube of Craig’s release.

    What is shown by the political persecution of the man in the attached video (who is speaking in front of the Edinburgh jail from which he has just been released) is that we are living now in a country that is prepared to imprison people who, by virtue of their activities, enable the public to learn things that Government and big business would rather be kept under wraps. That is why we do need alternative sources of information to the British state broadcaster, the BBC and the big privately owned news outlets that are so important in the cause of keeping the population in the dark. In his case, of course, there were trumped up charges that do not withstand a moment of serious scrutiny and these accusations were trotted out in order to justify the real reason for his incarceration. Look up the facts of the case for yourself. Don’t take my word. Instead do your own research. Consider also checking out his blog (craigmurray.org.uk). You don’t need to agree with everything he says but whether you do or whether you don’t you would rather quickly see why it is he is hated by the Establishment and therefore why they would be keen to shut him down – and anyone remotely like him.

    • Peter Mo

      Well said Paul.

      Lets face it we are at war. Not with another country but with elements within who have crawled up the establishment ladder. Therefore right now we should mobilize and concentrate on one factor i.e. Julian Assange. A concerted effort must be made to strengthen a worldwide network to get the message across and bring about consequences to those who have either actively or passively allowed these injustices to occur.

  • DunGroanin

    Craig has been turned down by the NUJ for membership again, while he was in prison, because he was in prison for journalism and without a jury trial.

    If only there were some mainstream journalists with integrity and initiative who could have intervened on his behalf on the world stage.
    Cadwalladr fires the full hypocrisy with press freedom – only if you are Russian or far away.
    Nobel winner: ‘We journalists are the defence line between dictatorship and war’ (The Guardian, 04/12/2021)

    “Navalny himself sent his congratulations from prison, noting “what a high price those who refuse to serve the authorities have to pay”. “

    Using the memory of German Carl von Ossietzky

    Ignoring Assange, Craig, independent journalists of today political prisoners in the U.K.

    She ignores many other journalists and, in fact, newspapers which also stood up against Hitler in Germany and were also destroyed as I pointed out months ago about the Munich Post.

    But than again Carol isn’t worried about these standing up against the Crown state and the pissed up Nato ministers singing ‘we are the world’ and their coalition of the willing and her campaign of marching us towards hot conflict in the Ukraine right here in the U.K. (apparently there were Ukes in Afghanistan – wtff?)

    Wake up folks – she isn’t a prophet, she’s a very naughty hypocrite.

    • Wikikettle

      I dont know how our integrity initiated journalists are going to report what happened yesterday in a meeting between Lavrov and Blinking. They must be waiting for the memo with the talking points. What Lavrov said had Blinking in apoplexy. The Secretary of State of United States of America was told in no clearer terms by Lavrov that the relentless move of NATO to the borders of Russia if not halted will result in war. He reminded Blinken what agreements were made by Reagan to Gorbachev. Not just China, but now Russia having the gall to to say enough is enough. Utter apoplexy on Blinking Blinkin.

      • BrianFujisan

        “Utter apoplexy on Blinking Blinkin.”

        I hope so Wikikettle.. But Certainly Not by the Western MSM.. I have just been a half hour looking for some sources on this… Grim, By page 11 it’s still all Blinken Warns Russian, Blinken Warns China,

        Google for Lavrov

        And your Mind Melt’s by Page Ten

        Blinken Warns Warns Warns.

        • Wikikettle

          Brian Fujisan. I watch Alexander Mercouris on YouTube for his readouts on developments involving Russia. (He is also on The Duran). I find his analysis very long and detailed. He has access to Russian Foreign Ministry press releases, which detail accounts of meetings between Russian and American counterparts in great detail. Detail and texts of what was actually said usually avoided by our press. He always quotes the sources of his readouts. In this particular case see his “Lavrov Steamrolles Blinkin in Stockholm on Ukraine and NATO, Western Allies…” He has been searching out texts of meetings from both sides and has a very methodical and detailed expose of what each side said, going on to make his own analysis and predictions. He more than anyone in my opinion knows where to look on the Russia Ukraine crisis. Each day he reports on the twists and contradictory statements, usually from the US side. The Russians seem determined to get the EU US to persuade Ukraine to abide by the Minsk accords which state that Ukraine should hold talks and reach a settlement with the Russian speaking areas of Donbas. The EU and US on one hand agree with Russia then simultaneously ramp up the Russian threat and talk of invasion. This is the most clear statement from Lavrov, saying they do not want war and want a negotiated settlement between Ukraine and Donbas. Russia keeps reminding US and EU of the settlement reached over Austria in 1955, in that both East and West would withdraw their forces from Austria and it remain neutral. To this day, although Austria is allighned with West, it has abided by the agreement and not joined NATO. Why can’t Ukraine come to this same arrangement they say? Howls of protests from Stoltenburg who wants NATO expansion Eastward. Lavrov has now told Blinkin..you choose..peace or war ! We won’t allow Ukraine to become another Poland or Bulgaria with US bases and missiles, five minutes from Moscow. Fair Enough I’d say.

      • Tatyana

        Wikikettle
        I never met a mention of such an incident in Russian media. Though, I admit the war may happen soon.
        There’s news about Ukrainian military forces, they placed the good half of all they have, on the Russian border.
        And, Putin is visiting India, he will be meeting Mr.Modi tomorrow, Lavrov is meeting Indian Foreign Office minister, and Shoigu is meeting Indian defence minister.

        As you see, the highest level of the event. It’s announced already that about 10 agreements are to be signed in defence and military assistance areas. Looks like we are building a Russia-China-India alliance.

        • Wikikettle

          Tatyana, have a look at Alexander Mercouris site on YouTube. Putin is in India to sell gas. Russia has always sold weapons to India while the West armed Pakistan. The contradiction now is that Modi, in my opinion has flagrantly used religion and tension with China to gain political support using Nationalism. His party has very bad history and assasinated Ghandi, for the British partition of India. I have my own Conspirecy theory why British partitioned India. Nothing to do with Muslims, as there were still more Muslims in India after Partition but to do with Divide and Rule. The other paradox is Pakistan has been supported by US and till relatively recently by China! I think China can’t handle the chaos and eco omicron and political turmoil that is Pakistan. It now has a more unified and stable partner in Iran and built Port facilities there! I think Pakistan will be very unstable for its belt and road initiative. Modi is steering India Westward and India media is stirring up China hatred. Gone are the days when India was non Alighned. Hope it doesn’t adopt neo Liberal economics and privatise everything. It’s also buying French jets and closer links with US navy re China! US would love to get India involved in war with China.

          • Tatyana

            Thanks a lot, Wikikettle!
            I read your detailed commentary above and was amazed that I had met the name Mercouris before, but to my shame I did not know how deeply and expertly he covers the Russian-Ukrainian topic. Very helpful, thanks!

            As for the Minsk agreements – which says that the Ukrainian authorities should allow Donbass and Luhansk to independently choose their local administration – this is the point that is painfully unpleasant for the Ukrainian government.
            Everyone knows how those people ended up at the head of the Ukrainian state, who brought them there, by what methods and for what purpose. Perhaps this coincides with the desires of the “Ukrainian Ukrainians” themselves. I don’t care really.

            But the real facts are that some territories were documented as belonging to the Ukrainian Republic when it was a part of the Soviet Union. And before that, these territories were a part of the Russian Empire. The population of Donbass and Luhansk regions is ethnically Russian, as well as the population of the Crimea, and the new anti-russian pro-american politics of such a new Ukrainian government is just unacceptable to them. The population of these territories, historically and culturally being Russian people, do not want to tolerate the prohibition of the Russian language, Russian culture, ethnic discrimination, suppression of the Orthodox religion and similar things.

    • frankywiggles

      Integrity Initiative recruited Carol to neutralise her because she was too big a threat to the establishment. Clark explained all back in October.

      Clark
      October 10, 2021 at 18:23

      – “They’re a pair of security state-Integrity Initiative propagandists, peddling lies in order to poison international relations”

      Oh dear, here we go again.

      Cadwalladr’s work on Cambridge Analytica and SCL seemed informed and conscientious; maybe that is why the Integrity Initiative sucked her in; it would certainly discourage any further whistleblowers from contacting her, and encourage suspicion about her work – “There. Neutralised.”

      • DunGroanin

        She has been a ‘Russia Hand’ from way way back. One of the vanguard post Gorby. Luke Harding is a merely one of her acolytes. She skirts the line of limited hangout and posturing. Her record on Assange speaks for itself. Why are people so willing to buy such fake posturing? I know , I know it’s the Bambi mentality. She what happened when we bought it withBlair? Sexed about dossiers, nonexistent WMD, millions or civilians injured dead and displaced; 20 years of chaos and personal manic enrichment of these that enabled it all.
        CC was always shiling for DS and still expects to get her prize from the collapse of Russia and resources.
        If that most recent article doesn’t convince anyone of her ‘true colors’ – what can?

      • Clark

        Frankywiggles, would you link to the comment of mine you quoted please? As best I remember, someone (DunGroanin I think) changed my mind about Cadwalladr, by linking to evidence. Seeing as you went to the trouble of finding the comment so that you could copy and paste from it, linking so that it can be seen in context would be respectful to other readers, whereas selective quotation tends to impart false impressions.

        • frankywiggles

          That was the opening shot of an exchange in which you repeatedly insisted Carole Cadwalladr is a good sort despite knowing she works for Integrity Initiative. Link to the full exchange by all means if you want others to assess. For me it formed a firm impression that won’t be altered.

    • Giyane

      Talking of naughty hypocrites, how come Tony Blair can see the negative effects of having large swathes of the world un-vaccinated, but still can’t see the negative effects on the safety of the world of capital cities that have had 8 to 20 metre craters made by interventionist bombs, such as Baghdad and Beirut?
      Breathtaking hypocrisy. Why is he allowed anywhere near a microphone?

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