Welcome to La Russophobe!
This was the backup blog of La Russophobe, a Russia blog which was originally hosted on Google’s Blogger network. That blog was born in April 2006 had been visited well over 280,000 times and received over 400,000 page views and more than 4,000 comments since it was created over two years before. Because of massive technical problems on (and caused by) Google’s server, we relocated here in August 2008 and we are delighted with our new home on WordPress.
We are a Not-for-Profit Russia blog recording the rise (and hopefully fall) of the Neo-Soviet Union. We are the #1 independent English-language Russia politics blog in the world. No independent Russia politics blog in English has close to as much daily traffic as we do, and no blog in the English language draws close to as many reader comments or links from other blogs. When you join us as a reader or contributor, you join the struggle for democracy in Russia.
We were founded in April 2006 by Kim Zigfeld, who is now the Russia correspondent for Pajamas Media and a columnist for Russia! magazine. Our blog has been linked-to by such powerful institutions of mainstream media as the Associated Press, the Moscow Times and the Washington Post, among many others.
We are team blog, the work product of many dedicated and talented people working for a common goal: To see Russia become a prosperous, democratic, contributing member of the world community — rather than the scourge, blight and nuisance that it is now.
We publish issues on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, often releasing the issue a day in advance, and we sometimes publish intervening “Special Edition” posts to address breaking developments.
Reader comments and submissions are always welcome and appreciated. Be sure that you will always receive the three “R’s” — response, recognition and reward (or retribution) — when you write La Russophobe.
We welcome contributions from readers and can publish anonymously upon request.
Our creed: You don’t really know Russia unless you read La Russophobe!
Our motto: Russia is the best country in the world . . . except for all the others.
Our slogan: “Что-то типа Новой Газеты на английском языке.” (that means: “Something like Novaya Gazata, only in English.” A Russian blogger wrote that about us, and we’re delighted he did!
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80 responses so far ↓
yazaknyazya // August 9, 2008 at 9:18 pm |
Meh, imperialism is inevitable, it never left, only changed methods. The eternal war will only stop when most of the world’s population is gone. There’s corruption in Russia, sure, but at least it’s available to regular people unlike in other countries…
Misha // August 26, 2008 at 11:45 pm |
Imperialism is indeed alive and well in the world. Illegal aliens from Mexico are presently invading the U.S. wholesale, bloodlessly, with direct assistance from the Bush administration, and these illegals are only too proud to note that they’ll assume their ‘rightful’ role as the dominant demographic in the U.S. by 2047. Corruption in Russia can’t even come near that practiced in the U.S. today.
Should the European Union suddenly decide to work in collusion with Moscow, the U.S.–read, the “North American Union” (Mexico-U.S.-Canada)–will become yesterday’s dishwater.
Vadim // September 10, 2008 at 10:38 pm |
Misha, хлопчик, tell me – what kind of “direct assistance” is Bush giving to illegals? Maybe you’re talking about the Wall being built to DIVIDED the mexican-US border? Or the INS raids that are taking out illegals and businesses that harbor them, one state at a time?
Perhaps you refer to NAFTA and other dubious activities of Clinton and his cronies in the 1990s. Yes, some things happened then that should not have. But don’t you worry – this is becoming fixed. As far as demographics – that doesn’t really matter, they’ll learn english like I have – and besides, cuban women are hot anyways. What’s there to lose?
vodkasoda // September 18, 2008 at 7:26 pm |
I was a russophobe during the USSR and the Yeltsin days. Now I am a russophile thanks to Vladimir Putin. May God bless him and the Russian people.
Turtler // September 23, 2009 at 11:46 pm |
You forgot the “and keep” and the “far away from us!”
And why have you had this sudden change of heart, Mr. Vodkasoda?
reggie // October 1, 2008 at 6:24 am |
I have stumbled upon your site by accident and found it most interesting and strange. You give the impression that you are for modern democracy and freedom which I have enjoyed in my country for the last 14 years before which it was ruled by the most racist and abhorent regime in history. I support you in your endeavour to improve the lives of people like yuorselves but I find serious hypocrisy in your representation of level headedness as far as the present US elections are concerned. I am not one that is a serious follower of the US elections but I do find your acceptance of John Mccain and rejection of Barack Obama as probably racist (I hope I am wrong). Please try to convince me that your representation in this blog is not what I think it is.
Sander Pielkenrood // October 13, 2008 at 1:13 pm |
I am sorry to say, but you people surely have a ‘tunnel vision’.
Bear in mind that most Russians are actually quite happy with their leaders. As a Western European, I at first was critical towards the Kremlin, but having been here for years has changed my initial criticism into admiration. Of course there is a lot to improve (and a lot is being improved as we speak by the people you so much oppose to), but the way you express yourselves is not the way forward.
A suggestion: turn your negative attention and attitide towards the USA. There certainly is a lot to write about poor G.W. Bush and especially about the people that brought him to power. Corruption, fraud, the killing of thousands of innocent people, neo-colonialism and a lot more.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:So it’s OK to have tunnel vision as to the USA but not Russia? LOL! Meanwhile, Germans were “actually quite happy” with Hitler and Soviets with Stalin. That didn’t mean they were doing a good job, did it you ape? So predictably, you don’t point to any “better” way forward which has resulted in more change, and you ignore the fact that folks like Solzhenitsyn and Martin Luther King were also accused of having “tunnel vision.” Michael Jordon had “tunnel vision” and that’s why he won lots of championships.
You’re nothing but an enabler of Russian failure, pure and simple, and far more dangerous to the nation than any “enemy” could possibly be.
bkdunn // November 18, 2008 at 6:13 am |
[quote]I at first was critical towards the Kremlin, but having been here for years has changed my initial criticism into admiration. [/quote]
That’s called “Stockholm Syndrome” (more or less). I think there’s a Wikipedia article about it…
Sergey // December 12, 2008 at 11:24 pm |
As American of Russian background who cares about Russia becoming truly civilized country, I read a variety of Russia related blogs and sites. Just today, I came across you. Before offering my constructive criticism to your blog, please allow me to quote you.
“We are team blog, the work product of many dedicated and talented people working for a common goal: To see Russia become a prosperous, democratic, contributing member of the world community — rather than the scourge, blight and nuisance that it is now.”
Why do you think that Russia necessarily needs to become “democratic” to be a good country ? There are plenty of countries or quazi-countries who have democratically elected governments, but who are neither prosperous, nor civilized.
One example, “Palestinian Autonomy” where a few years ago the majority of Palestinians elected terror group Hamas to office after Israel left Gaza and parts of West Bank. Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez also come to power by democratic elections 10 years ago. Hitler, by the way, also used democratic institutions to consolidate his grip on power in 1930’s Germany.
Maybe Russia needs to be a country where Christian principles need to be incorporated in a legal framework and the culture of respecting such laws need to be instilled ? Maybe Russia needs a Constitutional Monarchy where monarch will have constitutionall defined rights and responsibilities with basic protections of life, liberty and property of every citizen.
P.S. America, technically is not a pure democracy either. It’s a republic with democratic institutions, but also with unelected bodies, such as 9 member Supreme Court where members are appointed for life by the US president. The US Supreme court (rightly or wrongly) can overturn laws passed by the democratically elected US Congress.
“Democracy” can be translated as either rule by the people or rule by the crowd (from Greek “Demos”). It’s time to take more critical look on democratic dogmas and have a goal of Russia as a Christian country in the highest sense of this word.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
We didn’t say Russia should be a “pure” democracy. Democracy means people making choices. Russian people haven’t been able to do so, they’ve “chosen” between a proud KGB spy and a proud Communist apparachik, both personifications of the Soviet failure they should have left behind but can’t seem to be able to. Now, as Russia’s economy implodes, they are suffering the consequences of that problem. Russia has already destroyed itself twice in a century, and is now heading for number three. We think Russia needs to try something new.
Sergey // December 13, 2008 at 2:45 am |
“We didn’t say Russia should be a “pure” democracy. Democracy means people making choices. ”
Well, Putin and his ex-KGB/FSB circle are not people ? I guess they are people too–not Martians. Bad people for sure who happens to be in authority, but still people. And when people happen to elect brutal dictators by democratic means, isn’t it also people making choices ?
I would rather avoid using this abstract word “people”. If we talk about the majority of Russians, like it or not, they are content with Putin-Medvedev regime for now. What is needed is a sort of spiritual awakening among the majority of Russian citizens, similar to what happened in Poland with John Paul II. Will Russia have its equivalent of John Paul II ? So far I don’t see one, but hopefully there will be one (or group of people) who will move Russia in this direction.
LA RUSSOPHOBE:
Oh really? So you don’t mind if we make the choice for you to spend the next 30 years in a Siberian prison next to Mikhail Khodorkovsky?
Great! We make that choice. Don’t forget to write!
Dimwit.
Sergey // December 13, 2008 at 3:07 am |
“Oh really? So you don’t mind if we make the choice for you to spend the next 30 years in a Siberian prison next to Mikhail Khodorkovsky?
Great! We make that choice. Don’t forget to write!”
What a freaking nonsense. Did you actually read what I wrote ? Did you understand what I was trying to say ? What I said was that right now the choice of too many Russian people is too be content with Putin regime. Bad choice indeed. I also said that they need a spiritual awakening to change their mind. Can you read intelligently counterarguments without insulting other people ?
It shows you simply cannot handle an intelligent counter argument and you just lowering yourself to insulting anyone who offers a constructive criticism.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
If you actually read this blog before offering us your “constructive criticism,” you’d know that we’ve published a great deal of material showing Russian elections are fraudulent, both by denying access of candidates and voters. Real democracy has never once been tried in Russia. And if you think you issued a strong condemnation of Russian people in your “comment,” you must be drunk.
Is “freaking nonsense” your example of erudite and reasonable commentary? Thanks for the lesson! We’ll try to emulate you.
Double dimwit.
Sergey // December 13, 2008 at 4:17 am |
Yeltsin was actually elected democratically and then shot at Russian Parliament in 1993 when parliament trying to impeach him. Then he named a certain guy named Vladimir Putin as his successor.
Maybe what Russia needs is first a rule of law before we can talk about “authentic democracy”. By the way which “authentic democracy” we talk ? American, European ? Or Democracy of Ancient Greece ?
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
Liar. Yeltsin’s elections were plagued by fraud from the beginning, and his only competition was a communist.
Typical drunk, arrogant, ignorant Russian fool.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 11:57 am |
Схема диалога
Сергей:….
Русофоб: Дурак!
Сергей:….
Русофоб: Дурак! Дурак!
Сергей:….
Русофоб:….. Дурак! Дурак! Дурак!
Sergey // December 13, 2008 at 8:07 pm |
“Liar. Yeltsin’s elections were plagued by fraud from the beginning, and his only competition was a communist.”
1996 elections–yes, but before that, he was elected in an open elections against Gorbachev wishes when Soviet Union was still around.
So cut the crap Kim and use words like “Liar” or “Dimwit”. Doesn’t work with me -:))))
Felix // December 13, 2008 at 9:11 pm |
The dispute between “westerners” and “russophiles” has been going on in Russia since 1880-s. Both have pretty powerful advocates (Sakharov and Solzhenitsyn, to name just from recent memory).
I think this blog is claiming that Russian people as a whole incapable of choosing either way; and sublimates both with dismal results. By the way, Sergey, your statement that Russians support Putin’s regime indirectly confirms that.
Being “westernik” as I am I think Sergey’s suggestion that Russia needs to find Christian path is illusion. It has been an excuse for 150 years: Умом Россию не понять – в Россию можно только верить (You can’t comprehend Russia – you can only believe in her – F. Tyutchev).
By the way, while John Paul was providing spiritual awakening to the Poles, Gdansk strikes and founding of independent trade union happened in parallel. Hoping for someone (or even group of people) to provide such awakening without forming grass-roots movements is what makes Russia so inept in today’s world.
Last, LR: while Yeltsin was all kind of things – he was the only leader in Russian history that was democratically elected, and then retired at then end of his term. I believe his role in Russian history will be judged quite positive.
Sergey // December 14, 2008 at 1:20 am |
Actually, Felix, John Paul II was a spiritual father of Polish Solidarity movement. When he traveled to Poland after being elected as the Pope, he quoted from the Bible “Be not Afraid”. He also called for solidarity to preserve Polish roots against communism. I am certainly not advocating to sit and wait for a John Paul II like figure for Russia. What I think is necessary is for Russian people to do a critical self-examination and see what needs to change inside Russian people before changes can come outside.
Sergey // December 14, 2008 at 1:27 am |
“Hoping for someone (or even group of people) to provide such awakening without forming grass-roots movements is what makes Russia so inept in today’s world.”
Felix, it is already being formed. Here is an article from newsru.com about formation in Russia of Solidarity movement modeled after Polish one of the early 1980’s.
http://www.newsru.com/russia/13dec2008/sol2.html
James // December 24, 2008 at 9:58 pm |
Great job you guys! I too want to see Russia free from those KGB bastards and Democratic!
My country has border with Putins Russia… It is very difficult for us as for any other democratic neibour of Putin.
Bring him down! Change RUssia for better! That will make a world a much better place. Better smelling and MUCH more secure!
With Oil prices going down, there may be a chance now.
Sadderwiser // January 1, 2009 at 7:50 pm |
Taught uni 4 5 yrs in remote Mongol, Buddhist ‘republics’ of Russian Empire, visited USSR over previous decades. Experienced transition Yeltsin/KGB. Now I wish all surrounding nations 2 reclaim stolen territory – new passports, like RF in Georgia!!! Cut Empire down 2 size!!!
La Judophobe and Russophobe // January 7, 2009 at 8:54 pm |
“Just” 162 ossetian people were killed by Saakashvili. Really, what trifle!
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
If it’s so significant, why did the government of Russia feel the need to exaggerate it by a factor of 15?
And do you admit that the civilians murdered by Russian forces in Georgia, which number roughly the same, are equally signficant?
InCountryVlad // January 8, 2009 at 5:01 am |
The report said, “162 casulties” it has not been determined as of yet the ratio of civilians/military.
Sandro // February 5, 2009 at 1:31 pm |
““Just” 162 ossetian people were killed by Saakashvili. Really, what trifle!”
I know it’s inappropriate and not related to this Post at all but I had to respond.
A very close relative of my friend was one of the Seargents that went with the leading force into Samachablo(S. Ossetia).
He said several days after the war started, that the only ossetian resistance came from some drunk guys in several villages, probably with weapons handed out by Russian ‘peace forces’.
I do not defend the idea of making war is good. Either for Georgia nor Russia, nor any other Country. But please don’t judge and spread lies if you haven’t been there. According to Russian ‘Media’, Russia was just ‘defending’ their ‘peaceful troops’.
If we forget about the thousands of people that died in that war, i guess all is fine. Well done Russia!
Andrew // February 5, 2009 at 5:06 pm |
Sandro, I hope you were being sarcastic when you said “well done Russia”, (I presume this is the case as you use the correct name Samachablo) the ethnic cleansing comitted by Russian sponsored Ossetian militia was terrible. My daughters kindergarden was used for refugee housing. I talked to girls as young as 12 who had been raped by drunk Russians and Ossetians. Most families had at least one brother, father, or son who had been killed by the Russians or their puppets.
Over 30,000 people remain as IDP’s from the Georgian & pro Georgian Ossetian population forced out of the Region.
In addition, the official Russian death toll for South Ossetians killed is now 162, rather than the 2000 they originally claimed.
j6q3n01x // February 26, 2009 at 12:26 pm |
I just came across this blog and I loved it! Since I don’t hate anyone so much as you do, it makes me feel like a better person than I already am. I certainly will be back! ;)
Maidari // March 8, 2009 at 6:09 pm |
It is absolutely hilarious , when the author of this blog claims, that he/she wants to see prosperous democratic Russia, and then insults a Russian posting on the blog – “Typical drunk, arrogant, ignorant Russian fool”. And through that exposes his/her true intentions and nature.
Come on, be honest, you just hate Russia for the sole reason of hating, you dont want anything good for the Russian people.
Yury // March 26, 2009 at 3:21 pm |
Maidari, плюсадын )))
Аффтар, выпей йаду.
**Typical drunk, arrogant, ignorant Russian fool** – типичная оговорка “по Фрейду”. И заметьте, вас Sergey не оскорблял. вы, и только вы опустились до ругани, которая вас же и выдала. Хотя, и так всё ясно: машущий жупелом “русофобии” не может принести русскому человеку ничего хорошего. Назвались бы западником, атлантистом, например, да хотя бы и вольным каменщиком – всяко лучше звучало бы… А так – кроме провокации и лютой ненависти ничего и не видать. Одно фуфло, жидкий пук.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 11:46 am |
Коллеги, предлагаю не обращать внимание на эту кучку злобствующих недоумков, плюющихся ядом и, как кто-то из адекватных выразился, – “жидко пукающих” (очень понравилось).
Есть также предложение: дабы сия зараза не распространялась, заражая овечьи запуганные мозги некоторых неосведомленных представителей западного общества, давайте пригласим к сотрудничеству мастеров-кудесников (коих на нашей землюшке немало) к делу закрытия данного информационного органа. Кто за – прошу проголосовать.
from Tbilisi // April 2, 2009 at 8:46 am |
Great site, guys.
Thank you for doing a good job. Keep it up!
Chiffa // April 22, 2009 at 11:57 am |
Yep-yep-yep, it’s a perfect place for Georgians to give vent to their anger with Russia, and for Russians to laugh. Works perfectly both ways.
A punching bag and Mr. Bean combined.
Keep it up!
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 12:04 pm |
Chiffa, you see things correct!
Vadimo // April 15, 2009 at 2:41 am |
La Russophobe:
“Our motto: Russia is the best country in the world . . . except for all the others. ”
and by “our” you mean neo-republican globalist slogan?
The concept of the whole idea behind this blog is so moronic that it does not even require any criticism.
Have a good day, my pseudo-loving-westerner =P
Chiffa // April 22, 2009 at 5:23 am |
Oh, you really did delete my post, didn’t you?
I’m flattered
achooo // April 30, 2009 at 12:41 pm |
I am the international journalist from Poland. I was in Ossetya when Georgian attack begun. They were shelling the city for a while then there came unshaved drunk Georgian soldiers and they started raping children and old people immediately. Some kids (both boys and girls) were not older than 5 years old. Just think how terrible Georgeans are!! I was so happy when Russians came and wiped out all that Georgean scum that they call soldiers. And I also saw Georgean drunks shooting unarmed people who were coming towards them with there arms up!
Andrew // April 30, 2009 at 12:59 pm |
Really? Thats not what HRW, Memorial (Russians), the OSCE etc have said.
HRW & Memorial BOTH found no cases of rapes by Georgian forces, and declared the Russian claims of rapes, Church burnings etc to be fabricated.
http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2009/01/22/flames-0
Try reading it.
Your description of “unshaved drunk soldiers” does however perfectly fit the description of the separatist & Russian troops that raped, murdered, ethnicly cleansed and pillaged Georgian villages.
BTW “achooo” if you were a “polish journalist” in South Ossetia please give your name and the news outlet you were working for.
Of course you cant, because you are just another Russian troll, and the only “journalists” allowed in SO were Russians.
obamayomama // April 30, 2009 at 1:15 pm |
There is no lie to big to tell for you shameless Russians.
Russophile // April 30, 2009 at 7:17 pm |
Really, guys, don’t bother to argue with this site. They just hate Russia, period. They try to hide it behind all these talks about corruption and so on (a common trick) but if they really cared the approach and attitude would be very different. No point.
Andrew // April 30, 2009 at 7:21 pm |
Hey Pedophile, I mean Russophile, nothing wrong with hating a state that has comitted as many horrors as Russia, from ethnic cleansing to mass murder, to the supporting of the most brutal regimes in the world.
But since you are obviously an idiot, there is no point in explaining to you what life is like under Russian opression.
Andrew // May 9, 2009 at 6:09 am |
No, because of the evil that Russia commits.
Communist Russia was far worse than Nazi Germany.
And moden Russia is still the same criminal system of KGB thugs and moronic serfs.
Its like putting lipstick on a pig. Its still a pig.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 11:00 am |
Андрюха, гамарджоба!
Ах ты, сукин сын, воду мутишь! Хорошо тебе в Новой Зеландии – жопа-то в тепле – руками махать да Россеюшку хаять. Когда на историческую родину-то соберешься? Там без тебя совсем плохо…
Мадлоб за вниманиё.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 12:33 pm |
In case you didn’t get that, Andrushen’ka:
If it really pains your gentle heart to see your holy little homeland opressed by the vodka-drunk-bear-communist-nazi-pig Russia, why don’t you go and leave New Zealand forever to join your brothers in fighting the real enemy. They are starving without you! Real democracy can be achieved only the moment a courageous person like you steps in the country. Your people and your President is waiting!
Andrew // May 11, 2009 at 12:44 pm |
Actually wog boy, I left NZ some time ago (which is my homeland, although ethnicly I am basically Irish).
Needless to say you spics are almost as bad as the Russians (the inquisition anyone?).
I am in the Caucasus, and have been for 2 years.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 1:36 pm |
As far as you seem to be a venom-spewing racista, needless to say that your lines about ’spics’ and Russians (please notice I haven’t stoop to say ‘your mick lines’) have no sense and are strictly emotive.
Dare I ask, where in the Caucasus do you reside?
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 1:40 pm |
And by the way, do you also call the surrounding people of Caucasus wog boys when they’re not there?
Andrew // May 11, 2009 at 1:50 pm |
Just responding to your “venom” and sarcasm in a similar vein old boy.
And no, I respect the majority of the Caucasians.
As for where I reside, I asked you first old boy, after your comments about my location.
Now Pablo, you really should not get so worked up, I remember some of your earlier posts, and you are a bit of a hypocrite where racism is concerned, especially in your attitude to Georgians.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 3:35 pm |
To make it all clear for you: I live in Russia and I’m Russian (if you didn’t get that from the message in Cyrillic Russian I left above).
Your vision of my attitude towards the Georgians seems to be perverted. If you do remember my earlier posts, I didn’t attack nations (like some of us do) for people are not to blame. Georgian people, who now are leading a miserable life thanks to their government, are really good. Their culture is profound indeed (if you remember, Shota Rustaveli, the greatest writer of Georgia or Nino Katamadze or Tamara Gverdziteli, the most brilliant vocalists). We, Russians and Georgians, had been good neighbors. Still, although the diplomatic obstacles, a lot of Russians keep in touch with their friends and relatives in Georgia.
As you know, there are problematic points between Georgia (which in fact is a synthetic nation consisting of different ethnics) and the adjacent regions of Ossetia and Apsny. As to Apsny, which had ever been an independent nation before it was annexed to Georgia under the Soviets. In 1991, naturally, Abkhazia wanted to resume independence from Georgia, which resulted in a year-long war with them. A lot of people were killed on both sides. My girlfriend and her mother were forced to depart from Apsny at that time leaving the grandmother who had walking difficulties in her home which was almost ruined.
After the war was over, a peace treaty was signed declaring a mutual hands-off policy. Although Georgians never gave up the idea of regaining Apsny as part of Georgia. Of course, that’s a plum – beautiful scenery, rich soil, tourist attraction, sea ports.
Naturally, to secure against futher Georgian attacks, Apsua sought aid from Russia. It is an evident case of geo-political opposition: Russia should’ve taken the opportunity of such a good-will annexation. Alas, our government showed total political impotence.
In a turn, this situation proved a good chance for the US government. They invented an ingenious programme of getting stronger in the Caucasus area for further Russian control. The US government protégé Misha Saakashvili was the first step in this programme. The Ossetian war was the latest one. As you yourself said there were only Russian journalists in South Ossetia during that war, and only the American reporters in Georgia. This thing won’t be right. Despite of that, many people in fact understand (unlike some here) what was really happening there in August 08. Bosses play, people die on both sides.
It has been highly abominable of you to say your way about the war half-known to you.
Andrew // May 11, 2009 at 4:06 pm |
Well “Pablo”, Abkhazia was frequently and for a very long period part of Georgia.
Firstly it was part of the ancient Georgian kingdom of Colchis, and its main cities Kutaisi and Dioscuras/Sukhumi was renowned by the greeks as centres of Geogian leaning and trade.
Abkhazia was also a part of the unified Georgian kingdom of David the Builder and his descendants, including Queen Tamara.
When the unified Georgian kindom was smashed by the mongols, Abkhazia remained a province of the west Georgian kindom of Imereti untill it was smashed by the Russian invasion of 1810.
After Russia had absorbed western Georgia piecemeal, Abkhazia was again made part of the (now Tsarist) principality of Imereti and ruled as a province of Imereti by the Russian govenor stationed in Kutaisi.
Georgians have lived in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia for thousands of years.
Both Abkhaz & Georgians can claim to be native to Abkhazia (just ask the great ethnologist Svetlana Chervonnaya, head researcher for the Moscow institute of Ethnography).
Russian & separatist claims that Georgians are “immigrants” are treated with derision by archaeologists, as almost all the churches, fortresses, and the vast majority of ancient structures in Abkhazia are of Georgian origin.
Furthermore, the princely family of Abkhazia duing the period from the middle ages to the Russian annexation of the early 19th century was ethnicly Georgian.
In addition Pablo, I have several inlaws who are either part or wholey Apsu, they are refugees in Georgia because they refused to kill neigbors with whom they had been living in peace for millenia at the orders of criminals like Ardzinba.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Abkhazia#Abkhazia_in_antiquity
In addition Georgians have lived in Samurchubalo (South Ossetia) for thousands of years before they (mistakenly) gave Ossetian refugees from Mongol depredations shelter in the 12th C.
Ossetians remained a minority in the area until the soviet occupation, the creation of “South Ossetia” by Moscow as a punishment for the Georgians being Mensheviks, and the deportation of the majority of its population after the attempted anit-soviet uprising of 1924.
In fact I suspect I know just as much about the Abkhazian & South Ossetian wars and history than you do. Being a witness to Augusts war (including one of the separatist provocations) and the subsequent looting, raping, murders and ethnic cleansing by Russian & separatists does tend to make one somewhat citical of the separatists.
Far far more people were murdered by Abkazian separatists than the other way around Pablo, Georgians were the largest ethnic group in Abkhazia, and had been even in Tsarist times.
The separatists evicted over 70% of the provinces population. The UN, HRW, Memorial and all other human rights groups placed the overwhelming majority (but not all of course) on the Abkhaz separatists for the war crimes comitted in Abkhazia
BTW, your attitude to Georgians has changed remarkably since your posts of a few months ago. If it is a real change I commend you.
What my relatives-in-law from Abkhazia (both Georgians and Apsu) want is to be allowed to live in peace in villages they have lived in together for centuries.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 5:28 pm |
Indeed, all the Apsuas and the Georgians want is a peaceful life side by side. I do say it again: you shouldn’t indict me for ill attitude toward the Georgian people. People are not to blame. Every nation has a government consisting mainly of bastards. Georgia sure has bastards both on top and within common population. Although it is not right to think that all the Georgians (or Spanish Americans or Russians or whoever) are bastards. I’ve been outraged by the way it is put. I may presume that you staying in Georgia dealt with Anglophone media-sources only (or am I mistaken – you speak Russian?) which conduct coverage in this region in a certain manner, with a special c0ncern. In this case, you could have missed the scenes of Zkhinval, mostly ruined during only one night by the Georgian troops. And sure you haven’t seen the Ossetian girl and her mother interviewed for an American TV channel, who were being always interrupted by the anchor as they only started to say the word ‘Georgian’. And the interview was immediately cut when they were about to say that Saakashvili is to blame for all.
A question: at what date did the war commence?
Andrew, I am not an historian. Probably some of what you have said is true. Except that King David was a born Armenian and Queen Tamara half-Abkhaz and long before Georgia was incorporated as nation and state Abkhazia had been a great princedom, the territory of which extended up to the modern city of Tuapse (which in fact is an Abhkazian originated name as well as Sochi).
Although Georgians and Apsuas have been neighboring with each other and inter-assimilating long time, they stay different nations with different languages pertaing to different language families (like English and Chinese for example). During the Soviets, the Georgians by force ‘georgianized’ things in Apsny: they renamed cities and urban objects, turned Abkhaz names into Georgian.
This is a long-lasting complex history of the two nations. Neither you nor me have the right and knowledge to make conclusions. And none the less, if, like you said, Georgia was a warm shelter to Apsny in the borders of one country, on what basis do the Apsuas so ardently strive to separate, huh?
Andrew // May 11, 2009 at 5:56 pm |
Once again Pablo, you show you have a very poor education in history.
David Agmashenebeli (David the Builder) was born in Kutaisi. He was an ethnic Georgian with some Abkhazian heritage, and in no way an Armenian.
His first wife was an Armenian princess however.
Note his title “H.M. The Most High King David, son of George, by the will of our Lord, King of Kings of the Abkhazians, Kartvelians, Ranians, Kakhetians and the Armenians, Shirvanshah and Shahanshah of all the East and West, Sword of the Messiah.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_the_Builder
Queen Tamara was not 1/2 Abkhazian, she was however 1/2 Alan (Ossetian), and a grandaughter of the King of Alania (now north Ossetia)
The “great princedom” you mention was probably “The Kingdom of Abkhazia, also known as Kingdom of Apkhazeti-Egrisi or the Kingdom of the Abkhazs (Georgian: აფხაზთა სამეფო) refers to an early medieval feudal state in the Caucasus which lasted from the 780s until being united, through dynastic succession, with the Kingdom of the Georgians (see Tao-Klarjeti) in 1008.”
which was a multi ethnic kingdom consisting of Apsu, Svans, Mingrelians, Laz, Imertians etc to ALL of whom the term Abkhaz was applied GENERALLY
“Most international scholars agree that it is extremely difficult to judge the ethnic identity of the various population segments[1] due primarily to the fact that the terms “Abkhazia” and “Abkhazians” were used in a broad sense during this period – and for some while later – and covered, for all practical purposes, all the population of the kingdom, comprising both the Georgian (including also Mingrelians, Lazs, and Svans with their distinct languages that are sisters to Georgian) and possible modern Abkhaz (Abasgoi, Apsilae, and Zygii) peoples [2]. It seems likely that a significant (if not predominant) proportion of the Georgian-speaking population, combined with a drive of the Abkhazian kings to throw off the Byzantine political and cultural dominance, resulted in Georgian replacing the Greek language as the language of literacy and culture.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingdom_of_Abkhazia
As for “on what basis do the Apsuas so ardently strive to separate, huh” well Pablo, Russian/Soviet power was maintained through a very effective and insidious “divide and rule” mechanism which frequently pitted one ethnic group against another (another good example is the ethnic cleansing by Ossetians of the Ingush in 1991-92).
The Bolshevik annihalation of both the Apsu and Georgian intelligentsia, and Soviet distortions of their joint history have done immense damage to Georgian Abkhaz relations.
The Abkhaz autonomous region had an apartheid system where 18% of the population (the Apsu) controlled the regional soviet and all institutions, this needless to say was another thorn in the side of interethnic relations in the province.
You also forget that many Apsu fought for the Georgian government during the war, and there were certainly Georgians who fought for the separatists. I also know personally several Russians from Abkhazia who fought for the government of Georgia.
Many ethnic Abkhaz were executed (and tortured beforehand) by the separatists during the “rape of Sukhumi” for not supporting the separatists. Including such men as Raul Eshba (an ethnic Apsu)
“It marked the beginning of 12 days non-stop fighting around the besieged Sukhumi with intensive fighting and human loss from the both sides. Georgians who stayed in the city with only rifles and AK 47’s were left without any defense from artillery or mechanized units. [59] The union of theater actors of Sukhumi joined fighting along with other civilians who decided to fight. The city was mercilessly bombed by Russian air forces and separatist artillery. [60]On September 27, the city fell as Abkhaz, Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus (CMPC) and Russian units stormed the House of the Government of Abkhazia. One of the most horrific massacres of this war was waged on the civilian population of Sukhumi after its downfall. During the storming of the city, close to 1,000 people perished as Abkhaz formations overran the streets of the city. The civilians who were trapped in the city were taken from their houses, basements and apartment building. According to Russian journalist Dmitry Kholodov:[61]
…They captured a young girl. She was hiding in the bushes near the house where they killed her parents. She was raped several times. One of the soldiers killed her and mutilated her. She was cut in half. Near her body they left a message: as this corpse will never be as one piece, Abkhazia and Georgia will never be united either.[56]
The separatists and their allies captured the Chairman of the Supreme Council Zhiuli Shartava, the Mayor of Sukhumi Guram Gabiskiria, Mamia Alasania and other members of the Abkhaz government including the members of Sukhumi police. Initially they were promised safety,[62] but eventually killed, and the UN report mentions Shartava being excessively tortured.[63]
The massacres continued after the fall of Sukhumi for about two weeks. Georgians who had failed to flee the city had been hiding in abandoned apartment buildings and house basements. Upon discovery by the militants, they were killed on the spot. One of the most brutal massacres of the war was committed during this period. Video materials show a 5 year old child being brutally killed by Abkhaz militant in front of his mother on the streets of Sukhumi. Abkhaz nationals were also targeted during the Sukhumi massacres. Anyone who had tried to hide a Georgian refugee or helped in any way was condemned and killed. “Temur Kutarba, an Abhazian, was killed by an Adighe Soldier in front of his children, for not being active in killing Georgians. V. Vadakaria, 23 and his Abhazian friend, who tried to defend him, both were killed.”[64]”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethnic_cleansing_of_Georgians_in_Abkhazia#Fall_of_Sukhumi
Now here is a question for you Pablo, why do the Apsu insist on controlling areas such as Gali and Khodori and the westernpart of Svanti that are not, and never have been majority Apsu, and the people of whom wish to be part of Georgia?
A little hypocritical wouldn’t you say?
nnk939 // May 14, 2009 at 4:42 pm |
Hey, Andrew,wait a second, by your logic “Abkhazia was frequently and for a very long period part of Georgia.” USA should still be a part of GB, as well as New Zealand and Australia. And KOSOVO always was a part of Serbia. By the way, Ukraine and Belaruss were also for a long time a part of Russian Empire:)
False logic, mate:)
Andrew // May 14, 2009 at 5:27 pm |
Except for the fact that in 1992 the Georgians were 1/2 the population of the province.
They were subsequently ethnicly cleansed.
Apsua were 17% of the population.
Pablo was referring to the Kingdom of Abkhazia-Egrisi, this was a multiethnic (Georgians majority, Apsua minority) , and trying to say it was purely Apsua.
Abkhaz/Apsua have a strange idea (totally at odds with actual history) that they never had a common state with Georgia.
I was just correcting him.
No false logic there at all.
Pablo Matanza // May 11, 2009 at 11:45 am |
FYI: Phobos is fear in Greek. Russophobe stands for one who hates and fears Russia. Or fears and hates.
Коллеги, предлагаю не обращать внимание на эту кучку злобствующих недоумков, плюющихся ядом и, как кто-то из адекватных выразился, – “жидко пукающих” (очень понравилось).
Есть также предложение: дабы сия зараза не распространялась, заражая овечьи запуганные мозги некоторых неосведомленных представителей западного общества, давайте пригласим к сотрудничеству мастеров-кудесников (коих на нашей землюшке немало) к делу закрытия данного информационного органа. Кто за – прошу проголосовать.
aglyamoff // May 14, 2009 at 5:57 pm |
Сюдя по стилистике текстов, английский для авторов не родной. Сдаётся мне здесь тусуются разного рода националисты из соседних стран.
aglyamoff // May 14, 2009 at 5:57 pm |
Судя
CommieBastard // May 13, 2009 at 11:21 am |
Listen, Georgia are a bunch of rapists and the Russians are saviours. Sure they have done some bad in the past (and present) but…you all suck fat throbbing donkey dick
Andrew // May 13, 2009 at 11:24 am |
Now CommieBastard, please don’t share lurid details of your sex life with the rest of us.
Frussian // May 14, 2009 at 9:31 am |
Your refer so frequently en.wikipedia.org that I supect you to post the referred articles as to match your “historical” allegations. Try to find something more reliable!
Frussian // May 14, 2009 at 9:33 am |
Sorry, my previous post addresses Andrew
Andrew // May 14, 2009 at 9:35 am |
So? No worse than Cricassian.com
-spetsnaz- // May 16, 2009 at 6:18 pm |
you pathetic losers and your untrue and idiotic site make me sick…
cosmopolitan // June 1, 2009 at 9:09 am |
The cold war is over, find yourselves another occupation.
P.S. If your goal is a more prosperous and open Russia, why is your site called “La Russophobe”. That is at least confusing.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
It’s pretty funny that you think you know how to run our blog, visited 4,000 times each day, better than we do.
And it’s pretty insulting that you dare to claim our term is confusing without reading the definition PROMINENTLY DISPLAYED IN OUR HEADER.
You’re an ignorant little ape, aren’t you?
Alex // June 17, 2009 at 5:05 am |
Whoever made this site – don’t be jealous of Russia and how we are as people, perhaps if you open up to yourself a little, and throw away your rattiness, then you perhaps too may understand what it feels like to be Russian, one day.
As for Soviet Union; don’t know many people who are against it coming back. It was an ambitious experiment – but at least we tried. Human nature is to blame for the dissolution.
Alex
LES // June 17, 2009 at 5:19 am |
I was not raised to be jealous of evil.
Agrippa // June 29, 2009 at 8:24 pm |
hello ;)
Agrippa // June 29, 2009 at 8:26 pm |
HAHAHAHAHA
LR you’re stupid peace of idiot! Can’t even use banhammer properly ))
Iouli Andreev // August 29, 2009 at 6:25 am |
US is ruled by financial mafia – the group of greedy and stupid money bags. It became specially clear after world crisis, created by these idiots. The president in US is only puppet in the hands of big money. Look in his nomination in the financial sector of US government after the crisis, it is the same public which created the crisis.
It was once an attempt of US president Roosevelt to put hand on mafia before the World War 2, but money bags responded in sixties, killing John Kennedy and his clan.
Note, never America has such weak and faceless president as Mr. Obama – it is logical end of US “democracy”.
US financial mafia made the attempt to create the same system in Russia, supporting Hodorkovsky, but in Russia this plot was doomed because Russians are not naive cowboys. They supported president Putin, not Hodorkovsky.
As for Mr. Nemtsov or Mr. Kasparov, or other “rusophobs”, they want to became big money’s puppets and to have the small pieces from the table of money bags.
This is the main root of their “rusophobia”.
rsb // September 22, 2009 at 11:18 am |
I look forward to La Russophobe’s response to Pat Buchanan and similar neo-cons’ position about Ukraine:
http://original.antiwar.com/buchanan/2009/09/21/black-sea-wars/
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
Try reading our blog before commenting on it, simple common decency. Put his name into our search engine and you’ll see exactly what we think about him.
Phobophobe // September 22, 2009 at 12:18 pm |
Pat Buchanan is a “neo-con”? Very funny.
Turtler // September 23, 2009 at 11:49 pm |
What were you drinking when you wrote this?
Pat “I am a f*king idiot who doesn’t know history and knows everything will be fine if we just play Ostrich” Buchanan is a Neo Con?
Please do your research.
fat troll // October 12, 2009 at 5:15 pm |
rusophobes and russians are tasty. VERY TASTY!
La Russo who // October 18, 2009 at 1:27 am |
I may tune in if you quit with the dumb insults. It would be great if you answered questions instead of asking a question in response to a question. Moron.
Dimwit.
Ape.
Idiot.
Double Idiot.-
La Russophobe // October 18, 2009 at 3:00 am |
You may tune in? And just who the hell are you? Is there some reason we should care whether you tune in or not, Mr. Lunatic?
La Russo who // October 18, 2009 at 1:30 am |
I couldn’t help myself in trying to sound like you for a second. Feel free to use a childish insult.
La Russophobe // October 18, 2009 at 3:01 am |
Instead of asking a serious question to see if it would be answered, you chose to behave in the same manner as that which you criticize.
Is that really a good idea? Dimwit.
La Russo who // October 19, 2009 at 4:39 am |
No, of course you shouldn’t care if I tune in or not. If you’re going to assign names, you should use Mrs.
I have plenty of serious questions, but I don’t prefer to have them answered by you at this time. That’s why I didn’t post one. Double moron.
I don’t care if it’s a good idea or not. I simply behaved as you normally do.
On a lighter note, the few things I have read so far seem to be worth the time and effort to sort through your stupid remarks. I’m still thinking about tuning in full-time.
Artuom // October 27, 2009 at 1:27 pm |
Are you in love with Putin, dearrusophobe lady?
you are talking’bout him all the time, day & night) it looks like a serious mental decease…)
jola3000 // November 18, 2009 at 12:29 am |
I congratulate the website and its founders. I am just not sure whether you need to answer all the sillu comments by people brain-washed by soviets as they chose to be so. Well done!
Dave N // November 20, 2009 at 11:08 pm |
Zigfeld sounds like a Jewish name.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
Dave N sounds like a racist scumbag name.
Glen // November 29, 2009 at 4:14 am |
Haha, I just stumbled on this website. Neo-Soviet Union? “recording the rise and ‘hopefully’ fall”? Can you have a little bit more pretentiousness in your tittle please? Your motto should be: “Хотели как лучше, а получилось как всегда”. You seriously think that you will improve even a little bit of Russia through this endeavour of yours? “Russia has already destroyed itself twice in a century, and is now heading for number three. We think Russia needs to try something new.” Yes, yes it does, not through endlessly talking about it on the internet, but out on the streets. Convince your neighbours, run for the local administration, make promises that you keep. Unless the majority of everyday people want change, Russia will always be what it is now.
Before you start even mentioning the ‘real democracy’ and how it should be implemented in Russia, try to understand the history and why the current political system is in place – how it came about; don’t just spew some nonsense about ‘western democracy’ – the underlying principles should be free speech and human rights – Russia lacks this, because it never had it in the first place. If people understand this, en masse, then and only then will there be improvement.
Andrew // December 25, 2009 at 4:44 am |
Glen, do you think that western countries always had human rights and free speech, the foundations of democracy?
No, they had to be developed and worked for.
Unfortunately, after 500 years or so of Tsarist/Soviet breeding of the Russian population to be docile and easily controlled, well you get the picture.
IVAN KUZNETSOV // December 24, 2009 at 7:02 pm |
Mr La Russophobe’s comments sound like those of someone who was born in a swamp and because he has been told it all his life, believes that the swamp and the country in which it exists is the greatest place on God’s earth. He, if he reallly exists, is more than likely a br ash juvenile American who like most of his countrymen does not hold a passport, has never seen much of the world outside the swamp, but is still convinced that his country holds all the answers to the world’s. My advice to him is to get a passport, do some travelling and try and appreciate the world for what it is and not as he would like to see it. In other words do some growing up. Despite my name I am a UK citizen and served in its armed forces for 25 years.
LA RUSSOPHOBE RESPONDS:
LA = feminine you illiterate Russian baboon. Try to think at least a little before you write.