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Russia brings only poverty

27/05/2016

9 minute read

Dmitry Medvedev: “There is no money. But you hang on!”

Crimea will always be taken care of on a residual basis. By and large, it is only a common military base with beaches where you can also sunbathe. "There is no money, but you must hang on" -- these words, spoken by the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev in response to complaints from the pensioners of occupied Crimea, have already become as popular as that other phrase from Medvedev's recent past -- "my words are cast in granite

." And if the "granite phrase" was a reflection of Medvedev's megalomania and intellectual weakness, then the words about money have become the definite consequence of Russian politics in occupied Crimea. The secure, fabulously rich crook, a representative of the corrupt clique that controls all aspects of life in a vast country, tells poor people to "hang on" -- people, who because of him and as a direct result of the occupation have ended up in desperate circumstances. Some may say that if Crimea had remained part of Ukraine, the pensioners would not be living any better simply because Russian pensions are still higher than the Ukrainian ones. Yes, the pensions may be higher. But the prices? And the cost the peninsula has to pay for being practically turned into an island? After all, after the occupation of Crimea, all the connections that were natural for the peninsula because of its geographic location have been severed. Instead of land, there is water. Instead of the Isthmus of Perekop, there is the Kerch Strait. And yet for Medvedev, Crimea is a region like "all the others." If someone had thought that the Kremlin would seek out "extra funds" in order to please the residents of the occupied territories, he miscalculated badly. In Moscow, they understand perfectly well that sooner or later they will have to return Crimea, and if they need to please anyone, it should be those who will remain no matter what. In this sense, Crimea will always be taken care of on a residual basis. By and large, it is a common military base with beaches where you can also sunbathe. The occupiers do not care about the "natives

." On the one hand, this is a tragedy for the residents of Crimea. On the other hand, it is vaccination for all those on the peninsula and in Ukraine in general who dreamed about Russia and were ready to fall into the arms of the former metropolis along with territory. Russia brings only poverty. Isn't this clear yet? There is no money. And you just keep hanging on.

Russian matryoshka nesting dolls with images of Putin, Medvedev, Yeltsin, and Gorbachev (Image: ng.ru)

The prime minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev sleeping during the December 3, 2015 Putin's address to the Russian parliament. (Image: asiarussia.ru) — The prime minister of Russia Dmitry Medvedev sleeping during the December 3, 2015 Putin’s address to the Russian parliament. (Image: asiarussia.ru)

A propagandist mural of Putin in occupied Yalta, Crimea sported a hashtag "#НАШ" ( Russian for "ours") to claim that Crimea is now Russian. The graffiti by Crimean residents that quickly covered it disagreed with the Kremlin statement and expressed what they think about Putin's Crimean Anschluss. May 2015 (Image: social networks). — A propagandist mural of Putin in occupied Yalta, Crimea sported a hashtag “#НАШ” ( Russian for “ours”) to claim that Crimea is now Russian. The graffiti by Crimean residents that quickly covered it disagreed with the Kremlin statement and expressed what they think about Putin’s Crimean Anschluss. May 2015 (Image: social networks).

Local Communists at the Victory Day parade in the occupied Sevastopol, Crimea on May 9, 2016 (Image: sevas.com)

Troops of the Russian occupation force on parade in Sevastopol, Crimea on May 9, 2016 (Image: sevas.com)

Russian FSB secret police and paramilitaries suppress any open dissent in Crimea and actively search for any hidden resistance to the occupation. Beside using the judicial system to enforce the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula, they employ secret abductions and extrajudicial killings of Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian activists. (Image: GordonUA.com)

Two friends Timur Shaymardanov and Seyran Zinedinov, Crimean Tatars and activists of the Ukrainian Home organization opposed to the Russian occupation, disappeared in the end of May 2015. Shaymardanov never arrived to work after he left home in the morning of May 25. Zinedinov actively searched for his friend and himself disappeared five days later after a conversation with his friend's wife where he mentioned that the Russian paramilitaries might be connected to her husband's abduction. He called to tell his wife he is about to leave Shaymardanovs' house and is going directly home, but never arrived there. They are still not found. — Two friends Timur Shaymardanov and Seyran Zinedinov, Crimean Tatars and activists of the Ukrainian Home organization opposed to the Russian occupation, disappeared in the end of May 2015. Shaymardanov never arrived to work after he left home in the morning of May 25. Zinedinov actively searched for his friend and himself disappeared five days later after a conversation with his friend’s wife where he mentioned that the Russian paramilitaries might be connected to her husband’s abduction. He called to tell his wife he is about to leave Shaymardanovs’ house and is going directly home, but never arrived there. They are still not found.

A high-power electrical transmission tower in Kherson oblast transporting energy to Crimea, damaged by an explosive blast. November 21, 2015. (Image: UkrEnergo)

So-called "little green men" (the Russian occupation troops comprised of special forces who removed insignia, wear face masks to prevent identification and call themselves a "Crimean self-defense force") surround a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, Crimea, during the Russian annexation of the peninsula in February-March 2014. — So-called “little green men” (the Russian occupation troops comprised special forces who removed insignia, wear face masks to prevent identification and call themselves a “Crimean self-defense force”) surround a Ukrainian military base in Perevalne, Crimea, during the Russian annexation of the peninsula in February-March 2014.

Russian propaganda murals in Crimea are getting defaced with graffiti reflecting the Crimeans' real feelings toward Putin and his occupation of their land, which are very different from the supposed results of the fake "referendum" conducted by the Russian occupation force. (Photo: social media, October 2015) — Russian propaganda murals in Crimea are getting defaced with graffiti reflecting the Crimeans’ real feelings toward Putin and his occupation of their land, which are very different from the supposed results of the fake “referendum” conducted by the Russian occupation force. (Photo: social media, October 2015)

Moscow propaganda poster plastered all over Crimea before the illegal "referendum" of March 16, 2014. — Moscow propaganda poster plastered all over Crimea before the illegal “referendum” of March 16, 2014.

putlercrimea — poster at a demonstration in Milan, June 9, 2015

Russian militarism, the occupation of Crimea and its continued undeclared war in Ukraine has long undone any public relations benefits Russia received from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, the most expensive Olympic Games in history. (Image: Marijn via Twitter)

A heavily-protected Russian entry point into the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea annexed by Russia in March 2014 (Image: Kommersant.ru)

The main train station in Evpatoria, a major resort city in Crimea, stays empty after the Russian occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula. June 2015. (Image: Twitter)

Grass grew over the railroad tracks near Sevastopol, the largest industrial city of the Ukrainian peninsula, as Crimea’s economy slowed to a standstill after the Russian occupation. June 2015 (Image: Twitter)

As Crimea's economy after the Russian occupation has slowed to a standstill, the railroad yard in Sevastopol is being overtaken by grass. June 2015 (Image: Twitter) — As Crimea’s economy after the Russian occupation has slowed to a standstill, the railroad yard in Sevastopol is being overtaken by grass. June 2015 (Image: Twitter)

As tourism to Crimea has undergone a major contraction, a major supermarket chain “Furshet” in Yalta has reduced its inventory to a minimum and fills the empty shelves with bottles of water and drinks one-bottle deep. June 2015. (Image: Twitter)

Tourism is critical to Crimea's economy. After Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula, the multi-million flow of tourists contracted to a trickle, thus crushing Crimean economy. The webcam images of empty beaches that normally were completely full are a confirmation. June 2015 (Image: Webcam capture) — Tourism is critical to Crimea’s economy. After Russia’s annexation of the Ukrainian peninsula, the multi-million flow of tourists contracted to a trickle, thus crushing Crimean economy. The webcam images of empty beaches that normally were completely full are a confirmation. June 2015 (Image: Webcam capture)

Russian heavy howitzers stationed in the Crimean village of Voloshine next to the unoccupied Ukrainian territory facing the dividing line. (Image: Ukrainian patriot in Crimea via Twitter)

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Russia brings only poverty

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