It looks like you're using an Ad Blocker.
Please white-list or disable AboveTopSecret.com in your ad-blocking tool.
Thank you.
Some features of ATS will be disabled while you continue to use an ad-blocker.
a Russian left-wing politician, member of the State Duma and a technology entrepreneur. Ponomarev has more than 20 years of prominent political stance, complemented with international operational and investment experience working in high technology industries with a primary focus on IT and energy.
In 2012, Ponomarev and fellow MP Dmitry G. Gudkov took a leadership role in street protests against Putin's rule.[2] Following the 4 March presidential election, in which Putin was elected for his third term as president, Ponomarev accused the government of unfair vote-counting practices, stating that the election should have been close enough for a run-off.[17] In May, Ponomarev criticized Putin's decision to retain Igor Shuvalov in his cabinet despite a corruption scandal.[18] The following month, Ponomarev and Gudkov led a filibuster against a bill by Putin's United Russia party allowing large fines for anti-government protesters; though the filibuster was unsuccessful, the action attracted widespread attention.[2] Later among several other politicians Ponomarev successfully challenged this piece of legislation in Constitutional Court, partially rolling the situation back.
In June 2012, Ponomarev made a speech in the Duma in which he called United Russia members "swindlers and thieves", a phrase originally used by anti-corruption activist Aleksei Navalny. In September same year, Duma members voted to censure Ponomarev and bar him from speaking for one month. United Russia members also proposed charging him with defamation.[19]
In October 2012, the pro-government news channel NTV aired a documentary which accused Ponomarev's aide Leonid Razvozzhayev of arranging a meeting between another opposition leader, the Left Front's Sergei Udaltsov, and a Georgian official Givi Targamadze, for the purpose of overthrowing President Vladimir Putin.[32] A spokesman for Russian investigators stated that the government was considering terrorism charges against Udaltsov,[32] and Razvozzhayev, Udaltsov, and Konstantin Lebedev, an assistant of Udaltsov's, were charged with "plotting mass riots".[33] Razvozzhayev fled to Kiev, Ukraine, where he applied for asylum from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, but disappeared after leaving the office for lunch.[32] He resurfaced in Moscow three days later, where the website Life News caught him on tape leaving a Moscow courthouse, shouting that he had been abducted and tortured.[32][34] A spokesman for Russia's Investigative Committee stated that Razvozzhayev had not been abducted, but had turned himself in freely and volunteered a confession of his conspiracy with Udaltsov and Lebedev to cause widespread rioting.[32]
Vladimir Burmatov, a United Russia MP, called on Ponomarev to resign from the State Duma for his association with Razvozzhayev.[35]
In August 2014 both Udaltsov and Razvozzhayev were sentenced to 4.5 years in camp.
Ponomarev was the only member of the State Duma to vote against annexation of Crimea during the 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine.[36] Despite being very critical over 2014 Ukrainian revolution as being driven by alliance of neoliberals and nationalists, he justified his position in Duma with necessity to keep friendly relations with "brotherly Ukrainian nation", avoid military confrontation at all costs, and debated that Russia's actions in Crimea will push Ukraine outside traditional sphere of Russian influence and might provoke further expansion of NATO.[37] After being the only deputy to oppose the annexation in a 445-1 landslide vote many people called for his resignation, however Ponomarev responded that deputies can not be prosecuted or removed simply for the way they vote in parliament. Other then being threatened with censure and expulsion the parliament took no further action regarding the status of Ponomarev as deputy.[38] At the same time in August 2014 federal bailiffs have frozen Ponomarev's bank accounts and announced that they will not allow him to leave Russia anymore.
originally posted by: kitzik
a reply to: Xcathdra
He is looking very unhappy and genuinely frightened. I've heard he decided not to go back to Russia.
Yes, he was the only Duma parlamentarian who abstained on Crimea question.
originally posted by: kitzik
a reply to: Xcathdra
I may check it again, but as far as I remember he abstained.
He representing more or less what is called "Bolot square opposition". In 2012 they may had 20-30% support in Moscow and much less in province. Now, I estimate he may have support like 5%.
Generally there is emigration out of Russia people like him in recent months.
originally posted by: whyamIhere
He will end up dead.
It's very unhealthy to go against Vlad.
Interesting Find
originally posted by: Dimithae
a reply to: Xcathdra
Why does he sound to me like the people here on ATS that want change and don't like the way their government is doing things? He must be a trouble maker. No sense in making things better our pointing out that the Emperor is naked when others will refuse to see.
originally posted by: rickymouse
It seems to me he could actually not like Putin and the people running the country. I don't know if I would totally trust everything he says. I am sure there is some truth to it, Russia does not seem to deny they have troups in Ukraine. I don't know how much the Russians are really doing though, their troups probably are defending themselves.
originally posted by: Dimithae
Here is my issue, .... snipped for room / wall of text reduction.... are the aggressor.
originally posted by: Dimithae
That is just being Imperialistic. ....snipped as above....what I'm talking about).
originally posted by: Dimithae
Okay,so where does ....snipped as above....
Specifically which country / incident are you referring to here?
originally posted by: Dimithae
Then we are shocked when those people lash out at us,because:
1. Our government has not been truthful with us as to what has been going on in that country and our involvement in it.
originally posted by: Dimithae
2. Our citizens have been dumbed down by our education system to the point that we don't know our own history much less any other countries.
originally posted by: Dimithae
3. Our citizens would rather defend a corrupt oligarch than look at the Emperor and make the necessary changes we need to make this a top nation again.
originally posted by: Dimithae
Putin wasn't lying when he said that we are ....snipped for room....only number one in prisoners and military spending. The facts speak for themselves,and for a country with the citizenry we have,and the industries we have,and the knowledge we have, this is absolutely pathetic. WE CAN DO BETTER...
originally posted by: Dimithae
Though from my posts it may seem I'm pro Russian,....snipped for room....my parents told me to believe in.