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The last and most independant Russian newpaper has published a report claiming that the take over of Crimea was planned well in advance of the Ukrainian leader Yanukovich being ousted in a revolution.
The authenticity of the document could not be independently verified. The newspaper did not publish any pictures of the memo or provide any proof that the policy described in it had actually been adopted.
originally posted by: kitzik
In my turn I'm intrigued by this this phrase
"Some unknown Oligarch leaked this explosive report and another well known Oligarch published it."
Reading "The Daily Beast" article about the leak www.thedailybeast.com... I didn't find confirmation that the sources are clear.
How much did Putin know about this plan? According to the paper’s deputy editor, Sergei Sokolov, Novaya Gazeta does not have conclusive material evidence but does have “a strong sense” from its source that Putin reviewed the document in February 2014. “We’ve trusted that Kremlin insider for many years, he’s never misguided us,” Sokolov told The Daily Beast.
One thing is to discuss the content of the leak, which is quite interesting by itself. And another thing to discuss the source of the leak. The presentation of OP doesn't make sufficient distinction between the two, which is a mistake that we can blame on him. Nonetheless, I think this topic have a right to stay here for further discussion.
Ledbedev is the known Oligarch
originally posted by: DrChinstrap
Propaganda much?
originally posted by: kitzik
a reply to: noeltrotsky
Ledbedev is the known Oligarch
I'm not sure if Lebedev belongs to "Kremlin side" or Western side of the elites.
Consider this Lebedev also owns British "Independent" www.telegraph.co.uk...
So, this leak may be many other things besides "inner cracks in Kremlin Wall"
originally posted by: mbkennel
a reply to: noeltrotsky
I'm not sure this will hurt Putin. He can spin it as "See, I'm so foresighted I was three weeks ahead of my enemies."
Fascinating also how the supposedly wronged former President of Ukraine doesn't seem to get a say in any of this now. Putin is in no hurry to get him back into the country and ruling.
Even a scum like Yanukovych, who probably actually could bring about a ceasefire in East Ukraine, probably didn't want a civil war and his country dismembered. (He wanted it whole and prosperous, the better to graft from)
originally posted by: cavtrooper7
Then we have THIS
Nemtsov shot and killed,a Putin critc...www.washingtonpost.com... 4-e5209a3bc9a9_story.html