Should The West automatically give a political asylum to a Russian street protester?

[panchul.livejournal.com]

Gentlemen: I believe there is a case of a serious disconnect and I need your help to clarify the situation.

What happended: Alexander Dolmatov, a member of a Russian opposition party The Other Russia (effectively a renamed National Bolshevik Party) decided to take part in a street meeting that led him to a fight with a Russian police: Dolmatov is on the right:



As a result, he got in trouble with a Russian state and decided to flight to Netherlands, where he applied for political refugee status:





Dolmatov was denied the refugee status because Dutch decided that the only danger he is facing in Russia is 500 rubles fine (about $20). As a result, Dolmatov commited suicide.

It is also important to know that Dolmatov was working in a Russian company that designed tactical missiles and had a government security clearance (minimal level - so he did not work on anything secret).

Now: a Russian journalist Oleg Kashin published an article in The New York Times implying that the West has a moral obligation "to keep doors open" to "thousands" of Russian political activists who may choose to flee Russia when they feel they can be prosecuted.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/23/opinion/a-cold-shoulder-for-russian-dissidents.html

His death is a tragedy to those who knew him and also to thousands of anti-Putin protesters who, fearing persecution, have hoped that the West would offer them a haven.

During the cold war, Western public opinion was resolutely on the side of harboring persecuted Soviet dissidents. But as the European Union has drawn closer to Russia economically, interest in Russian human rights has waned, except when developments are so outrageous — like the assassination of the journalist Anna Politkovskaya in 2006 — that they cannot be ignored. If the West’s doors remain closed, more Russian dissidents will become victims of the state — or die by their own hands.

I personally think that Oleg Kashin and other Russians like him have a mistaken assumption about how the West perceives these "fighters for the democracy" in Russia. Kashin probably think that Dolmatov-type political activists are a kind of proxy fighters of the West in its mission to democratise Russia. As a result they expect the West to protect these activists from any misfortune. I also may be mistaken, so I decided to create a poll:

[Poll #1892259]

Comments

[wbz09.livejournal.com]

Well, my theory is as follows. As for me, my goal is moderate pure and honest. I use to read some English post and
try to respond it, collecting several words in a short sentence,just for the purpose of English practice.My idea
concerning this very post is that this article is a part of Russian authorities propaganda campaign aiming to creat
negative attitude towards Russian opposition among western democratic public.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

I think there's nothing to worry about, then. The Russian opposition is very loved in the West. And anything related to Putin is automatically disliked. Especially something that at least remotely smells of pro-Putin propaganda.

[wbz09.livejournal.com]

As far as I can see, those writers don't bother of the result. They publish their posts, which are read by three and a half people, and then report to their bosses that the great work was done and it's high time to receive their bonuses.

[ddstory.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the most wide-spread accusation. Whenever a Russian writes something, there'd be at least two other Russians to ask them, "But how much did they pay you to write this?" It happens every time.

[wbz09.livejournal.com]

Those Russian, you have happened to meet in the space of internet, seem to be fond of counting money in each other's pockets.

[panchul.livejournal.com]

*** My idea concerning this very post is that this article is a part of Russian authorities propaganda campaign aiming to creat
negative attitude towards Russian opposition among western democratic public.***

Are you implying that any opinion different from your own is likely to be a "Russian authorities propaganda campaign aiming to create negative attitude towards Russian opposition among western democratic public" ?

[wbz09.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I didn't want to offend you. If my opinion so hurts you I'm ready to change it to any convenient for you. But are you implying that any opinion different from your own is likely to have no right to exist?

[panchul.livejournal.com]

You came to my post and instead of stating your opinion about the topic, you started to share your unfounded opinion about my person, implying that my post is a paid Kremlin propaganda. This is not a proper way to discuss politics.

Besides, your theory about me is pure nonsense. I am a US citizen with a long track record in the US electronic industry. My name appeared in Electronic Engineering Times and in Los Angeles Times. I don't have any financial need or a motivation to getting paid for posting anything on the net.