Trump and Putin. Devolving the world, one beating at a time.
Russia (A) bans web porn as a 'bad influence' (B) decriminalizes domestic violence – or (C) all of the above?
Putin and his pals' ongoing attempt to keep Russians safe from the evils of pornography has taken another step forward with the banning of popular smut site Brazzers. The ban, announced by Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor, stems from a case brought last October against the site in the Bolsheglushitsky District …
COMMENTS
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 08:59 GMT tr1ck5t3r
You have a number of options, you can reduce your cholesterol intake which will reduce your hormone production but puts you at risk of experiencing Heart Disease if you don't exercise vigorously enough as the by product of muscular activity is vasodilation, making it harder for Foam cells from the LDL cholesterol fuelled innate immune system to stick to the inside of your arteries, whilst also increasing your risk of dementia as one of the hormones produced improves memory and brain plasticity.
Or you can find outlets for your hormones, safe in the knowledge the Russia is facing up to the mistakes of listening to do-gooder medical experts who thought they could control nature whilst dumbing us down en-masse. It doesn't help a lot of Russian live in confined spaces, just like Brits, so is it any wonder you will see violence when living on top of one another. Women are good at giving the verbal to wind people up, plus how many blokes are sleep deprived because of the way society works today not to mention they have to be more alert to fight off dangers, so whilst women and kids get better quality sleep, that instinct in men means they need more sleep as the slightest disturbance can wake them into action. If they don't wake from the slightest disturbance I'd even save they are already seriously sleep deprived, either way lack of sleep and stress adds to the level of violence, so its nice to see Russia standing up for men for a change, but they still need to make changes to help reduce the violence, or find outlets for the violence.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 10:01 GMT lglethal
Please do not tell me you just blamed the women for the men beating them up.
Let me make this absolutely clear - ANY Man who commits violence on a woman is a dirty, filthy toerag who can no longer be considered a man. Period. No ifs, buts, or maybes.
If you're stressed, you go to a gym, take out your aggresion there, join a boxing Club, hit a punching bag, whatever. What you do not do is hit a woman or anyone that is smaller or weaker than you. If you do, then you are scum, and deserve to have your penis removed with a rusty knife. Is that clear enough for you?
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Thursday 9th February 2017 08:00 GMT lglethal
@ Uncommon sense
a) Wwe are talking about domestic violence here. If you were to be married to someone who you willing call a "feminazi", whatever that happens to be, the answer is TO GET A FUCKING DIVORCE!!! You dont beat your wife, and if you support someone beating up their wife, then your as big a toerag as they are.
b) If you're so thin skinned that someone can provoke you and "destroy you" such that you feel the need to turn to violence then perhaps you should go and live in a lighthouse on a deserted Island, because guess what lots of shit in this World will provoke you and your obviously such a delicate Little Flower, that we wouldnt want that to happen, would we?
c) Civilized People dont turn to violence to solve their Problems. Only Neanderthals do that! The rest of us have developed Tools called speech and communication to solve our Problems. Maybe you should try that next time, grow up and join the 21st Century...
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 00:45 GMT Anonymous Coward
Without breaking bones...
I can certainly qualify for a Grievous Bodily Harm charge in the UK, regardless whether it's the missus who won't put out or the kids getting a bit lippy.
I know progress is non-linear and that across the long view the common lot of our age is more peaceful and prosperous than ever before, but heck it feels like the pendulum has swung backwards in the past years.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 07:18 GMT Voland's right hand
Re: Without breaking bones...
All countries have different definitions of bodily harm. That's normal. There is no universal definition.
By the way, the fact that there is no dedicated paragraph for domestic violence does not mean that the general paragraph does not apply.
I would say someone needs to read the Russian criminal code (as f*** usual) instead of reproducing drivel.
1. First of all domestic violence is not decriminalized. It was criminalized beyond the normal offence of bodily harm which is an anomaly, it is back to the same criminal statute - paragraph 115 of the Russian criminal code : http://www.consultant.ru/document/cons_doc_LAW_10699/160da87db0e45c893db6d5ca2729ea637bb32001/
2. That paragraph says 3 monthly salaries for LIGHT bodily harm (as they define LIGHT) inflicted without a weapon or tool used as such (by the way, use of martial arts or sport including boxing is automatically "use of weapon"). It is also not an offense which results in a criminal record. That is also normal by the way. This is what in UK is called affray - it is a criminal offense only in some countries. Use of anything to inflict said LIGHT harm and/or having any martial arts training is automatically paragraph B of 115 which up to 2 years jail time. This is for LIGHT bodily harm.
None of this is for GRIEVOUS bodily harm which if memory serves me right in Russia can result in 5 years behind bars.
While it is nowhere near what we have in the UK, it is still pretty serious: http://www.sentencingcouncil.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/Assault_definitive_guideline_-_Crown_Court.pdf
The fines are definitely higher (relative to the economy).
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 02:03 GMT P. Lee
Decriminalisation: Does this do the opposite of what you think?
Usually the burden of proof is much lower for non-criminal cases and domestic violence is generally an on-going thing - more than once a year, so it would end up in the criminal courts anyway. On balance, we think your wife probably didn't fall down the stairs of your bungalow and end up with bruises on her face and neck, but we can't prove it was you. Have a two-week reminder to look after her better. Perhaps a couple of weeks in a Russian jail for the first non-criminal offence with a reminder that the next time you're going away for a lot longer, is just the thing.
The devil is in the detail of course, but while its fun to hate on Putin and Trump, automatically rubbishing everything they do is childish and supports the kind of polarisation and lack of analysis that got Trump elected.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 05:44 GMT diodesign
Re: Decriminalisation: Does this do the opposite of what you think?
Nice of you to give Russia the benefit of the doubt but it's been dubbed the "slapping law" even by Russian media. Rather than faff around with burden of proof, it reduces the punishment of family-on-family abuse, so that it becomes a minor matter kept out of court. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that family conflicts do "not necessarily constitute domestic violence."
It sends the message that it's OK to beat your spouse or kids: at worst you'll get a $500 fine or a 15-day arrest warning. Meanwhile: porn is bad!!1
C.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 07:36 GMT Voland's right hand
Re: Decriminalisation: Does this do the opposite of what you think?
@ diodesign
Read the f*** law. Paragraph 110-115 of the Russian criminal code.
110: Emotional harm leading to suicide : http://www.zakonrf.info/uk/110
111: Grievous bodily harm: http://www.zakonrf.info/uk/111/
112: Grievous bodily harm with intent: http://www.zakonrf.info/uk/112/
113: Grievous bodily harm with mitigating circumstances (affect, etc): http://www.zakonrf.info/uk/112/
114: Grievous bodily harm when exceeding acceptable selfdefence limits: http://www.zakonrf.info/uk/114/
115: Light bodily harm: http://www.zakonrf.info/uk/115/
1. In Russia affray is not a criminal offense. This is not Britain where for a minor "heated discussion" you end up with a custodial sentence. Is it right or not - it is not for us to decide. If you just slap someone in a bar fight without inflicting damage and it is not in a context of other crime you do not get a criminal record.
2. 115 (Light bodily harm) and 111-114 (Grievous bodily harm) still apply. I do not think we have an equivalent of 110.
While personally I do not agree with removing the special statute, slapping your wife or kids is definitely not decriminalized. You cannot do it with impunity (as some idiots who have not read the code try to claim). Also, unfortunately, at least down in the "Deepest, Darkest Eastern Europe" 116 was used to avoid the significantly harsher penalties of 111-114. That will no longer be the case - standard procedures will apply.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 07:42 GMT diodesign
Re: Destroy All Monsters
"OTOH, why are we discussing beating laws in Russia as opposed to say, beating laws in Saudi Arabia again?"
See Register passim etc.
C.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 06:47 GMT smartypants
Re: Decriminalisation: Does this do the opposite of what you think?
"automatically rubbishing everything they do is childish"
No it isn't. It's the reasonable default stance to take until you find out precisely why what they're doing is wrong. Trump has only just started, and already his team are lying to cover up the lies. If their lips are moving, they're lying. Usually a president has to wait to get caught doing something before the lies flow. Putin on the other hand is a "Dear Leader". His aim in life, now that he is the richest person on the planet, is to stave off boredom by making up enemies and then going on to threaten to attack them.
"supports the kind of polarisation and lack of analysis that got Trump elected.".
Oh please. Trump's core vote aren't upset at the lack of rigour in the media. They want to build an effing wall to keep the mexicans out. Haven't you been paying attention? Stop blaming the rest of us for the mob whipped up into a xenophobic rage.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 09:50 GMT tr1ck5t3r
Re: Decriminalisation: Does this do the opposite of what you think?
I know one thing, psychologists using comments from media outlets like this to quantify and come up with new markers to spot psychopaths perhaps to develop & evolve the HARE scale should be kept busy.
http://www.hare.org/scales/
Pity they cant quantify the effects of our chemistry and lack of sleep along with the bias/brainwashing that has been conditioned into us during our formative years at school.
So many experts looking at one side of a multifaceted problem, is it any wonder some people cant see the wood from the trees?
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 09:55 GMT Potemkine
Re: Decriminalisation: Does this do the opposite of what you think?
Perhaps a couple of weeks in a Russian jail for the first non-criminal offence with a reminder that the next time you're going away for a lot longer, is just the thing.
You didn"t get it: in Russia, you aren't sent _anymore_ to jail for beating spouse or children, at best you may be fined.
automatically rubbishing everything they do is childish and supports the kind of polarisation and lack of analysis that got Trump elected.
I don't think so. However, propagating false information among people with the attention span and the cultural level of a mussel (my apologies to mussels for that comparison) helped a lot.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 17:30 GMT Voland's right hand
Re: Decriminalisation: Does this do the opposite of what you think?
You didn"t get it: in Russia, you aren't sent _anymore_ to jail for beating spouse or children, at best you may be fined.
I suggest you read the Russian criminal code. Paragraps 110-115. Based on your nickname you should be able to do it.
It does not make any difference between beating someone on the street or your spouse. If they go and get a medical and the certificate says "medium" or "grievous bodily harm" you are looking at 2-5 years in a Russian jail depending on the circumstances and a criminal record.
If the certificate says "light bodily harm" you are looking at 3 salaries worth of fine and no criminal record. This is regardless of whom did you beat up (provided it is not police, taxman, etc - that is a different paragraph).
Either case it is regardless of are you beating your wife or your neighbor. The law definitely does not allow you to beat your wife. It does not allow to beat your kids either. It, however, does not offer them special protection. To be clear, I am not sure if it is good or bad, I think some of the family court, prohibition of examining witnesses, etc madness in UK is clearly going overboard in the other direction as it effectively removes presumption of innocence.
In any case - stop reading the Beeb and read the original source of information.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 03:11 GMT Anonymous Coward
Some sense in this move
The rationale behind the change was to correct an imbalance whereby according to a new law decriminalising light violence, a stranger who hit your child would get a lighter sentence than a family member doing the same thing.
By decriminalising light violence, Russia is reducing the greater evil of ongoing lawsuits for minor transgressions. In a way, it demonstrates a style of governance in which the government keeps out of people's business and allows simple folk to deal with their own affairs. When things go too far and someone gets seriously hurt, however, then the punishment intensifies proportionately.
From this perspective, one might wonder what has happened to personal freedom in the west, in that permissible violence belongs only to the state, to the arms of Big Mother.
PS Register, could you please stop using "Vlad" as a diminutive for Vladimir. It is incorrect, and the kind of mistake that does not belong in your otherwise fine and accurate newspaper. Try "Volodya". "Vlad" is for Vladislav, if I am not wrong.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 09:33 GMT clickbg
Re: Anonymous
It is also language-correct. Vladimir and Vladislav have the same root - the word vladeti(to rule). In most Slavic countries it is ok to call Vladimir or Vladislav just Vlad.
A nice piss take would be to use the Croatian variant - Ladimir or just Lad.
On the topic, Russia is just going back to pre-90s era. Then to beat your spouse/kids was normal and the police did not intervene before you kill someone. Also drink and drive was allowed so expect news on that front as well.
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Thursday 9th February 2017 22:01 GMT Solmyr ibn Wali Barad
Re: Etymology
"Mir" can also mean "the world". But it's actually trickier (and etymology often is).
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vladimir_(name)
"There was no ambiguity prior to reforms of Russian orthography in 1918. The spelling of the two words was миръ (peace) or мiръ (the Universe),[3] but the name was spelled a third way, Владимѣръ,[2] from the Gothic suffix mērs meaning "great". Thus the name originally meant "Great in His Power"."
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 08:31 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Some sense in this move
So instead of correcting the imbalance the right way - making a criminal offense both, they preferred to ensure women and children can be easily terrorized by men.
The simple menace of violence, or enough violence yet without needing an hospital, is often enough to "establish authority" in a relationship, right? To ensure "proper submission to the family leader", correct?
"Deal with their own affairs"? It's your own affairs only if you beat yourself. Your partner is not a "property of yours". That's a basic truth too many can't still understand.
Do you really believe it's better to wait when someone "gets seriously hurt" - which may be too late and what you need is a cemetery, not an hospital? And, of course, people don't get seriously hurt inside, when living with the fear of violence?
Is personal freedom beating someone else? Democratic governments were created also to protect the weaker ones - but you're right, Russia and Putin are not democratic.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 17:37 GMT Voland's right hand
Re: Some sense in this move
they preferred to ensure women and children can be easily terrorized by men.
1. It is not women and children, it is anyone. Their law makes no difference whatsoever.
2. You have not seen what a Russian woman does to a husband or teenage son which has dragged his sorry arse drunk off his tits to the door and has passed out while ringing the door bell. You also have no idea just how common this is.
Usually the poor guy is too shitfaced to remember and cannot make up his mind the next morning were the bruises on his face inflicted by the spouse or by the staircase when he fell on it trying to get home.
Disclaimer: I have spent a few years in Moscow so I have seen this first hand. Usually more than once a day.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 03:40 GMT Oh Homer
Beats me...
Why people (well OK, mostly Americans ... and Ukrainians) have this strange view of Russia as still Socialist, when Putin is clearly a hard line Conservative, based on his policies.
Given the prevailing Christian Right attitudes in America, you'd think they'd adore someone like Putin.
Certainly the current Idiot-in-Chief seems to.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 06:50 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Beats me...
They do adore the modern day 'Vlad the Implaler' but decades of conditioning are making it difficult to actually come out and say so. For most (apart from Millenials) Russia is the Evil Empire. The Gubbermit told them so every day.
Reds under the Bed.
and
"Have you ever been a member of the communist party"
When Russia opened up in the early 1990's it was really difficult to get Americans to go there to work.
They had been so conditioned by Gubbermit propaganda (Pravda) they just could not do it.
Now the two dear leaders have a mututal love in for each other.
I guess it won't be long before the Russian Flag flies over every school in the USA alongside the Stars and Stripes as a token of the love-in by the leaders.
Just my 2 roubles worth of opinion and that of Mrs AC who is from Russia.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 08:56 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Beats me...
Putin is what he believes serves better is aim in a given situation. He was a communist KGB officer when it was advantageous. He was behind Eltsin when it was preferable. Now he's using nationalists, and extreme conservative parties - including the orthodox church - (Trump learned from that) yet while still mourning the demise of CCCP to lull some nostalgics, and strengthen his power.
Whatever is good for his lust of power, will be used, he's not an ideologist, he doesn't believe in nothing but himself - if one day he believes Islam will give him greater power he will become Muslim on the spot, and ISIS his best friend.
I just wonder what's next arranged marriages? "ius primae noctis"???
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 11:03 GMT Anonymous Coward
Re: Makes sense
They have to watch only Russian porn with Russian beaten women and Russian machos a la Putin. And of course with vodka ads within.
I would have understood a crack on porn production - which I'm sure is not little there. Watchers are like drugs addicted. Poor idiots without a life, and with their "brain" positioned far lower than usual. And probably the same believing men have "rights" over women - especially when they don't behave like in the porn they watch.
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 07:02 GMT Cameron Colley
So when does the UK get the new domestic abuse laws?
Chairman May is already in the process of banning pornographic sites, albeit more slowly, so when will she follow on with this law?
I was going to post about how sad it is that the Russian president is such scum and that if he were to be less stupid about things like this there may be much more respect for the country by those abroad but then I remembered that the UK law-makers aren't exactly covering themselves in glory and neither are the US .
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 07:12 GMT John Savard
Objectivity
Given Russia's aggression against Georgia and the Ukraine, it's not likely that many people would be inclined to give Putin a fair shake on any issue. And given the great struggles that women have made to achieve equality, which have not yet come to an end, it would also be very difficult to speak up in favor of Putin's recent measures in respect of domestic violence as something that enhances human freedom by reducing the size of government.
I think, though, there is more to this than making the Orthodox Church happy. I suspect that Russia's measures against homosexuals were meant to bring back memories, and terrify Russia's Jews, as a potential source of opposition to his nationalistic policies. And a protest group of women has made the news as one of his significant opponents in Russia, so why not now intimidate women?
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Wednesday 8th February 2017 21:03 GMT Old Handle
I'm not saying it's a good change, but the assumption that the new domestic violence laws will be bad is a bit kneejerk in my opinion. Harsher penalties do not always reduce crime or lead to better outcomes in general. I do not know how they concluded this was the way to go, but I bet more went into the decision than some idea that domestic violence isn't that big a deal.