Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Winter Olympic games were little more than a poor disguise from a corrupt regime that is one of the world’s worst environmental criminals.
In addition to the jailing of environmentalists Yevgeny Vitishko, and Igor Kharchenko prior to the Sochi Olympics, two members of the recently released protest group Pussy Riot (Maria Alekhina and Nadezdha Tolokonnikova) were also returned to prison on trumped up robbery charges in the middle of the games.
In hindsight it is ironic that Russia’s 2007 winning Olympic bid was awarded based on the promise of being the most environmentally friendly Games ever. The Sochi Olympics have proven to be about as green as their democracy is fair.
Russia’s Olympics are an ongoing ecological catastrophe that extends far beyond silencing dissent. Their environmental crimes includes the farce of its “zero waste” claims, Sochi’s tainted drinking water, the destruction of animal habitats, National Parks and wetlands.
Even the pretext of democracy has worn thin in Russia and as
one of Pussy Riot’s lyrics states, “Putin will teach you to love the
motherland.” Whether we are talking about environmental advocacy, political satire or
sexual freedom, there is no room for dissent from dictates of the autocratic ruler in Putin’s Russia.
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