Happily, I haven’t seen any reports this week of further arrests or trials of Americans (or others) in Russia. Not so happily, our list of those already being held in penal colonies throughout Russia’s vast prison system hasn’t shrunk, either — they’re all still there.

But there has been word from one of the former hostages released in the historic swap of August 1st: former U.S. Marine Paul Whelan.

Whelan spoke with NBC News last week about his five years in prison on charges of spying, and his disappointment each time he was passed over while other Americans were released in exchange for Russians being held in the U.S. — a situation that he called “devastating.” [Andrea Mitchell and Julie Cerullo, NBC News, October 21, 2024.]

It must indeed have been difficult when another former Marine, Trevor Reed, was swapped in 2022 for Konstantin Yaroshenko, a Russian pilot convicted of drug smuggling in the U.S. Reed had been imprisoned in a Russian labor camp for three years.

And it was more than a little strange — and surely frustrating to Whelan — to learn of his country’s giving up the so-called “Merchant of Death,” notorious arms dealer Viktor Bout, who had been refused release numerous times, in exchange for American basketball star Brittney Griner, when she had spent just nine months in detention in Russia. But it appears that it was the Russians — not the Americans — who refused to release a “spy” (Whelan) in return for a mere “criminal” (Bout) — an obvious ruse to disguise the importance they really placed on Bout’s return. [Id.]

There was a great deal about Whelan that seemed strange from the very beginning. In fact, his entire history is pockmarked with apparent anomalies, exaggerations and falsehoods, as for example:

— Born in Canada in 1970 to parents of British and Irish heritage, he held passports from the U.S., the U.K. and Ireland, in addition to Canada. He, his twin brother David, and two other siblings were partly raised in Michigan; and David Whelan has said he believes Paul’s collection of passports was inspired by his genetic background. [Wikipedia biography.]

— He claimed to hold a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and an MBA degree. In reality, while he had taken courses at Northern Michigan University from 1988 to 1990, he never earned a degree. [Id.]

— He said he had been a police officer in Chelsea, Michigan, and a sheriff’s deputy in Washtenaw County, Michigan. However, the Chelsea Police Department said he had only worked there in lesser roles and as a part-time officer, and the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office had no record of his employment there at all. [Id.]

— He worked in IT for Kelly Services on two occasions, from 2001-2003 and from 2008-2010. Taking leave from Kelly between 2003 and 2008, he did serve in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve as a staff sergeant with Marine Air Control Group 38, working as an administrative clerk and administrative chief, and took part in Operation Iraqi Freedom. [Id.] However . . .

— In 2008, he was convicted at a court-martial proceeding on multiple counts “related to larceny,” sentenced to 60 days’ restriction, reduction in pay grade, and a bad conduct discharge. The charges against him included “attempted larceny, three specifications of dereliction of duty, making a false official statement, wrongfully using another’s social security number, and ten specifications of making and uttering checks without having sufficient funds in his account for payment.” [Id.]

— Beginning in 2006, he made several trips to Russia, and established a presence on the Russian-language social media website VKontakte (VK), where he had around 70 contacts. He is said to have studied Russian, but used Google Translate to communicate on VK. [Id.]

— And now Whelan claims that, while imprisoned in Russia, he befriended some fellow inmates who later accepted a deal to serve with the Wagner Group of mercenaries in Ukraine, and passed information to him from the front lines by means of “secret burner phones.” He then allegedly passed that information on to the governments of the U.S., Canada, Ireland and England through “the ambassadors and consular teams from the four countries . . . [who] visited him regularly, sometimes bringing him mail from home.” [Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, October 22, 2024.]

All right, about that last one . . . He further claims that guards in the prison camps “looked the other way. A Russian prison guard gets $300 to $400 a month. You give them a carton of cigarettes and you can do just about anything you want.” [Id.]

Who is this guy . . . Walter Mitty??!!! **

** The eponymous fictional character created by author James Thurber in 1939’s The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. 

From the descriptions of life in Russia’s penal colonies given by other returned prisoners, Whelan’s claims raise far too many questions, and in some cases, simply defy belief.

But whoever — and whatever — the real Paul Whelan may be, he is free at last. And that, of course, is a very good thing.

*. *. *

As for the hostages remaining in Putin’s prisons, we continue to remember them and to fight for their return. They are:

David Barnes
Staff Sergeant Gordon Black
Marc Fogel
Robert Gilman
Stephen James Hubbard
Ksenia Karelina
Michael Travis Leake
Eugene Spector
Laurent Vinatier
Robert Romanov Woodland

And all of the others whose identities are not known to me. They are not merely prisoners; they are HOSTAGES, who must be brought home as quickly as possible.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/27/24

And there he is: a very non-isolated Vladimir Putin, looking quite dapper after three days of hosting what is now called the BRICS-Plus summit, and obviously in a jovial mood as he shares a laugh with South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa.

How best to categorize the accomplishments of the anti-Western bloc over the 72 hours of this year’s gathering? Perhaps it’s simplest just to repeat Putin’s own summary: that “a new multipolar world order is taking shape before our eyes.” [Fred Weir, The Christian Science Monitor, October 24, 2024.]

Russia believes BRICS, in the short term, is its way out of the economic and political difficulties created by Western sanctions imposed since its invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022. And in the long term, Putin’s goal is to quash and replace Western — and specifically U.S. — dominance. In other words, to become the sort of authoritarian world leader that he already is in Russia.

But it seems that a majority of the BRICS members, as well as the leaders of the rest of the 36 countries who attended the summit, would not go so far as to join in Putin’s condemnation of the West or his efforts toward creating an alternative global system, despite wide-spread dissatisfaction with the current U.S.-led system.

BRICS currently has nine members (or ten, depending on whether Saudi Arabia is actually a full member as yet, which seems to be debatable). The nine members of the bloc issued a lengthy, 134-point statement titled the Kazan Declaration, which spells out demands for the reform of such global institutions as the U.N. Security Council, the International Monetary Fund, and the Group of 20.

It also — and here is where many of the attendees had serious concerns — denounces the “disruptive effects . . . [of] illegal sanctions” on the world economy, and sets forth the beginnings of an alternative finance and trade system that would circumvent the use of the U.S. dollar. [Id.]

And Dmitry Suslov, an international relations expert at Moscow’s Higher School of Economics, had this to offer:

“What is driving the growth of the BRICS Plus is, first, the dissatisfaction of many countries with the U.S.-dominated world order. People are tired of the weaponization of the U.S. dollar, and there is a general sense that the U.S. order is rigged to benefit mainly Western interests.” [Id.]

BRICS, Suslov added, is intended to enable change toward a system offering “multipolarity without hegemony.” [Id.]

“Without hegemony”?!! Are we supposed to believe this is what Vladimir Putin has in mind?

*. *. *

In any event, it would appear that Putin’s brave new world is still a future dream . . . though one that he is determined to pursue. Even Alexander Ignatov of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration acknowledges that BRICS is essentially a “discussion club” where major issues are concerned, such as the creation of an alternative global currency. [Id.]

But in the meantime, one of Putin’s goals this week has been reached: that of demonstrating to the world that, despite all of the sanctions, and the arrest warrant issued against him by the International Criminal Court, he is still very much alive and in charge.

In addition, during the course of the three-day meeting, China’s President Xi Jinping and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi finalized — with a handshake — a deal to normalize relations along their disputed border.

And there was cause to hope for progress toward another peace treaty when Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev held a sideline meeting.

*. *. *

But still hanging over Putin’s head is his “special military operation” — his war — in Ukraine. Language was included in the Kazan Declaration providing that this must be resolved by diplomatic means, and in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.

Dmitry Suslov of Moscow’s Higher School of Economics had this to say on the subject:

“All the BRICS Plus countries feel that the war should be ended as soon as possible. But while they don’t want to see Russia suffer a strategic defeat, they are not necessarily in favor of Russian victory. The point they all agree on is that the fundamental reasons for the war should be addressed, including issues like NATO enlargement.” [Id.]

Well, that’s just lovely. What wasn’t said was precisely how such an ideal conclusion could be reached.

But at least the door was left open.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/26/24

That’s the other Georgia this time — the beautifully wild, ancient country in the Caucasus Mountains that is holding its crucial presidential election today.

At stake is the political future of Georgia’s people. Will the currently-ruling party — the authoritarian Georgian Dream Party — retain its power; or will a coalition of Western-leaning parties win the day, bringing the country closer to EU membership?

I’ll be anxiously awaiting the results later today, so stay tuned. Hopefully there won’t be any delays with the new electronic ballot system. Good luck, Georgia!

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka

10/26/24

They came from Ukraine, very shortly after the turn of the 20th Century. They worked hard, learned to speak English, built a family and a successful business, and became proud, law-abiding U.S. citizens.

And if I’m not mistaken, Mr. Trump, your paternal grandparents were German immigrants, and your mother came from Scotland.

But we’re all garbage . . . right?

WRONG!

Our forebears — yours, mine, and those of every other person in this country who is not full-blooded Native American — all came from somewhere else. And they built this country, creating the diverse wonder that is the United States of America.

And if you think that the U.S. today is “like a garbage can for the world” [Kate Sullivan and Kaanita Iyer, CNN, October 24, 2024], then perhaps you are the one who should leave. Because the rest of us aren’t going anywhere.

*. *. *

Yes, those were Donald Trump’s words this week at a campaign rally in Arizona. And more:

“We’re a dumping ground. We’re like a garbage can for the world. That’s what’s happened. Every time I come up and talk about what they’ve done to our country I get angry and angrier. First time I’ve ever said garbage can. But you know what? It’s a very accurate description.” [Id.]

Of course, he’ll tell you he’s talking about today’s immigrants — not those from the last three centuries. He hollers about murderers, rapists, people from insane asylums, and Haitians who supposedly eat their neighbors’ dogs and cats. And he wants to deport them all — tens of millions of them — because they all have “bad genes.”

He seems to forget those early settlers from England who included convicts sent to work as indentured servants in the Colonies. There were even a number of criminals among our so-called elite ancestors on the Mayflower. What a wonderfully selective memory he has.

So I say again, Mr. Trump: That exit door is wide open. You are free to leave any time you decide that this country — you know, the one that made your fortune for you and voted you into the White House eight years ago — isn’t to your liking any longer. Perhaps Russia or China would suit you better.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/26/24

No, it’s not another Woodward-and-Bernstein, Watergate-style bombshell. But it’s almost as rare an event.

The Washington Post, for the first time in decades, has refused to endorse a candidate in a U.S. presidential election.

Absolutely! And that’s not all. They said they’re not going to do it again . . . not ever.

What am I going to do now? How will I know who to vote for?!!

But seriously . . .

I happen to think they’re doing exactly what a news outlet should be doing: reporting the news, not trying to create it. So, kudos to you, Washington Post. You’ve followed the campaigns, reported on the good, the bad and the weird as it has occurred, and offered analyses and editorial opinions. And now it’s time for us, the public, to make our own decisions. We don’t need investigative reporters, political analysts, editorial boards, or Jeff Bezos himself standing over our shoulders and telling us how to vote.

But what does this say about the state of our country — or, specifically our politicians — when the only way you can vote is by trying to choose between the lesser of two evils?

And it’s not just Donald Trump and Kamala Harris who have been judged and found wanting. It’s the sad fact that we couldn’t come up with anyone — in either party — better qualified.

Well, yes, him . . . but he’s dead.

Which appears to be precisely the reason the Post’s owner, Jeff Bezos, made the decision that he did, despite opposition from many of the paper’s staff members.

The Post’s publisher, Will Lewis, issued the following announcement:

“The Washington Post will not be making an endorsement of a presidential candidate in this election. Nor in any future presidential election. We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.” [Hadas Gold and Brian Stelter, CNN, October 25, 2024.]

Lewis continued: “We recognize that this will be read in a range of ways, including as a tacit endorsement of one candidate, or as a condemnation of another, or as an abdication of responsibility. That is inevitable. We don’t see it that way. We see it as consistent with the values The Post has always stood for and what we hope for in a leader: character and courage in service to the American ethic, veneration for the rule of law, and respect for human freedom in all its aspects.” [Id.]

The paper’s staffers had been alerted by editorial page editor David Shipley that a “significant” announcement was forthcoming, and that there were likely to be “strong reactions” to it. And indeed there were.

Editor-at-large Robert Kagan said he has resigned over Bezos’ decision.

And former executive editor Marty Baron, who led the paper’s coverage of the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack, had this to say:

“This is cowardice, with democracy as its casualty. Donald Trump will see this as an invitation to further intimidate owner Bezos (and others). Disturbing spinelessness at an institution famed for courage.” [Id.]

Looking at it from the point of view of editors whose job it is to . . . well . . . editorialize, I can see their point. But I disagree. Because I have felt for many years that the news media in general — print, broadcast and online — have stepped too far outside the acceptable parameters of news reporting, and have become too involved in influencing public opinion.

It’s a fine line, I know, and there are valid arguments on both sides. But that’s how I feel.

So, again . . . Bravo, Jeff Bezos. Let Donald Trump twist it any way he chooses. In standing up to him — in this citizen’s opinion, at least — you have once more shown that courage for which the Washington Post has indeed become famed.

And now I look forward to hearing what Woodward and Bernstein think.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/25/24

In politics, that would be pretty low. But this diatribe, delivered by one of the two candidates for the U.S. presidency, reached new depths of degradation on Wednesday at a rally in Duluth, Georgia:

“Immediately upon taking the oath of office, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history.

”I will rescue every town, and every town is petrified, even if they don’t have them (undocumented migrants), because they know they’re coming. They’re heading for the towns. They’re heading for the towns. Who could do this to our country? Who could do this? Who could do this to our country?

”They’re taking over Times Square in New York, and they have weapons that our military doesn’t even have. You’d say, where the hell are they getting the weapons? But we have guys that want to confront them, and they’re going to be allowed to confront them, and we’re going to get them the hell out of here.” [Stephen Collinson, Caitlin Hu and Shelby Rose, CNN Meanwhile In America, October 25, 2024.]

I will leave it to you to figure out which racist, hate-filled, fear-mongering candidate came up with that steaming pile of

But I’ll give you one little hint: It wasn’t Kamala Harris.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/25/24

Looking back through time is endlessly fascinating, and invariably leaves me wishing either that I could have been around to witness an event, or thanking my lucky stars I wasn’t. For example, who wouldn’t be happy to see the end of three decades of war, as in . . .

1648 – Thirty Years’ War ends. Actually a series of wars, fought by various European countries for a variety of reasons — many of them having to do with religion, as usual. I’ve never been able to sort out the details, but as a result of the signing of the Treaty of Westphalia ending the 30 years of grief and bloodshed, “the Netherlands gained independence from Spain, Sweden gained control of the Baltic and France was acknowledged as the preeminent Western power. The power of the Holy Roman Emperor was broken and the German states were again able to determine the religion of their lands.” [History.com, October 24, 2024.]

It sounds as though at least some good came out of that war (or series of wars) — unlike a few more recent ones I could name.

*. *. *

1861 – Western Union completes the first transcontinental telegraph line. And the mania for instant communication still hasn’t been satisfied. What do you suppose those folks from Civil War days would think about the internet?

*. *. *

1901 – First barrel ride down Niagara Falls. Okay, this was some crazy lady — a 63-year-old schoolteacher — whose husband had died in the Civil War, and who needed money. She thought the publicity of her insane stunt would make her rich, so she padded a pickle barrel with cushions, climbed in, had herself towed by a small boat into the middle of the Niagara River, and took the plunge. Her fame was short-lived, and the fortune she had anticipated never materialized. But the fact that she survived her 20 minutes of complete terror remains a testament to the biblical adage that “The Lord preserves the simple . . .” [Psalms 116:6.]

*. *. *

1931 – George Washington Bridge is dedicated. This one is personal, recalling the most terrifying road trip of my life. It took place in the late 1960s or early ‘70s, when I agreed to drive my mother from Washington, D.C., to visit her sister in Rhode Island. I had never made that particular trip before, and carefully mapped out the shortest, most direct route. This, of course, was before the advent of GPS, so when I say “mapped,” I mean it literally.

Well, we packed my two small children and a whole lot of stuff into the car and took off on our family vacation. All was going smoothly until we were in New Jersey, approaching that marvel of engineering, the G.W. Bridge, and I saw dozens of signs directing drivers to . . . Oh! My! God! . . . not one, but two levels — one with eight lanes and the other with six! I had no clue where I was supposed to be, and all of the lanes were filled with cars speeding at what felt like 100 miles an hour.

I think I must have blacked out at some point, because all I remember is my mother — who was trying her best to read the signs and navigate — shouting, “No! Not that exit! That goes to the Bronx Zoo!”

And the next thing I knew, we were in some scary New York neighborhood, where the traffic was bumper-to-bumper, dead-stopped, and I swore that at the very least we were going to have our hubcaps stolen while we sat helplessly watching.

I made many trips to New England in the years that followed — all of them by way of the Garden State Parkway and the New York State Thruway. It adds a bit of time and mileage to the trip, but the Tappan Zee Bridge offers a lovely view . . . and it’s nowhere near the Bronx Zoo.

*. *. *

1945. The United Nations is born. Though the United Nations Charter had been adopted and signed on June 26th, it did not take effect until October 24th of that year. Some 79 years later, I’m happy to say it’s still going strong. Let’s hope, for the sake of humanity, that it stays that way for at least another 79.

*. *. *

1951 – President Truman declares war with Germany is officially over. Wow! I thought that ended in 1945. Actually, the fighting did end then, but the treaty with Germany wasn’t signed for another six years because of some squabbling with — anyone care to guess? — Russia, over the divvying up of Berlin. Some things never change.

*. *. *

And to end on a less impressive note:

1997 – Marv Albert faces sentencing in sexual assault case. Albert, a popular sportscaster, had been charged with sexual assault by one Vanessa Perhach. She claimed he had invited her to his hotel room, suggested she participate in three-way sex, and then bit her on the back when she refused. Kind of funny, actually — but not to Ms. Perhach, nor to Albert, who resigned from his job at Madison Square Garden and was fired from NBC after pleading guilty to assault and battery.

I recall that this was a huge scandal and an unending topic of cocktail-party conversation at the time. By today’s standards, though — when everybody is suddenly “recalling” having been groped (or worse) by one celebrity or another — it all seems rather ordinary.

That’s too bad, really.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/25/24

He died in February in a Siberian prison camp, under unexplained circumstances. Vladimir Putin thought that with the death of Alexei Navalny, he had heard the last of his most worrisome opponent; but he was wrong. He hadn’t counted on the force of martyrdom, or of the will of Navalny’s people.

And he certainly hadn’t counted on the publication of what has been termed Navalny’s “final letter to the world.” It is the story of his life; but more than that, it is a diary of the last years of that life — years spent in the most brutal circumstances imaginable. The book, titled “Patriot,” was started while he was recuperating in Germany after having been poisoned with the Russian nerve agent Novichok. And it was finished during those last years in prison. When they couldn’t kill him with poison, they simply finished him off by means of slow torture.

Alexei Navalny was the reason I began following the stories of the people I call Putin’s Hostages — Americans and other non-Russians who have been arrested in Russia on purely imaginary charges, to be held in prison as collateral for some future exchange.

His beloved wife Yulia has written:

“This book is a testament not only to Alexei’s life, but to his unwavering commitment to the fight against dictatorship — a fight he gave everything for, including his life. . . . Sharing his story will not only honor his memory but also inspire others to stand up for what is right and to never lose sight of the values that truly matter.”

As my old-world Ukrainian grandmother used to say: “From your mouth to God’s ears.”

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/24/24

Unfortunately, that in-between place really exists . . . if you’re a Russian who has been accused of a crime.

The “rock” is a guaranteed conviction (whether you are guilty or innocent) and consignment to the hell of a Russian prison; the “hard place” is a trip to Ukraine to fight in a war for which you have not been trained, and which you may even oppose. Either way, you can kiss your life — or life as you know it — goodbye.

And that in-between place is where former Olympian Andrey Perlov has found himself.

Perlov, now 62, was living quietly in Siberia’s Novosibirsk, working as managing director of the local football club, when police showed up at his home in the early morning hours of March 28th. He was taken into custody, accused of stealing some three million rubles ($32,000) from the club, which he and his family have vehemently denied. He has been detained ever since.

But he has been offered a deal . . . of sorts. Although not a young man, he has been told that he has the option of agreeing to join the Russian military fighting in Ukraine, in return for which the embezzlement charges against him would be “frozen” and potentially dropped when the war ends — if he survives, of course.

It’s that one word — “potentially” — that bothers me. The Russian government is not best known for keeping its promises.

Aside from that, though, is this new Kremlin tactic for rounding up live bodies to throw into their war as fodder for the Ukrainian defensive troops. It goes beyond the recruiting of convicted criminals. Under new legislation, passed in March of this year, both prosecution and defense attorneys are legally obligated to inform people charged with most crimes of their option to go to war instead of to trial and prison. [Olga Ivshina, BBC, October 22, 2024.]

The individuals do — technically, at least — have the right to refuse to go and to take their chances with the courts instead. But they are being pressured to choose the military option, even seeing their families approached and urged to convince them. And if the accused does sign, then the criminal case is suspended within a few days and he leaves almost immediately for the front lines. [Id.]

A rock and a hard place . . .

*. *. *

. . . As a much younger man, Yaroslav Lipavsky, and his family soon learned. At the tender age of 17, he was accused of intentionally inflicting “serious harm to health by a group of persons by prior agreement.” In order to avoid prosecution, he chose the option of signing up with the military as soon as he reached his 18th birthday.

He was sent to Ukraine, and was dead just a week later. [Id.]

*. *. *

But what of those who choose prison over war, as in Andrey Perlov’s case. His daughter Alina told their family’s story:

“He refused and we made quite a big noise in the local media so he was sent to the strict punishment cell, where they brought him the contract again.” [Id.]

She said that when he refused a second time, he was prohibited from seeing or calling his family. When the family did finally see him in court in July, he had lost a lot of weight.

“He tries to keep himself cheerful, but if this goes on, they will break him,” Alina said. [Id.]

When BBC journalists asked Russian authorities about Perlov’s case, and about the pressuring of detainees to join the army, they received no response. [Id.]

Typical.

*. *. *

So — using the old Soviet methods of “convincing” the people to submit to the government’s will — the Putin regime has found a new way of replacing lost troops without depleting the size of its military force: by sacrificing what they consider to be the dregs of society.

Or, as Ebenezer Scrooge so charmingly put it: “If they would rather die, they had better do it and decrease the surplus population.” [Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol, 1843.]

Nice.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/24/24

On the second day of the sixteenth annual summit of BRICS being held at Kazan Russia, President Putin opened the session with the following comments:

“The BRICS strategy in the global arena conforms with the strivings of the main part of the global community, the so-called global majority. This approach is especially relevant in the current conditions when truly radical changes are underway across the globe, including the shaping of a multipolar world.” [Associated Press, October 23, 2024.]

Characterizing BRICS as a counterbalance to the Western-dominated global order, Putin proclaimed the summit as “the largest foreign policy event ever held” by Russia. Some 36 countries were represented — far beyond the ten actual member nations — many by their leaders.

Putin has focused specifically on the creation of a new payment system that would allow Moscow to circumvent the global SWIFT network, thus dodging Western sanctions. At the summit, he accused the U.S. of “weaponizing” the dollar, and said it was a “big mistake.”

“It’s not us who refuse to use the dollar,” he claimed. “But if they don’t let us work, what can we do? We are forced to search for alternatives.” [Id.]

Yes, we get it: that was a not-so-veiled threat.

Referring to the sanctions that have been imposed on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he totally ignored — as always — the reason for the sanctions, and described them as illegal. Just more Kremlin double-speak.

He also discussed the creation of a BRICS investment platform that could “become a powerful tool for supporting our economies, and would also provide financial resources to countries of the Global South and East.” [Id.] — thus encompassing Asia, Latin America, Africa, and the Middle East.

None of this was in the least surprising — it’s pretty much what Putin has been touting as BRICS’ goal all along, and directly in line with his and China’s President Xi Jinping’s proposed “new world order.”

The Kremlin’s website, however, carried a brief mention of the summit, which reads like the minutes of a board of directors meeting. It contained two items that did catch my attention, though.

The first was a “restricted-format meeting” limited to nine of the ten BRICS member countries (Saudi Arabia did not send a representative to the summit). It offered nothing about the purpose of that session, but said that the meeting then “continued in an expanded format.” [President of Russia News, October 23, 2024.]

Most interesting was word of the signing of a joint declaration, labeled the Kazan Declaration, a .pdf copy of which was attached — all 33 pages, encompassing 134 items. I will be trying to digest that today . . . if I can stay awake long enough to get through it all.

*. *. *

And so, barring any startling revelations in the Kazan Declaration, day two of the 16th BRICS summit ended without any headline-worthy news, which is probably a good thing.

At least no one declared war on anyone else.

Just sayin’ . . .

Brendochka
10/24/24