Vladimir Putin Is not Santa Claus

Vladimir Putin continues his amnesty program. Two members of the Russian punk band Pussy Riot were granted amnesty and released from prison Monday under the recently passed amnesty law that both described as a Kremlin public relations stunt ahead of the Winter Olympics. Maria Alekhina and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova were released last week in a move largely viewed as the Kremlin's attempt to soothe criticism of Russia's human rights record ahead of the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February. The women were jailed after being convicted of hooliganism motivated by religious hatred in their impromptu performance at Moscow's main cathedral in March 2012. The group says it was protesting what seems to them to be increasingly close ties between the state and the church. The Russian parliament passed the amnesty bill last week, allowing the release of thousands of inmates. Alekhina and Tolokonnikova, due for release in March, received amnesty because they have small children. The international community has been critical of Russia's human rights record, including the passage of a law earlier this year that bans so-called homosexual propaganda among minors, which gay groups in Russia and abroad say feeds the existing enmity toward gay people in the country. The women's release came just days after President Vladimir Putin pardoned Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a former oil tycoon and once Russia's richest man, who spent a decade in prison after challenging Putin's power. Khodorkovsky flew to Germany after release and said he will stay out of politics. He pledged, however, to fight for the release of political prisoners in Russia. ~~~~~ Dear readers, if you can find a replay of Mikhail Khodorkovsky's CNN interview with Christiane Amanpour, watch it. It is a unique insight into Russian power politics. Mr. Putin was certainly not simply feeling the Christmas spirit in releasing "political" prisoners this past week. According to AP, Russia's Supreme Court earlier this month ordered a review of the Pussy Riot case, saying that a lower court did not fully prove their guilt and did not take their family circumstances into consideration when reaching the verdict. And the European Court of Human Rights said it will review a complaint filed by band members over their treatment while on trial in Moscow in 2012. BUT, for whatever reason, the young women are free, and, like Khodorkovsky, they say they will work to free other political prisoners, who they say still number in the thousands. As for Vladimir Putin - he is a new type of Russian dictator, "elected" but determined to stay in power, although constrained by the internet and worldwide access to news on TV and through blogs and social networks. Today's would-be tyrants must at least pay lip service to protesters and international criticism. Putin is no exception. He has PR and image advisors. He skillfully uses the media to enhance his image. But, we would be wise to remember that there is a huge difference between sounding like a democratic leader on TV and actually seeking to be a democratic leader who allows open protest, unrigged voting and popular decision-making. Vladimir Putin is not Santa Claus.