Welcome, Katsia. In the US I think it's fair to say that we haven't heard anything about Saakashvili in awhile, but he was sort of a press hero several years ago when he seemed to be a nationalist in the face of a police action by Russia. That doesn't mean his administration couldn't take an oppressive character internally when no longer in the spotlight.

Againbanned and I have had some exchanges about the Pussy Riot situation and I agreed that the girls pulled a dumb stunt although their issues might be legitimate. We live in such a media age that people think any coverage will be better than nothing, but a message can get lost in the noise and actually backfire from getting support. It has happened here with the naive "Occupy" movement that just annoyed the public sitting on and messing up public property. When people make too much or the wrong kind of ruckus, the government can paint itself as "restoring order," and blunt any sympathies. The tea people, whatever others think of them, were smart enough to work within the system. But that is much harder when a regime is more or less run by one party.


Last Edited By: From Afar Aug 24 12 7:42 AM. Edited 1 times.