Russian journalist Leonid Parfenov, sensational speech on press freedom (English)

[statecollegeblues]

Bottomline: if you let a bully scare you then that bully will keep scaring you. If you stand up to him once and look him in the eyes he will run away. Putin is the bully in case that wasn't clear :p

[statecollegeblues]

Putin is a wannabe tyrant. The people of Russia have a choice. They are strong or at least stronger than they might realize. Of course, I'm afraid of what Putin will do next. But this is a struggle for freedom. If you don't deal with him now he will turn Russia into Mubarak's Egypt. That would not be good for anybody. Leonid Parfenov is brave man and so are the men and women who remained in their seats despite the fact that that will probably be interpreted as a treasonous act by the Kremlin

[PortiaOfBelmont]

This is what our US media system should be focusing on instead of frakking Kardashians.

[Wowimobile]

Russians can be great rappers

[MrRezz0]

Russia is the big Jail.

[ZeeGooner]

@MrRezz0 if russia is a big jail, that makes Georgia the toilet in the Jail ;)

[MrRezz0]

@ZeeGooner toilet is Armnia. armenia is puppet of Russia. most shit country from where everyone run in Georgia. if u are so proud armenian then why you dont live in Armenia ?. becouse it is a most shit country in da world. and peoples as you run in other countries to work as prostitutes and gain money for their family.

you are just armenian prostitute and nothing more.

[ZeeGooner]

@MrRezz0 my family left Armenia to europe after the genocide, what do you want me to do? i visit every summer... Georgia's situation is by far the worst in the Caucasus, you are hostile with one of the worlds most powerful nations Russia, you have 2 sections of your nation broken away, and Javakh and Ajaria is next :D

Azerbaijan has shit relations with Iran, and Russia, and has Artsakh broken away

the only stable nation in the Caucasus is Armenia..

fuck off CHORNI GRUZIN!

[mambekk]

@ZeeGooner

Yeah, the only stable is Armenia, again because of kissing ass of Russia and no matter being so radical orthodoxal christians, acting like a brother with muslim Iran.

if you left it when it so called "genocide", which hasnt been as defacto and dejure, then you have to came back when Armenia did a genocide against Azerbaijan in Garabagh.

You can be proud of anything, but if a nation is kissing ass every second big country, that's a cheap politics.

Dont say anything against Georgia.

[ZeeGooner]

@mambekk and who's ass does Georgia and Azerbaijan kiss? Azerbaijan Turkeys ass, aka Israel ;)

Georgia US' ass aka Israel

we are all small nations.. we can't stand on our feet in todays world.. even if we might have tons of oil like Azerbaijan.. we have to align our selves with a great power.. thats the way the cookie crumbles

anything to be proud of? I'm Armenian we have an ancient vibrant and unique history with many wonders.. i'm more than proud.. i'm thankful i'm Armenian :D

[ZeeGooner]

@mambekk and what nationality are you? a Turk? let me tell you something.. even talat pasha's grandson has admitted to the genocide, even the ethnic Turk Sibel Edmonds FBI agent exposed how the Turkish government spends millions upon millions, for anti Armenian propaganda world wide.. she is turkish and an FBI agent.. and by denying the genocide.. you are a result of turkish state propaganda... how does it feel being manipulated ... you must feel like a tool.. which you clearly are.

[ZeeGooner]

@mambekk Kojali has been debunked and exposed.. the only nation who admits it happened was surprise surprise.. Mongolia in europe aka Turkey.. mongolia 2 is Azerbaijan...

let me tell you who were the Ottomans best architects? Sinan the person who glorified Ottoman architecture was Armenian

Balayans modernized Istanbul to great extents.. the modern skyline of Istanbul is thanks to the Balyans the Armenians

who stimulated the Ottoman economy world wide? Armenians

[koteshub]

I wonder why he wasn't interrupted

[EUGrrr]

Freedom IS NOT irresponsibility. Remember it, Leonid Parfenov.

[reiznieks89]

That took some balls. But respect for that ! Sadly its not going to change anything.. a small stone towards the iron wall of Kreml and Putin

[comecra85]

All western investment are welcomed if they target

1) not military technology

2) not resource sectors (it oil, timber, gas, metals)

3) not politics (it must be financed from within, fuck international 'non for profit' organizations).

[comecra85]

I am russian.

The truth is that these pathetic hipsters are sponsored by export industry in order to force the government to loose control of it and to allow international companies to participate in it's capital. That is the reason this dumbasses are so welcomed in western media. You know, resource nationalism is bad criminal thing from US point of view.

[greenvox]

@comecra85 It's not about the West and Russia. It's about People fighting against regimes that would like us to be submissive. The western media didn't give any air time to Leonid. We are still busy with Justin Beiber. Even if any western politicians support this guy, it's because their necks are not on the line. They would never support an American Leonid. Support freedom of information, because knowledge is our weapon, and journalists are our flag-bearers.

[comecra85]

@greenvox

>>It's about People fighting against regimes that would like us to be submissive.

That's simple false. The fighting is about control over resource industry not over freedom. So called opposition is sponsored by export industry in order to force the government to loose control of it and to allow international companies to participate in it's capital.

PS: I am russian.

[JpassTheTime]

@comecra85 whats wrong with resource nationalism? leaving the responsibility of holding such a valuable reasons what put any nation in a dangerous position if other "ill intentioned nations" took them first. its a question of whats the lesser evil imo.

Even though i believe freedom is attached as a major motive imo, yes maybe that's what the fights about, but even if it is id rather have export industry involved than the public sector trying to make a mess out of yet another industry in Russia.

[JRCrowley]

I see nothing but pity in all their faces. They know this guy is as good as dead.

[robbyalp]

That surely took some balls.

[kingbiscuit28]

I know that the US isn't nearly on the level of corruption as Russia, but when he started talking about Television media vs internet media, I couldn't help but seeing a parallel with our media system.

[pietjepuk002]

@kingbiscuit28 You are right the US is definitely not on par with Russia on the level of corruption.The US political system is far more corrupt imho.

[dmitrymin]

looks like Putin disliked this video.

[KiddNemes1s]

@dmitrymin haha

[Hetobox]

Is there a transcript of this available?

[pietjepuk002]

@Hetobox a transript can be found here : globalpost com dispatch worldview 11010 /russia-media-edward-murrow-le­onid-parfyonov

[FloodPower]

@MrPulpNonfiction I thought they looked scared for him.

[JRCrowley]

@FloodPower And you'd be correct. They're scared for him, and even scared for themselves in some cases. When they see that the camera is on them they get even more uncomfortable. Most people fail to realize that the political and intelligence (read KGB) infrastructure from the USSR is - and has always been - still in place exactly was it was from before the breakup of the USSR.

[jayash76]

Well I sure hope this guy is able to stick around. Journalist get assassinated for less in Russia

[Icix1]

Until we stand up for the things we believe we will not know true freedom. 

[buffismen]

The "50-cent" commentary gang will be all over this. (50 cent workers are users that gets 50 cent for every positive comment they make about the goverment.)

[DaNeedle]

we should be sharing this whereever we can

[shodanxx]

holy crap, it is rare to spot a true journalist in his natural environment !

[floritar]

Open in full screen then keep on pressing space : The journalist will sound drunk

[NewAccount69]

Loved his last two sentences

[EccosplaZm]

Very brave. He did he right thing.

[ephemerol]

you can tell they are all terrified of being seen agreeing with him, but they probably do. i hope this brave man does not meet the fate of other 'inconvenient' journalists.

[nataliaopera]

da molodec on!!!!!nakonec hot' kto-to pravdy rewilsya skazat'!!!!!!

[theyugunter]

takih predateley na rasstrel nado

[ephemerol]

@theyugunter what traitors, parfenov & co. or putin & co.?

[cluelesscheese1]

it is a little dry, but increadibly well written and delivered. it would be a hard act to follow and the audience seems bored. they suck! this speech is good!

[ceoddyn]

@cluelesscheese1 to be seen agreeing with him would risk their lives, he says squarely he doesnt expect them to do that