Global Studies II

Unit II Russia

Name ______________________________
Date ____________
Russian Democracy Has Disappeared?
- Clifford J. Levy, New York Times

Directions: After reading the article mentioned above, answer the questions below. Please
answer in complete sentence format.
1. What is human rights? According to the author, identify human rights issues the current
political regime in Russia have violated.
The Russian regime had beaten a man for the criticizing the government. This violates the right of
freedom of speech that is given almost throughout the modern world.
2. Identify political corruption issues Mr. Levy identifies in Russia today.
Some of the issues include removal of local elections, as well as beating and general harassment of
people such as journalists and human rights activists.
3. How does Mr. Gorbachev, the previous Russian premier, feel about the current leaders? Why
does he feel this way?
Gorbachev believes that the current leaders are destroying the democracy because they do not
want the nation to be a democracy.

4. The caption for the picture on page one is titled, Batman and Robin. Explain this caption.
It is believed that Dmitri Medvedev and Vladimir Putin are working together in order to control
the nation and revive what had died in 1991.

5. According to the author [and Mr. Gorbachev, democracy begins with:

elections, accountability and turnover.

6. In addition to the aspects of democracy identified above, which other key ingredient is
necessary for a democracy? According to the author, how does Russia meet this ingredient?
Back up your answer with facts.
The nation has to respect the rule of law, which russia does not follow. Demonstrations must be
authorized by the government, and any demonstrations that are not authorized, the people get
arrested.

7. Identify two cases the author identifies where the Russian government has failed the
democratic test.
The justice System had found Mikhail Khodorkovsky guilty of crimes simply because he supported
opposition of Putin. Also the justice system itself will find anyone guilty of nearly anything if they
support the opposition of Putin.

Levy, Clifford J. Russian Democracy Has Disappeared 10 Jan. 2011: n. pag.Scholastic. Web. 18 Nov. 2014.
<http://teacher.scholastic.com/scholasticnews/indepth/upfront/features/index.asp?article=f011011_russia>.