A clash of royalty: King cobra cannibalism documented for the first time in Singapore

King cobras are a rare sight in Singapore, and are even harder to find with their prey. 

PHOTO: DARYL TAN

Ian Cheng
Correspondent
ST
JUN 07, 2024, 04:14 PM

SINGAPORE – “Huge snake!!!” read the caption of a video that snake photographer Daryl Tan’s father sent him in the afternoon on June 6.

At that point, the elder Mr Tan did not realise that he was possibly the first person here to have recorded on camera a king cobra cannibalising another member of its species, swallowing it whole while it was still alive.

Mr Tan leapt when he saw his father’s video, shot at a mangrove forest in the western part of the island.


“He often sends me pictures and videos of snakes as he knows I get excited at every sighting, and also asks me to identify the species,” the 35-year-old educator told The Straits Times.

“Often, they are just common snakes, like painted bronzebacks and paradise tree snakes, but this time he struck gold within even realising it.”

King cobras are a rare sight in Singapore, and are even harder to find with their prey.

The species is classified as vulnerable in the Singapore Red Data book, which provides information such as the scientific and common names along with descriptions of each plant and animal species here.

There was only one other recorded sighting of a king cobra attacking another member of its species in April 2019, but the observer did not stay to view the rest of the event, so it is unclear if the smaller snake was eventually killed or eaten.

Mr Daryl Tan said: “Any sighting of predation, regardless of the species, is always significant.”

In his 19 years of photographing wildlife, he had encountered only one other case of reptile cannibalism, with a gecko preying on another.

While king cobras are occasionally spotted in nature areas like Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, a cannibalistic feeding encounter like this is a rare and unique occurrence. 

PHOTO: REMY SHEK


“The moment I saw the video and recognised that it was a king cobra cannibalising a smaller one, I knew I had to see it for myself even if it meant taking a leap of faith and possibly ending up disappointed if the trip was for naught.”

After verifying the contents of the video with his fellow enthusiasts, Mr Tan rushed down to the scene with one of them, Mr Remy Shek, 16.
“A clash of true royalty”

For the duo, there was no way of knowing how far along the battle of the kings was, or whether they were even still in the area they were spotted in. If the fight had just started, it would take a while.

A previous encounter where a king cobra was seen battling and eventually consuming a reticulated python in 2023 lasted over seven hours.

King cobras are also somewhat resistant to the venom of their own kind, so it may take a while for one party to be subdued.

Having witnessed the 2023 confrontation, Mr Tan said the latest encounter is still “the ultimate prize”.

“We thought the battle between the king cobra and the reticulated python was a royal rumble because it was between the longest venomous snake in the world and the longest snake in the world – but this is a clash of true royalty,” he said.

“Unfortunately, it was checkmate for one of them.”

King cobras are somewhat resistant to the venom of their own kind, so it may take a while for one party to be subdued. 

 PHOTO: DARYL TAN


Arriving at the scene about an hour later, Mr Tan and Mr Shek located both king cobras.

They observed that the larger one is more than 3m in length. The smaller one is estimated to be more than 2m long, but the two are otherwise similar in girth.

The larger cobra had already dragged the smaller one out from where they were first spotted, and was consuming it on a footpath.

However, the smaller cobra was not dead yet. “It would from time to time resist and put up a fight even when half its body was already in the mouth of the larger one,” said Mr Tan.

Rain started at one point, so both enthusiasts had to keep their cameras. They continued observing the phenomenon from afar for about 1½ hours in the rain, until the larger snake had completely consumed its prey and slithered away, said Mr Shek.

The larger snake is more than 3m in length. The smaller one is estimated to be more than 2m long, but the two are otherwise similar in girth. 

 PHOTO: REMY SHEK


Mr Tan said they had to keep their distance throughout the encounter for their own safety. After all, they were photographing two highly venomous snakes.

They also did not want to cause any stress to the animal as snakes are known to regurgitate and abandon their meals as an escape tactic.

“The wildlife is always more important than the photography,” said Mr Tan.

Mr Shivaram Rasu, scientific officer of the Herpetological Society of Singapore, confirmed that both snakes were indeed king cobras, and said that the finding appeared to be the first reliable documentation of king cobra cannibalism in the wild in Singapore.

“While king cobras are occasionally spotted in nature areas like Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, a cannibalistic feeding encounter like this is a rare and unique occurrence,” he said.

“This sighting is particularly intriguing as it provides us with valuable insights into the dietary habits of king cobras. While cannibalism within a species has been observed in various snake species worldwide, it remains a relatively uncommon occurrence, making this observation all the more significant,” he added

The larger snake completely consumed its prey before it slithered away. 

PHOTO: DARYL TAN


The 30-year-old environmental consultant added that it is crucial to report such encounters on scientific platforms like the Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum’s Nature in Singapore Biodiversity Records, contributing to collective knowledge and conservation efforts.

Mr Tan said he intends to do just that.

Should members of the public encounter such incidents, Mr Shivaram advised them to give the animals a wide berth as those hunting or feeding can be more susceptible to stress and interference.

“It’s important to remember that these are wild animals, and our presence can cause them stress or disrupt their natural behaviour,” he said.

“Respecting their space is not only for our safety but also for their well-being.”

Explainer-British judges' resignations from top court put Hong Kong rule of law in spotlight

A statue of Lady Justice at the Court of Final Appeal is pictured, in Hong Kong, 

China, September 5, 2023.

 REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo


JUN 07, 2024, 04:02 PM

HONG KONG - Two senior British judges resigned from Hong Kong's top appeals court on Thursday, as international concerns mounted over the city's rule of law following the recent convictions of 14 prominent democratic activists amid a national security crackdown.

One of the judges, Lawrence Collins, said in a statement that the "political situation" in Hong Kong had sparked his move but added that he still had "total confidence" in the city's judiciary.

WHY ARE THE RESIGNATIONS SIGNIFICANT?

While Hong Kong has a deep pool of legal professionals across its courts, commerce and academia, it has since 1997 appointed foreign judges to sit on the 5 person court of final appeal for certain cases.

They have been described as a "canary in the coalmine", generating confidence in Hong Kong's judiciary as an independent entity free from outside interference after Hong Kong returned to Chinese Communist Party rule in 1997.

These judges don't dominate the system but help keep Hong Kong tied to British-based Common Law traditions. Critics, however, including the U.S. government, say these are under threat after the imposition of a sweeping national security law in 2020, and another set of security legislation in March this year.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, said this latest legislation raised "detailed, serious human rights concerns."

A roster of local judges, designated by Hong Kong's pro-Beijing leader to hear specific national security cases, have in recent years delivered jail terms to scores of opposition figures for a number of offences including rioting, unauthorised assembly and most recently, conspiracy to commit subversion.

The International Bar Association said the latest national security legislation, known as Article 23, "significantly enables further crackdowns on human rights in Hong Kong."

The Hong Kong and Chinese governments have repeatedly stated that the city's judiciary remains independent and the laws were needed to ensure stability.

HOW MANY FOREIGN JUDGES REMAIN ON HK'S TOP COURT?

After the departure of Lawrence Collins and Jonathan Sumption, eight foreign non permanent judges remain on the Court of Final Appeal.

They don't all sit together but are selected by the chief justice to join the five-judge CFA, flying in to Hong Kong for specific cases.

Pre-handover, Hong Kong cases could end up at the Privy Council in London as the ultimate court of appeal, along with several other Commonwealth jurisdictions.

COULD THE RESIGNATIONS SPARK OTHERS TO LEAVE?

Despite the pressures, that is far from clear at this point. Retired judges say jurists discuss the broader environment among themselves, but rarely publicly or with outsiders.

"As a judge, one is schooled in how to stay totally above the fray," one retired senior judge told Reuters. "If anyone can keep the pressures from bothering them, an old judge certainly can. I'm not surprised many have stayed this long."

Two judges - Beverley McLachlin and Nicholas Phillips - face the end of their three year terms in July and October respectively. Any extensions have yet to be announced.

McLachlin, who previously served for 17 years as the Chief Justice of Canada, has faced Canadian press criticism for staying on, but has at times defended Hong Kong's legal system.

Other judges have extended or joined in the last 18 months.

That said, the international pressures on those that remain is likely to continue, particularly as more high profile national security cases move up the system, with some defendants like media tycoon Jimmy Lai facing possible life imprisonment.

When asked about Western criticism, Hong Kong's top judge Andrew Cheung said in January he was confident he would still be able to recruit leading foreign judges.

Cheung said on Friday that the foreign judges had "played a significant role" in the courts in some of the most substantive appeals heard.

WHAT CASES ARE LOOMING?

One of the three remaining British judges, David Neuberger, is scheduled to hear a number of appeals this month that involve pro-democracy campaigners including barristers and former lawmakers Martin Lee and Margaret Ng and Jimmy Lai. They had been convicted for unauthorised assembly cases in 2019 when the months-long pro-democracy demonstrations took place.

Neuberger gave no immediate response to a request for comment.

Hong Kong's judicial officials involved in national security cases, including prosecutors with the department of justice, judges designated by Hong Kong’s leader to hear national security cases, as well as the city’s justice secretary Paul Lam are all facing scrutiny.

The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) - which advises Congress - has been calling on the U.S. to consider imposing sanctions on judges "presiding over national security cases for their role in weakening Hong Kong’s once venerated rule of law."

The judiciary as well as the Hong Kong and Chinese governments have condemned such calls.

 REUTERS

Why South Africa’s ANC wants a national unity gov’t after election setback

A broad coalition like the one President Ramaphosa outlined on Thursday leaves the ANC less vulnerable to pressures from any one partner.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, centre, meets with senior officials of his African National Congress party on Thursday, June 6, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa [Jerome Delay/AP Photo]

By Qaanitah Hunter
 7 Jun 2024

Johannesburg, South Africa — Reeling from its worst electoral performance in 30 years, South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) on Thursday said it would seek to stitch together a “Government of National Unity” to administer the nation.

After days of internal debate within the party, President Cyril Ramaphosa told a meeting of the ANC’s top leadership structure, the national executive committee (NEC), late on Thursday, that South Africa was at a moment of “fundamental consequence” and that the country required extraordinary leadership. In last week’s elections, the ANC lost its majority in South Africa’s parliament for the first time since the end of apartheid.

“We therefore agreed to invite political parties to form a Government of National Unity as the best option to move our country forward,” Ramaphosa said.

In effect, that means that the ANC – instead of entering into a direct coalition agreement with its main rival parties, the market-friendly and right-leaning Democratic Alliance (DA) or the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) – will seek a broad multiparty alliance.

And while Ramaphosa framed that decision as one taken in the national interest, analysts said the move also bears the hallmarks of political savvy, with the ANC’s own interests front and centre. A broad, multiparty coalition reduces the ANC’s dependence on any individual political rival.

Lessons from the past

South Africa was governed through a Government of National Unity between 1994 and 1997 when former President Nelson Mandela appointed former apartheid Prime Minister FW de Klerk as his deputy and appointed cabinet ministers from the National Party and the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), the ANC’s rivals at the time.

Three decades later, the ANC, bruised by the May 29 election results, now needs to negotiate an agreement with other parties before a June 18 constitutional deadline to elect the country’s next president. The ANC’s vote share dropped from 57 percent in 2019 – already the lowest until then – to 40 percent in last week’s election. It also lost its majority in the key provinces of KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

Since then, party leaders have been locked in talks about the most viable options for government formation while some members of their youth organisations protested outside the NEC meeting against a deal with the DA.

(Al Jazeera)

Many ANC members have long described the DA as “anti-transformation”, labelling its market-leaning policies as “anti-poor”. The ANC has fashioned itself as a centrist party that is pro-poor.

Maxine Rubin, research fellow at the Hamburg-based GIGA Institute of African Affairs, said Ramaphosa’s dilemma lies in finding coalition partners that “would not weaken his own position in the ANC while avoiding major compromises of the ANC’s policy positions”.
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Forming exclusive coalition agreements with either the DA, EFF or the new uMkhonto we Sizwe Party (MK Party) led by former President Jacob Zuma could have compromised those aims and led to internal ructions. The MK Party has openly said it will only work with the ANC if Ramaphosa is removed.

A grand coalition, by contrast, would keep South Africa’s second largest party, the DA, in the tent, while also engaging smaller parties, eliminating too much dependence on any one coalition partner.

“It will send a good signal to business internationally and domestically,” said Rubin. The DA, in particular, is seen as pro-business.

The DA gained 21 percent of the vote, while the MK Party secured 14 percent and the EFF, 9 percent  

.

Al Jazeera
Challenges ahead

But it’s not just about Ramaphosa’s political survival or international investors. Political analyst Ongama Mtimka said that should the ANC form an alliance solely with either the DA on the right or the EFF and MK Party on the left, there would be serious consequences for the internal balance of power in the ANC. That, he said, would in turn have implications for how the market perceives the South African government.

He said a move by the ANC to make a deal with the DA could cause an “internal rebellion”.
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“[It would be seen as] going right goes against the liberation movement’s myths and traditions,” he said.

While the details of what this broad government of unity would look like are yet to be explained, Ramaphosa said the new administration “will take into account the conditions prevailing at this point in our country’s history”.

The new South African government faces enormous domestic challenges, which are stimulating economic growth, job creation and confronting structural inequality.

According to the World Bank, South Africa is the most unequal society in the world, with a few wealthy individuals on one side and widespread poverty on the other. It also has the world’s highest unemployment rate, at 33 percent, and a youth unemployment rate of 45 percent. Homes and businesses face frequent rolling blackouts, while the country also battles systemic corruption.

(Al Jazeera)

Ramaphosa argued that a national unity government would focus on building an inclusive economy, creating jobs, ending crime and corruption, and improving service delivery.

Yet, getting that grand coalition together by June 18 will not be easy. The ANC will need to trade positions in the executive and parliament in exchange for support from opposition parties. It will also likely need to commit to reforms, such as taking a harder line against party leaders who have been implicated in corruption and state capture.

The DA has been open to talks with the ANC but has ruled out an agreement with the EFF.
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The EFF has signalled its willingness to co-govern with the ANC but has demanded the deputy presidency position in exchange for their support. The MK Party has said it won’t join an ANC-led coalition if Ramaphosa heads it. The MK also campaigned on a platform that included a rewriting of the constitution – something that the ANC has opposed.

Ramaphosa said social cohesion was urgent following a “particularly toxic and divisive” election campaign. As ANC negotiators meet with other political groups, the party has insisted that constitutionalism was a non-negotiable principle for any deal.

“In establishing a GNU, we are building on a very rich history of cooperation across divides and ideologies,” he said. “We are drawing on an experience South Africans are familiar with, and that served the country well.” Now, that experience is about to be tested again.

SOURCE: AL JAZEERA

South Africa’s ruling ANC to form government of national unity: President Ramaphosa

ANC, in power since 1994, failed to get a majority for first time and will have to put together a coalition to form next government

Hassan Isilow |07.06.2024 - TRT

JOHANNESBURG

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has agreed to form a government of national unity after losing its majority in last week’s election, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced late Thursday.

“We have agreed to invite political parties to form a government of national unity, the best option to move our country forward,’’ Ramaphosa told reporters after concluding a day-long meeting of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

He said the modalities of the government of national unity will take into account the conditions prevailing at the moment in the country.

“The purpose of the government of national unity must be, first and foremost, to tackle the pressing issues that South Africans want to be addressed. These issues include job creation and the growth of our economy that will be inclusive and the high cost of living,” he said.

Ramaphosa also said the unity government will look at service delivery, crime and corruption, all which were main election issues raised by political parties.

The ANC, once led by the global icon Nelson Mandela, dominated South African politics for the past three decades until losing its majority in national and provincial elections on May 29.

The party, which used to secure more than 60% in all elections since 1994, except in 2019, when its share dipped to 57.5%, got only 40.18% of the vote. This has put it in a difficult position to form a government on its own.

Ramaphosa said his party has recognized that the people of South Africa made their wishes known during last week’s elections and they accept the outcome.

“We now say as the National Executive Committee of the ANC that we have heard the concerns of the people of South Africa and heard their frustrations and recognize their aspirations,’’ he said.

He said the NEC agreed that for the country to successfully overcome the challenges it faces, there is a need for a unity government and collaboration among political parties.

“From the results of these elections, it’s clear that South Africans expect their leaders to work together to meet their needs. They expect us to find common ground to overcome our differences and act together for the good of everyone,’’ he said.

FROM THE RIGHT

DA proposals to ANC: protect Reserve Bank, give powers to provinces, outlaw cadre deployment


07 June 2024 - 
Thabo Mokone

Parliamentary editor

DA Western Cape premier candidate Alan Winde reacts at the election results centre in Cape Town on May 31 2024.
Image: Reuters/Esa Alexander

The DA has placed the protection of the constitution at the centre of its coalitions negotiations framework, but also wants certain powers to be devolved from national to provincial governments

The party also wants the proposed coalition government to set up a mechanism to allow “multiparty access” to and “input into” the budgeting process, which has thus far been the sole domain of the ANC-led national government and the National Treasury.

These are among the six constitutionally-based foundations laid out by the DA’s high-powered negotiation team as priority areas, which they will put to the ANC and other parties as formal negotiations are set to start in earnest in the coming days.

The priority areas are detailed in a discussion document titled, “A framework for multiparty government”.

The DA’s team of experienced coalition dealmakers include federal chairperson Helen Zille, her predecessor Tony Leon, party strategist and former CEO Ryan Coetzee, chief whip in the sixth parliament Siviwe Gwarube, as well as Western Cape premier Alan Winde and MEC Ivan Meyer.

ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa announced late on Thursday his party’s highest decision-making body in between national conferences, the NEC, had decided to invite all parties to talks to discuss the formation of a government of national unity.

This comes after the ANC was brought down to under 50% of the national votes for the first time since 1994 after a fiercely contested election on May 29.

On the constitution, the DA is demanding no tampering with the bill of rights and the independence of the SA Reserve Bank.

“The protection and promotion of the constitution is foundational to the future success of South Africa. We draw particular attention to the founding provisions and the bill of rights in their entirety.

“Clauses 223 — 225 which set out the establishment, objectives and powers and functions of the Reserve Bank. These provide for the independence of the Reserve Bank and sound monetary policy “to protect the value of the currency in the interest of balanced and sustainable economic growth in the republic.”

The DA also wants a corruption-free and effective public service where cadre deployment is outlawed, and the Public Service Commission strengthened.

But the issue of cadre deployment might prove to be sticky bargaining point with the ANC as it has committed to continue implementing it despite adverse finding on it by the courts and the state capture commission of inquiry.

“To this end legislation and organisational reform is required to ensure the Public Service Commission is given full independence and powers of oversight, that a clear distinction is made between political posts and public service posts, that cadre deployment is outlawed, and that best practice is applied to delivery.”

The blue party also said the coalition government should commit to reducing the budget deficit to below 3.5% within three years of its formation.

Other economic proposals include support for Ramaphosa’s operation vulindlela, the unbundling of Eskom, the concessioning of the ports, mineral rights reforms and title deeds reforms to expand land ownership.

The DA, which retain control of the Western Cape and governs the City of Cape Town, wants the coalition government to devolve certain powers to provinces.

This issue has long been a DA campaign issue, including in this years’ general elections, in which the party made it clear it wanted national government to allow it to run the police service in the Western Cape and the passenger rail service, among others.

“We believe responsibility for delivery should be devolved to the sphere of government best able to ensure successful implementation.

“To this end we would foresee a range of devolution measures to be discussed in accordance with section 99 of the constitution, and in particular, the implementation of the cabinet’s decision to devolve passenger rail to metros, the devolution of criminal investigative power for metro policy and law enforcement officers.”

Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu to address US Congress on July 24 amid Gaza war

PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS WILL BOYCOTT

SEN, SANDERS LED THE CHARGE THIS WEEK

REPUBLICAN Congress’s invitation latest show of US support for Israel despite global outrage over Israel’s war on Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gestures as he attends a cabinet meeting [Gil Cohen/Reuters]
Published On 7 Jun 20247 Jun 2024


Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, setting the stage for what is expected to be a contentious speech at a crucial moment for the continuing Israel-Hamas war.

Congressional leaders confirmed the date of the address late on Thursday after formally inviting Netanyahu to speak before lawmakers last week in the latest show of support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel’s military assault on Gaza.

“The existential challenges we face, including the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China, threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world,” House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, along with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, said in the letter.

“To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight America’s solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli government’s vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.”

Netanyahu’s appearance before an increasingly divided Congress is sure to be controversial and met with plenty of protests both inside the Capitol from lawmakers and outside by pro-Palestinian protesters.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in the US – who delivered a stinging rebuke of Netanyahu in March – said in a separate statement on Thursday night that he has “clear and profound disagreements” with the Israeli leader but joined in the request for him to speak “because America’s relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends one person or prime minister”.

Other Democratic lawmakers more critical of Netanyahu’s strategy are expected to be no-shows for the address. Senator Bernie Sanders, the independent from Vermont, said: “Netanyahu is a war criminal. I certainly will not attend.”

Frayed US-Israel relations

Netanyahu’s visit to the Capitol also comes as his relationship with President Joe Biden has become increasingly frayed.
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Biden has privately and publicly criticised Netanyahu’s handling of the war and shown his disapproval of the Israeli government for not allowing more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Late last week, Biden also outlined a proposal that he said would lead to an “enduring” ceasefire in Gaza.

The three-phase plan would see the release of Israelis being held captive in the territory, as well as hundreds of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel, Biden said.

The plan also says a reconstruction plan for Gaza would begin in a third phase of the proposal and the remains of any captives killed would be returned to their families.

The initiative, which Biden said was put forward by Israel, marks a shift in the position of the US administration, which had only sought a temporary truce while backing Israel’s goal of eliminating Hamas.

While Biden said Israel had agreed to the plan, he noted that some Israelis – including members of Netanyahu’s coalition government – were likely to disagree with the proposal and call for the war to continue.

“They’ve made it clear: They want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years. The hostages are not a priority for them. Well, I urge the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal despite whatever pressure comes,” Biden said.

Left-leaning parties lead as far right surges in Netherlands’ EU elections

Exit polls show surge in support for populist Geert Wilders and his anti-immigration party after victory in national election last year.


Video Duration 04 minutes 18 seconds04:18
Published On 7 Jun 20247 Jun 2024

Left-leaning parties in the Netherlands are projected to have narrowly won the most seats in the country’s election for the European Parliament, even as the anti-immigration party of populist far-right nationalist Geert Wilders made huge gains.

The Labour/Green Left combination was projected to have won eight seats, slightly ahead of Wilders’s Party for Freedom (PVV) on seven seats, according to a nationwide exit poll published on Thursday by broadcaster NOS.

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The exit poll has an error margin of roughly one seat.

The result suggests huge gains for Wilders following his victory in last year’s national election, given that his party failed to secure a seat in the previous EU election and only got one after a reshuffle due to Brexit.

“This is a very positive sign and also a sign to the elites in Brussels that things will change,” Wilders told reporters in The Hague.

“A signal that at least many of the Dutch voters gave today that they want a different European Union and they want a stronger nation state. Not more transferring of powers to Europe, but exactly the opposite.”

Labour leader Frans Timmermans said the results showed left-wing parties should not be written off for this election, despite the rise of nationalist parties throughout Europe.

“As pro-European parties we have shown the rest of Europe it’s not a done deal that the radical right wins this election,” the EU’s former climate chief said.

Elections for the EU parliament

Voting in the Netherlands kicked off four days of elections for the EU parliament across the 27 EU member states.

It encapsulated the main internal political challenge facing the union: the rising popularity of nationalist and populist parties that want to dismantle the EU from within.

Wilders, known for his outspoken views on immigration and Islam, said on Thursday a good result for the nationalist parties should encourage them to unite in their bid to change EU regulations and return more powers to national legislatures.

The Labour/Green Left combination dropped one seat from their 2019 result, but seemed to have remained the largest overall after a campaign in which they constantly warned about the rise of nationalist parties.

The two left-wing parties ran on a joint ticket but will have separate factions in parliament after the vote.

The actual result of the Dutch election will be announced after voting has closed in all 27 member states, on Sunday at 21:00 GMT.

The 720-seat parliament co-decides with the EU’s 27 national governments on laws that govern the bloc’s single market, its 1-trillion-euro ($1.09 trillion) long-term budget, fiscal rules and laws to prevent climate change.

Surveys of voter intentions show the centre right is likely to win the largest share of seats, putting their candidate to head the European Commission, incumbent Ursula von der Leyen of Germany, in pole position to be appointed for a second term.

The new parliament will decide on the EU’s next seven-year budget, which must be in place from 2028, with Ukraine, Moldova and countries of the Western Balkans all seeking membership.

 Russia: NATO preparing for possible military mobilization campaign

[06/June/2024]

MOSCOW June 06. 2024 (Saba) - Russia's Deputy Permanent Representative to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), Maxim Boyakevich, said on Thursday that NATO member states are currently conducting census operations and preparing for a possible military mobilization campaign amid military operations in Ukraine.

"There is a possible mobilization campaign by NATO countries, which have not been affected by the conflict, as well as that country increasing its production of weapons and ammunition," Boyakievich said during a meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), according to Russia's TASS news agency.

According to the Russian official, NATO members are practicing scenarios simulating strikes against Russia during military exercises.

According to the Russian official, NATO members are practicing scenarios simulating strikes against Russia during military exercises.

The Russian diplomat noted that "some NATO countries and the European Union continue to increase their level of participation in the proxy war against Russia being fought through Ukraine, they are deliberately prolonging the armed confrontation, and they are taking measures to fuel escalation."

In addition, the West is supplying Kiev with increasingly sophisticated weapons, prompting Ukraine to carry out "more powerful strikes inside Russia," Boyakievich noted.

Ukraine's exploding naval drones are hunting down Russian vessels like tugboats after the big Black Sea Fleet warships fell back

Jake Epstein

BUSINESS INSIDER
Thu, June 6, 2024 

• Ukrainian special forces on Thursday used naval drones to hunt down a Russian tugboat near Crimea.

• Kyiv in recent weeks has been forced to go after smaller Russian vessels in the Black Sea.

• Moscow has pulled back its larger warships to reduce their vulnerability to attacks.

Ukraine is using its arsenal of exploding naval drones to hunt down smaller Russian vessels instead of the larger Black Sea Fleet warships, which Moscow pulled back to reduce their vulnerability to attacks.

The Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence stated that one of its special forces units staged a "successful attack" that destroyed a Russian military tugboat on Thursday. The operation against this Project 498-series vessel took place near the northwest corner of the occupied Crimean peninsula.

"Devastating fire damage was inflicted after the successful breakthrough of the line of defensive barriers of the occupiers in the Black Sea area," the HUR said in a statement shared to the Telegram messaging app, adding that the vessel "will no longer sail."

The operation appears to have been carried out by a Ukrainian surface drone, according to footage published by the HUR, although the exact model is unclear. Kyiv has relied on a fleet of homemade Magura V5 and Sea Baby drones packed with explosives to carry out devastating missions against ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet throughout the war.

Footage of Thursday's operation, captured by a camera placed on one of the drones, appears to show a rather complex attack.

Multiple explosions can be seen around the coast, and the drone appears to slip through a hole in the floating boom defenses. The barrier may have been targeted in advance to allow the drone to pass through, though it's unclear. Russia has relied on these types of defenses — along with moored barges — to try to protect its ports from Ukraine's naval drones.

After navigating the harbor, the naval drone is seen eventually homing in on the tugboat. It then appears to slam into the Russian vessel, causing the video connection to terminate.

Business Insider could not immediately verify the footage.

Ukraine has, in recent weeks, been targeting smaller Russian military vessels in the northwestern Black Sea after Moscow moved its larger, more vulnerable warships away from the area and across the region following a string of devastating attacks.

Last month, for instance, Kyiv used its naval drones to conduct multiple operations against Russian patrol boats near Crimea.

The Black Sea fight has been a notable area of success for Ukraine. Lacking a proper navy of its own, Kyiv has relied on naval drones and long-range anti-ship missiles to wage an asymmetrical style of warfare against the Black Sea Fleet.

Russia has proven incapable of consistently protecting its warships against these threats. It has bolstered the defenses on its vessels and even sent combat aircraft to patrol the region. Earlier this year, Moscow also reshuffled its naval leadership, though the personnel changes have done little to save its fleet.

EA-18G Growler Killed A Houthi Mi-24 Hind With An AGM-88E Anti-Radiation Missile

Howard Altman
Thu, June 6, 2024 

A USN EA-18G took out an Mi-24 with an AARGM.


The Navy on Thursday confirmed to The War Zone that one of its EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft used an AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) to destroy a Mi-24/35 Hind attack helicopter. This confirms a possible explanation we suggested when a mysterious “kill mark” of a Hind appeared on a Growler deployed aboard the aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) in a photo that was released on May 15. The engagement also likely highlights the AARGM's unique precision strike capabilities against non-radiating targets.

"The first instance of AARGM use in combat was from an E/A-18G deployed on Ike, during this current deployment to the U.S. 5th Fleet region," a Navy official told us. The official could not say if that engagement was the same as the one that earned a Growler its Hind kill mark.

We initially posited that the kill likely involved an AARGM.

“The Hind was reportedly struck on the ground, which is strange for a Growler,” The War Zone's Tyler Rogoway tweeted on May 16. “Best guess: they fired AARGM to hit coordinates, not home in on emissions, which it's capable of. It is a good time-sensitive target effector in this way. We'll find out more.”


That's pretty much what happened on Feb. 24, the Navy official told The War Zone.

“The Dwight D. Eisenhower (Ike) Carrier Strike Group led pre-planned self-defense strikes into Houthi-controlled territories in Yemen,” the official told us. “This was a joint and coalition effort that struck 60 Houthi targets across 16 sites in Yemen, including anti-ship missile sites, storage facilities and command and control centers. Also destroyed was a rotary-wing aircraft; the aircraft was unmanned and not airborne at the time.”

A privately owned Mi-24 used for as an opposition force (OPFOR) asset during training, in this case at the Marine Weapons Tactics Instructor (WTI) course. (U.S. Marine Corps photograph by SSgt. Artur Shvartsberg, MAWTS-1 COMCAM/ Released)

The Growler, from VAQ-130 “Zappers,” conducted "an air-to-surface engagement with an AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) on a ground target that destroyed a rotary-wing aircraft,” the official added. “It is suspected that the helicopter belonged to Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists in Yemen, who have menaced civilian merchant shipping, taken innocent lives, and put feeedom of navigation at risk.”

CENTCOM posted a launch video from that operation, which you can see below.


The AARGM, which is a direct evolution of the AGM-88 High-Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), is designed primarily to suppress and destroy enemy air defenses. It can reach targets more than 80 miles away and reach speeds of well over twice the speed of sound. The AGM-88E was first test-fired from Growlers in 2011, according to the Navy, and has been in service for a number of years.

“AARGM has demonstrated a much greater accuracy than our existing HARM inventory in striking hostile emitters,” Cmdr. Chad Reed, then-deputy program manager for Anti-Radiation Missiles within the Direct and Time Sensitive Strike program office (PMA-242), said at the time. “The weapon is specifically designed to increase our warfighting capabilities in neutralizing enemy air defenses and will provide aircrews with an additional tool for the electronic attack mission.”

The basic configuration of the AGM-88E AARGM. Orbital ATK

The AARGM is different from its progenitor, the HARM, in a number of ways. Chief among them is that it can hit a threat radar with high-precision even if it stops emitting radiation. This means that if a radar shuts off mid-attack, the AARGM will still strike it and do so with extreme accuracy. The addition of an active millimeter-wave radar seeker even allows the AARGM to hit its target if it is fleeing from its original position.

This standoff precision strike capability also allows the AARGM to be used in a secondary capacity as a rapid response strike weapon against non-air defense-related targets. In other words, it can be used to quickly strike a non-radiation emitting target on the ground over long distances. In this case, something in the Navy's 'kill chain' or pre-mission intelligence spotted the Mi-24 and the AARGM was used to destroy it as it sat on the ground, using GPS/INS to make its way to the target, then homing in on it using its millimeter-wave radar seeker. Otherwise, it was destroyed via collateral damage caused by another target that was hit nearby, although that seems less likely of an explanation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCBs1IEk9Fc\u0026t=1s

The Growler kill mark was the latest in a long tradition of such art being stenciled onto aircraft, vessels and other military equipment indicating the destruction of enemy equipment. In March, for instance, we wrote about the U.S. Navy's F/A-18E/F Super Hornets deployed aboard the Ike were adorned to commemorate the downing of Houthi drones. They have also appeared on allied aircraft involved in these missions. That followed kill marks seen on warships that swatted down similar threats in the region.

This kill, as we previously noted, also comes as the Growlers are getting expanded air-to-air missile capabilities via additional AIM-120 AMRAAM carriage options, with the AIM-9X being added soon, as well. Considering the activity of Houthi drones over and around the Red Sea, it's possible that a Growler could score its first air-to-air kill at any time, if one hasn't already.

The Yemeni Air Force had a number of Mi-24/35 Hind derivatives before the war with the Saudi-led Arab coalition broke out against Houthi rebels in the western part of the country. It was originally thought that any in their possession were destroyed or left totally unserviceable during the conflict, while other reports suggested a small number of them saw action in recent years.


Regardless of the disposition of the fleet, there is now one less Hind in Houthi hands.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

Mpox public health campaign was successful but cases still occur at low levels in US: Study

Researchers say it's still important for high-risk groups to get vaccinated.

ByMary Kekatos
June 6, 2024, 

US still seeing mpox cases among men who have sex with men: Study

Of 196 potential cases examined in the study, only 1.5% tested positive for mpox, and those individuals identified as gay or bisexual men who had sex with men.

In summer 2022, the global mpox outbreak seemed poised to overwhelm the U.S. with cases rising exponentially every week and no signs of slowing.

A successful public health campaign -- promoting behavior changes and vaccination -- helped cases drop dramatically.

However, a new small study published Thursday and led by the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) says that mpox cases are still circulating at low levels in the U.S. and primarily among unvaccinated high-risk groups

MORE: CDC report shows how infectious mpox is and how important vaccination was in stemming outbreak

Dr. David Talaen, co-lead author and a professor of emergency medicine and infectious diseases at UCLA, said after the 2022 global outbreak, there were small, localized outbreaks seen in cities including Chicago and Los Angeles, so the team wanted to examine if mpox was remerging.

"The second thing was that mpox is not strictly a sexually transmitted infection," he told ABC News. "It can be transmitted between people just with any skin-to-skin contact, and the rash can be on any part of the body. So, we were curious if cases might have been overlooked and in groups other than the risk group that was identified in 2022, which was gay and bisexual men who have sex with men."


A finger infected with monkeypox.
AP, FILE

For the study, the team looked at data from 13 U.S. emergency departments between June 2023 and December 2023, specifically among patients who visited EDs with a rash that resembled the rash mpox patients have.

Of the 196 patients with a rash, mpox was diagnosed in just 1.5% of them. Each of the patients with mpox identified as gay or bisexual men who have sex with men and had not been vaccinated against mpox.

The mpox patients had also engaged in sex with one or more partners they met through smartphone dating apps, the study found.

No mpox cases were identified in other groups, including women, children or unhoused individuals.

Anyone can get or spread mpox regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, but the U.S. outbreak began spreading primarily among gay or bisexual men and has continued to do so at low levels.


Many public health experts credit this community with rapidly responding to the outbreak through awareness campaigns and high vaccine uptake, which likely helped prevent further spread.


The authors wrote that the findings "underscore the importance of educating persons at risk for mpox regarding behavioral risks and encouraging these persons to be vaccinated."

MORE: First was COVID. Now China is facing an mpox crisis as cases spike

Currently, the JYNNEOS vaccine, a two-dose vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration to prevent smallpox and mpox, is the only vaccine being used in the U.S.

Data from Africa has shown two doses of JYNNEOS are at least 85% effective in preventing mpox infection.

To increase the number of JYNNEOS doses available earlier in the outbreak, the FDA authorized a proven strategy in August 2022 to inject the vaccine intradermally, just below the first layer of skin, rather than subcutaneously, or under all the layers of skin.

This allows one vial of vaccine to be given out as five separate doses rather than a single dose.


Smallpox and Monkeypox vaccines at a Galveston County Health District mobile clinic, Sept. 3, 2022, in Galveston.
Marie D. De Jesus/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images

Talaen said the public health campaign was successful due to the dramatic decline in cases related to the 2022 outbreak, but that it doesn't mean the disease disappeared.

"There was an idea that after the 2022 outbreak and the decline of cases the disease is gone; it's not gone," he said. "Cases still continue. So, it's important for people to protect themselves, both through their behaviors and if, at-risk, through vaccination."

Former Meta Employee Sues Company For Wrongful Termination Over Handling of Pro-Palestinian Content


June 6, 2024

Meta's logo is seen on a sign at the company's headquarters in Menlo Park, Calif., on Nov. 9, 2022. (Godofredo A. Vásquez/AP Photo)

A software engineer who previously worked for social media conglomerate Meta has sued the company for wrongful termination.

In a lawsuit filed on June 4, Ferras Hamad said he was fired from the position after allegedly investigating pro-Palestinian content, which he said was part of his job at the social media giant.

According to the complaint, which he filed against Instagram’s parent company in California state court in Santa Clara, Mr. Hamad’s role as a software engineer at the company involved overseeing content filters related to the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza on Instagram.

Specifically, Mr. Hamad was tasked with investigating what the company referred to as “severe issues,” or SEVs, with the social media platform.


His termination in February, according to the lawsuit, allegedly came as a result of his Palestinian background, as well as Instagram’s handling of an account held by a Palestinian photojournalist.

“Specifically, Plaintiff was scrutinized, interrogated, and terminated because he was of Palestinian national origin and/or Muslim investigating a SEV related to one of the most famous Palestinian photojournalists during the conflict in Gaza,” the complaint states.

According to the complaint, similar procedures were not initiated in relation to other global events, such as the war in Ukraine.

“Plaintiff did not receive similar scrutiny, interrogation, or adverse employment actions when he responded to SEVs related to Ukraine or other world events,” the complaint added.

However, in a statement by Meta, Mr. Hamad is accused of violating Meta’s data access policies, which effectively resulted in his immediate termination, as specified by the company’s code of conduct.


The complaint further states that Meta wrongfully labeled the photojournalist’s account as “pornographic.” Mr. Hamad stated in his filing that his manager initially told him that his actions did not violate company policy and that he handled the issue appropriately.

He was subsequently fired from his role on Feb. 2, for what the company referred to as “a violation of its User Data Access Policy,” according to the complaint.

Furthermore, Meta allegedly accused Mr. Hamad of being personally acquainted with the photojournalist, whose account boasted close to 20 million followers, according to the filing.

“Plaintiff was terminated despite confirmation from Plaintiff’s manager that he had acted correctly and from META’s own security operations personnel unequivocally stating the Plaintiff did not violate META’s User Data Access Policy,” the complaint read.

According to the lawsuit, however, nothing appears to indicate that Mr. Hamad was personally acquainted with the photojournalist. He was born in the United States, and there is no apparent record of him ever visiting Gaza.

Instead, the complaint alleges Mr. Hamad’s termination is the result of Meta’s anti-Palestinian bias, which Mr. Hamad fell victim to.

“In reality, Plaintiff is simply the latest victim of META’s callus, chronic, and consistent anti-Palestinian bias,” according to the complaint.

Meta has denied that Mr. Hamad’s termination was the result of anti-Palestinian bias. NTD has contacted Meta for further information and a statement but did not receive a reply before press time.

INTERVIEW

"Darkness is not forever"

Ivan Pavlov believes in a new and beautiful Russia and says he will be "on the first flight home" as soon as the Putin regime falls. "We are optimists. Putin is not forever," the well-known human rights lawyer in exile says.


Ivan Pavlov continues to work for change in Russia. 

Photo: Thomas Nilsen

By Atle Staalesen
BARENTS OBSERVER    
June 04, 2024

It is soon three years since Ivan Pavlov could walk the streets of his native St.Petersburg. In early September 2021, he left Russia following mounting repression from Putin’s security services.

The 53-year old lawyer has for nearly three decades ardently worked for rule of law and democratic development in Russia. He has defended several of Russia’s most prominent regime critics and prisoners of conscious, among them Aleksei Navalny and Ivan Safronov.

Pavlov and his team are advocates of another Russia — a country based on democratic rule and the independence of the judiciary. For the illegitimate regime of Vladimir Putin, their work for a ruled-based state is seen as a serious threat.

In late April 2021, Pavlov was detained by the FSB, put in house arrest and barred from communicating with the surrounding world. Shortly later, the Russian General Prosecutor declared Team 29, Pavlov’s association of independent lawyers, a so-called ‘undesirable organisation.’ The status includes risks of criminal prosecution for any of the organisation’s associates.

“Lawyers’ work has become very risky in Russia. Especially if you work on anti-war and human rights cases. It was risky before, but now the risks have increased, highly increased,” Ivan Pavlov says in an interview with the Barents Observer.


Lawyers’ work has become very risky in Russia”

Russian lawyer in exile Ivan Pavlov. 

Photo: Thomas Nilse

Putin’s war

The lawyer says he quickly understood that Putin was steering towards war.

“Throughout all of 2021, they were preparing for war. They destroyed the independent groups that were free content makers. Many of them were declared foreign agents, undesirable organisations or charged with criminal offence.”

The Kremlin wanted Pavlov out of the country. But the human rights lawyer might be no less of a threat to the dictatorship from his exile in the EU.

From aboard, Pavlov and his team continues to fight for a new future for their homeland. Many of the lawyers that used to be part of the Team 29 have joined Pavlov in exile and today provide indispensable support for colleagues still in Russia.

According to Pavlov, there are about 150 lawyers today working on anti-war and human rights cases in Russia. Many of them work in the quiet.

“The most important thing we do is to support the people who are still inside Russia. They are our sources. There is a whole system of resistance,” he explains.


There is a whole system of resistance”

“There is a small internal circle, that still works inside Russia. They are completely at high risk. And there is an external circle. It’s we, who are already in exile, who live under quite safe conditions. And we have to support the ones inside. Because they are our eyes, our legs. They go to the court, they are witnesses of what’s happening.”

“And we of course care about their security. We care about them,” he underlines.
Criminal regime

Russia is increasingly a criminal and violent society. But it is not lawlessness that is the greatest threat to Putin and his regime. It rather freedom of expression, argues Ivan Pavlov.

“In today’s Russia, the most dangerous crimes for regime is not murder, it’s not robbery, it’s not something brutal. It’s about freedom of expression. It’s about words. It’s about speech. And everybody who uses freedom of speech, who uses freedom of expression for the purposes that are not in line with the regime, they are criminals for regime.”

In today’s Russia, the most dangerous crime for regime is freedom of expression”


Are you still threatened by the regime?

“I’m here, I’m a realist. I understand that there is no safe place for people like me.”

“We have experience, and we are quite successful in our work. For example, today we not only work with the cases that already happened, like somebody sitting in custody or jail and we defend them. Not only like that. Now we make analytic work before the cases are initiated. And we evacuate people before they are arrested. And the regime understands this. Of course we feel some threat. But I think that if we want to feel completely safe, we have to stop our work. Today, so many of Russia’s best people, like best lawyers, best journalists, are in exile.”

How important are independent Russian media in exile? Do you think they have a big audience inside Russia?

“I think that their audience is increasing. Because now there is a growing demand in Russia. Before the war started, many Russians simply ignored the possibility to read independent sources. Because back then it was quite safe situation. But now they understand that they can have problems. And they have to be constantly on the pulse about what’s happened in the regime. And the independent sources provide reliable information about their personal security. For example information about how to cross the border. How to prepare to cross the border. Or what to do with their accounts in Facebook when an organisation is declared undesirable. Because now it’s dangerous to distribute such information.”

Over the years, Pavlov and his colleagues have worked on dozens of cases in the European Court of Human Rights. After Russia in 2022 ceased to be party to the European Convention on Human Rights, the European Court has continued to handle applications against Russia submitted before the 16th of September 2022.

As of September 2022, a total of 17,450 applications against Russia were pending.

Why is the European Court of Human Right important also after Russia’s withdrawal?

“I think that I today urge all my young colleagues to continue to work. Even if you work on a case, and know that decisions are predictable. It matters. Because it creates evidence of your work, creates a trace of your work, keeps it in the case, in the material. And somebody will, ultimately, reconsider the case, and this person should see your position, see what you’ve done. Because your client should ultimately be rehabilitated.”

“So why does the European Court continue to handle cases after Russia exited the Court? Because, guys, darkness is not forever. We are optimists. We know that it’s not something that will continue too long.”

Darkness is not forever”

Pavlov underlines that he believes in change and that he some day will return to Russia.

“I’m a supporter of humanitarian progress. Each new generation becomes wiser than the previous. And better. Putin is not forever. Putin will leave. We have to be prepared to the window of opportunity. Because sometimes we lose this opportunity. And we have to be ready for this.”

“I will be first in the line, in the check-in, on first flight to Russia, when I can freely continue my work inside Russia. I miss it very much. I hope, I believe that I will return soon.”


Putin is not forever”



Do you think there is a chance that Putin one day will end up in the Hague?

“You know, maybe not. Maybe he will die before that. And even if something happens in Russia, that provides a possibility to sue him, I would sue him firstly inside Russia. Because it’s an international scale [of his crimes]. He is a criminal before the Russian people. And first of all, he has to stand trial in a Russian legal system. And after that, we will send him [to the Hague]


How important is a trial against Putin and his regime for the future of Russia? Do you need such a process in order to move on towards a new and better Russia?

“I think that it’s very important for the Russian people. Because when the situation was changed in the 90s, the new Russian authorities didn’t finish this process. And they lost this possibility to renovate the society. It was a mistake. We have to learn from our mistakes, and not make the same mistake again.”

“I’m pretty sure that my colleagues who will live in the beginning of a new Russia, a new and beautiful Russia, they will not make the same mistake. Because all the people that represent the regime should at least be removed from the political processes. And if they have made a crime, they have to respond like a criminal.”


Do you think such a process is possible?

“I think yes. We are the same as Europeans. At least the people, who are now in exile and continue to work for the Russian audience, they believe that this is possible. And we already have many programs, and we have created new legislation for new Russia. It’s a process that already is going on.”

We are the same as Europeans

Pavlov argues that lessons must be learned from mistakes made in the 1990s. The main problem back then was that there were no trials against crimes committed in the Soviet period.

“The first mistake was that the new government pardoned previous crimes. Simply pardoned them. And actually, it wasn’t really a new government, but rather a part of the previous. We didn’t sue previous crimes, and I think that was the biggest mistake.”

“And when they came to power, they started to steal from different sources. And also that was a problem for the country.”

But unlike Boris Yeltsin and his government, the people of current Russia has experienced real freedom.

“Now, when we already know how to be free, know our mistakes, we can amend our historical experience. And we are no longer very poor.”

Ivan Pavlov. 

Photo: Thomas Nilsen


The Nikitin case

In the 1990s, Ivan Pavlov worked together with legendary lawyers Yuri Shmidt, Henry Reznik and Sergei Kotelnikov on the Aleksandr Nikitin case. The defence of the former naval officer and nuclear safety inspector that had cooperated with Norwegian environmental organisation Bellona on a report on nuclear contamination in the Arctic ended with a historical victory a short three days before Vladimir Putin was appointed President of Russia.

Nikitin, who was charged with high treason, in December 1999 walked out of the St.Petersburg City Court as a free man. It was a major blow to the FSB and General Prosecutor Aleksandr Gutsan, the man that today serves as Putin’s special envoy to Northwest Russia.

Since then, no-one charged with espionage has won a case in Russian courts.

Putin’s lawyers

Whereas there was community of independent lawyers in Russia in the 1990s, the lawyers of today’s Russia are less liberal than in the Soviet Union, Ivan Pavlov argues.

“After 2005, they became less and less liberal. And now they are much more conservative than in the Soviet time.”

He says there actually are not so many ‘real lawyers’ in today’s Russia and that they “work only in the courtroom” and “never speak about their cases outside.”

Meanwhile, Pavlov and his team works not only in the court rooms, but also in the wider public.

“How can I keep silence if I know that a law doesn’t work in a courtroom? We always try to do something outside of the courtroom. To push the judge to make sure that the law will work. To push the judge to follow the law. We use publicity. We appeal to the society, to journalists, to mass media. Explain them what happened. What kind of injustice we see in the courtroom.”

After 2018, the publicity approach no longer worked in the Russian legal system, Pavlov explains. He and his people then applied a new strategy.

“When we understood that publicity no longer worked like before, we just added irony. In order to make them look stupid. To make them look absurd. And then it became more effective. Because they don’t like to look stupid. They don’t like to appear absurd in public. And this approach still works. Because they don’t care if they look brutal. Brutal for them is fine. But not stupid.”

Although the situation in the current lawyers’ community looks dire, Pavlov is optimistic about the future.

“If they managed to develop a group of fantastic lawyers in the 1990s, it should be possible to develop a group of fantastic lawyers in Russia in a very short time after Putin,” he says.

What can Europe do to support the Russian opposition working in exile? What can Europe do to support your work, and the exiled journalists?

“We don’t ask for support. We just ask for no resistance. Because sometimes we face real problems that block our activities. European banks close our accounts. European governments sometimes just refuse to give us visas for residence permit. That’s the biggest problem.”

“We will continue our work. We are part of the resistance. And we have proven it. If you don’t want to support us, just don’t resist us. That’s what we ask.”