russian journalist swimmin with the fishes

Being an Eastern European Studies major in college, I am particularly interested in the latest mob-like happenings in Russia. Anyone who has followed Russian President Putin's time in office has known he continues to tighten his control over government the provides only limited freedoms to its citizens. Now yet another death in his quest for absolute control over the nuclear power. Michelle Malkin has the round up and links. Other journalist killings summerized by the AP.

In 2004:

Putin has imposed censorship rules on TV, proposed replacing elected provincial officials with appointees, and called on his state's vast taxing power to frighten Russia's resistant oligarchs into submission. He has turned Parliament into a rubber stamp. Even the secret police is making a comeback. [source]

In 2005, he cracked down on NGOs. Some might allude his moves are defensive.

IN A WORLD OF AMERICAN preponderance, European integration, and Asian ascent, it is sometimes hard to take Russia seriously as a great power. In many respects, the country has been in steady decline since the end of the Cold War. Its population is shrinking. Life expectancy is falling. It cannot adequately safeguard its nuclear weapons stockpiles. Its military is in an advanced state of collapse.

Russia faces a threat from Islamist terror in its southern regions. Parts of Siberia contain more Chinese immigrants than Russians. Moscow's attempts to retain a Eurasian sphere of influence have been set back by democratic revolutions in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan. Russia risks being eclipsed by the rise of Asia in the east and the vibrancy of Atlanticist democracies in the west.

I'm not all that suprised. If you are willing to knock off a few oil barrons, what is the problem with some pesky journalists. I'm sure American journalists are thanking their lucky stars the Bush administration does not have similar habits, dispite how much they are disliked.