Daily: 04/14/2019

У Сербії повідомили про смерть дружини Мілошевича в Москві

Сербські засоби інформації повідомили про смерть дружини колишнього сербського і югославського авторитарного керівника Слободана Мілошевича в Росії.

За цими повідомленнями, Мир’яна Маркович, яка дуже тяжко хворіла, померла в лікарні в Москві у віці 76 років. Про причини смерті нічого не повідомляють.

Маркович прожила останні 16 років у Росії, де вона отримала політичний притулок.

Її чоловіка арештували 2001 року і судили в Міжнародному кримінальному трибуналі у справах колишньої Югославії, відомому також як Гаазький трибунал, за геноцид і інші злочини проти людяності, скоєні під час збройних конфліктів, що настали після розпаду Югославії в 1990-х роках. Колишній президент Сербії, а потім Югославії помер за ґратами в ізоляторі трибуналу 2006 року ще до винесення йому вироку.

Дружина Мілошевича, яка працювала професором соціології в Белградському університеті, виїхала з Сербії 2003 року.

У Сербії її вважали реальною залаштунковою силою, яка мала значний вплив на чоловіка.

Минулого року суд у Сербії заочно засудив Маркович до одного року позбавлення волі, визнавши її винною у зловживанні повноваженнями у справі про надання державної квартири своїй помічниці. У березні цього року апеляційний суд скасував той вирок і призначив новий розгляд справи. Вона також була в Сербії фігурантом низки інших справ, сербське відділення «Інтерполу» 2005 року видало на неї міжнародний ордер на арешт.

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Перший раз Зеленський засцяв ще в 2014 році!

Як заявили у Генштабі, для призову під час мобілізації Зеленському надсилали повістки чотири рази.

«Для призову під час мобілізації громадянину Зеленському В.О. надсилалися повістки: 15.04.2014, 23.06.2014, 15.08.2014, 10.05.2015 за адресою, визначеною у його облікових документах. Громадянин Зеленський В.О. до військового комісаріату за його викликом не прибував», – інформує Міноборони.

Генеральний штаб ЗСУ заявив про проведення перевірки щодо проходження військової служби кандидата на посаду президента України Володимира Зеленського. Про це мовиться у повідомленні на сайті Міноборони.

За даними міністерства, це було зроблено на запит народних депутатів від фракцій «Блок Петра Порошенка» Олександра Бригинця, Юлія Мамчура, «Народний фронт» Тетяни Чорновол та позафракційного депутата Віктора Бондаря.

«Інформуємо, що громадянин Зеленський В.О. перебуває на військовому обліку військовозобов’язаних у Металургійно-Довгинцівському об’єднаному районному територіальному центрі комплектування та соціальної підтримки міста Кривого Рогу з 22.12.2008 року і по теперішній час, військове звання – солдат, військово-облікова спеціальність – діловод діловодства. Придатний до військової служби. Військову службу у ЗС України не проходив», – зазначається у повідомленні.

Водночас Римма Зеленська, мати кандидата у президенти Володимира Зеленського, у коментарі «Громадському» телебаченню 13 квітня заявила, що її син давно зареєстрований у Києві, і жодних адресованих йому повісток у Кривому Розі вона не отримувала і не бачила.

У штабі Зеленського цю інформацію наразі не коментували.

За повідомленнями ЗМІ, у квітні 2014 року, якраз через кілька днів після направлення першої зі згаданих Генштабом повісток, мати Зеленського телефонувала йому просто під час його публічної прес-конференції з нагоди представлення нового комедійного телешоу, щоб повідомити про цю повістку. За тими повідомленнями, тоді Зеленський заявляв, що, як військовозобов’язаний, «піде воювати», але стверджував, що документи мали переслати за місцем його проживання в Києві, де він зареєстрований.

Одне з українських видань також навело тоді коментар із Дніпропетровського обласного військкомату, що чоловіки в Україні зобов’язані, змінюючи місце проживання, не тільки оформити нову «прописку» (реєстрацію), але і знятися з військового обліку за старою адресою і стати на облік за новою.

Правда України

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У Фінляндії оприлюднили перші дані про результати парламентських виборів

У Фінляндії оприлюднили перші дані про результати парламентських виборів, які відбулися 14 квітня. За цими даними, до перемоги йде нині опозиційна ліва партія, також значні здобутки матимуть крайні праві.

Ліва Соціал-демократична партія Фінляндії, яка, схоже, усуне від влади нинішній правоцентристський уряд, на тлі багатьох років суворої бюджетної економії вела кампанію проти обмежень бюджетних витрат, які запровадили прем’єр-міністр, лідер партії «Фінляндський центр» Юха Сіпіля і міністр фінансів його уряду, лідер консервативної партії «Національна коаліція» Петтері Орпо.

Соціал-демократи у своїй кампанії обіцяли дати відповідь на занепокоєння, що останніми роками, в часи виходу економіки країни з рецесії, яку спричинила фінансова криза 2008 року, бюджетні витрати скоротили надто глибоко. Особливу критику з усіх боків політичного спектру викликали такі скорочення у високо цінованій системі освіти.

Крім того, останніми місяцями значно зросла популярність крайньої правої партії «Справжні фінни», якою керує євродепутат-консерватор Юссі Халла-ахо – її кампанія зосереджувалася на антиімміграційних гаслах і критиці «істерії» навколо кліматичних змін із боку інших партій, які вимагають дій для боротьби зі всесвітнім потеплінням. Ця партія, схоже, прийде на другому чи третьому місці і може відіграти важливу роль у майбутньому коаліційному уряді, які у Фінляндії зазвичай створюють коаліції з трьох-чотирьох партій.

Керівництво Фінляндії, яка є членом Європейського союзу, перебуває в постійному діалозі з сусідньою Росією, хоча водночас підтримує санкції ЄС проти Москви. Саме сусідство з Росією, незалежність від якої Фінляндія здобула 101 рік тому, є головною причиною того, що Хельсінкі досі утримується від вступу до НАТО.

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Зе сьогодні став – ЗеЗа, бо Зеленський Засцяв!!!

Кандидат у президенти України Володимир Зеленський 14 квітня не прийшов на дебати зі своїм опонентом, чинним главою держави Петром Порошенком.

Порошенко близько години спілкувався з представниками ЗМІ, попередньо давши Зеленському 40-45 хвилин, на те, щоб прибути на зустріч.

Президент ще раз закликав свого опонента прийти на офіційні дебати, які мають, відповідно до закону, відбутися на «Суспільному» 19 квітня, зазначивши, що він планує там бути. Він також додав, що завтра його та Зеленського запрошено на «Свободу слова» на українському телеканалі, тому вони можуть зустрітися і там.

8 квітня Порошенко запросив свого опонента на виборах президента Володимира Зеленського, а також глядачів і журналістів на дебати на НСК «Олімпійський» – 14 квітня. У відповідь Зеленський заявив, що зустріч на стадіоні має відбутися 19 квітня.

Голова НСТУ Зураб Аласанія заявляв, що офіційні, передбачені відповідною статтею закону про вибори президента дебати не можуть пройти на національному спортивному комплексі «Олімпійський» увечері 19 квітня.

За офіційними результатами першого туру виборів президента України, за Володимира Зеленського проголосували 30,24% виборців, за чинного главу держави Петра Порошенка – 15,95% виборців. Другий тур відбудеться 21 квітня.

Правда України

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Лідер кримських татар сказав, які п’ять питань має до кандидата Зеленського щодо Криму

«Прошу дати на них лаконічні відповіді» – Мустафа Джемілєв

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Finnish Social Democrats Score First in Advance Voting in Election

Finland’s leftist Social Democrats won first place in advance voting ahead of Sunday’s parliamentary election, with 18.9 percent of the votes, after 35.5 percent of ballots had been counted, justice ministry data showed.

The center-right National Coalition of outgoing Finance Minister Petteri Orpo came in second, with 17.2 percent of the advance ballots. The Center Party of outgoing Prime Minister Juha Sipila scored third, with 15.4 percent.

The nationalist True Finns party came in fourth, with 15.1 percent of the vote.

About 36 percent of voting-age Finns cast their votes in a seven-day advance voting period that ended on Tuesday.

The results from these votes are often skewed due to differences in voter behavior in different regions.

Public broadcaster Yle is expected to publish its forecast of the final election result at 1830 GMT.

With the top contenders running close, the final results could still show another group winning and getting the first shot at forming government.

The Finns’ strong showing further complicates coalition talks, with most party leaders ruling out any cooperation with them.

At the stake in the election is the future shape of Finland’s welfare system, a corner of its social model, which the leftist want to preserve through tax hikes and the center-right wants to see streamlined because of rising costs.

The Finns call for limits on the country’s environmental policies, arguing the nation has gone too far in addressing issues such as climate change at its own expense, as well as a revamp of its immigration stance.

With the European Parliament election less than two months away, the Finnish ballot is also being watched in Brussels.

A strong result for the Finns Party could bolster a nationalist bloc threatening to shake up EU policy-making.

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Pope Celebrates Palm Sunday Mass

Tens of thousdands gathered at St. Peter’s Square as Pope Francis celebrated Palm Sunday Mass. Palm Sunday marks the start of the holiest and one of the busiest times on the Pope’s calendar. On the day the Church also celebrated the day of the youth, the pope urged young people not to be ashamed to show their enthusiasm for Jesus.

As is tradition, Sunday Mass in Saint Peter’s Square on Palm Sunday began with Pope Francis sprinkling holy water and blessing palm fronds and olive branches for the service in front of the towering obelisk in the center of the square. The Vatican said over 40,000 people were present for the occasion.

The pope wore bright red vestments and held a braided palm as he and many cardinals and bishops took part in a long procession before he held mass at an open-air altar in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica. Palm Sunday marks the day Jesus made his triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

Pope Francis began his homily by saying, “Joyful acclamations at Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem, followed by his humiliation. Festive cries followed by brutal torture. This two-fold mystery accompanies our entrance into Holy Week each year.”

The pope said that it was important to resist the temptations of triumphalism and remain humble. He added, “One subtle form of triumphalism is spiritual worldliness, which represents the greatest danger, the most treacherous temptation facing the Church”. The pope said that “Jesus destroyed his triumphalism by his Passion”.

On Palm Sunday, the church also marks World Youth Day. The pope called on young people not to be ashamed to show their enthusiasm for Jesus but at the same time not to fear following “him on the way to the cross.” The Vatican has announced that the next World Youth Day will be held in Portugal in 2021.

Pope Francis asked those gathered at the end of the mass to pray for peace in the Holy Land and all of the Middle East.

Like every year the pope has a busy schedule this week. On Holy Thursday he will visit the prison of Velletri, south of Rome, where he will wash the feet of 12 prisoners. On Good Friday he will lead the Way of the Cross procession at Rome’s ancient Colosseum. And, on Easter Sunday the pope will give his traditional blessing to the city and to the world.

 

 

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Зеленський не прийшов на дебати з Порошенком на НСК «Олімпійський»

Кандидат у президенти України Володимир Зеленський 14 квітня не прийшов на дебати зі своїм опонентом, чинним главою держави Петром Порошенком.

Порошенко близько години спілкувався з представниками ЗМІ, попередньо давши Зеленському 40-45 хвилин, на те, щоб прибути на зустріч.

Новина доповнюється.

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Порошенко заявив, що заступника керівника Служби зовнішньої розвідки Семочка звільнено з посади

Президент України Петро Порошенко заявив, що заступника керівника Служби зовнішньої розвідки Сергія Семочка звільнено з посади 12 квітня.

«Керівника Служби зовнішньої розвідки Семочка звільнено у п’ятницю», – наголосив президент під час спілкування з журналістами на НСК «Олімпійський» 14 квітня, де він планував зустрітися зі своїм опонентом на президентських виборах Володимиром Зеленським. Останній на стадіоні не з’явився.

Читайте також: Засекречені мільйони. Справа розвідника Семочка і все, що про неї треба знати

Національне антикорупційне бюро України 3 жовтня 2018 року відкрило провадження щодо першого заступника голови Служби зовнішньої розвідки Сергія Семочка. Провадження зареєстроване за статтею 368-2 Кримінального кодексу України (незаконне збагачення) за матеріалами журналістського розслідування програми «Наші гроші».

16 жовтня Служба безпеки України заявила, що в межах розпочатого за заявою журналіста Дениса Бігуса кримінального провадження за частиною 1 статті 111 («державна зрада») Кримінального кодексу України перевіряє оприлюднену у ЗМІ інформацію щодо колишнього співробітника СБУ Сергія Семочка.

Журналісти стверджують, що родичі Семочка мають нерухоме майно на понад 200 мільйонів гривень. Розслідувачі припускають, що посадовець отримав статки завдяки «дахуванню» фармацевтичних компаній. Крім того, за їхніми даними, дружина Семочка та ще сім членів йогос сім’ї отримали російські паспорти після анексії Криму.

Сам посадовець заявив, що не має стосунку до будинків під Києвом, вартість яких складає мільйони доларів, а його дружина є винятково громадянкою України.

Семочко був призначений першим заступником голови Служби зовнішньої розвідки України президентським указом від 31 липня 2018 року. До цього він очолював управління СБУ в Києві та Київській області. Ще раніше Семочко був керівником Головного управління контррозвідувального захисту інтересів держави у сфері економічної безпеки СБУ.

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Transcript of Secretary of State Pompeo Interview by Spanish Service Senior Reporter Gesell Tobias

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke to VOA Spanish Service Senior Reporter Gesell Tobias in Asuncion, Paraguay, about issues related to Venezuela, Iran and Nicaragua.  Below is a full transcript of the interview.

QUESTION: Thank you, Secretary Pompeo, for another time, another opportunity to talk to you.

SECRETARY POMPEO: “It’s great to be with you again.”

QUESTION: Thank you. Let’s begin with one of the hottest topics, Venezuela. This is one of the topics you have been talking about for quite a long time already, and I would like to know how you can explain to the Venezuelan people who is the real president. We take into consideration that some Venezuelans still pay taxes to the government of Nicolas Maduro. If a government, a foreign government, needs to help their own citizens living in Venezuela, they need to get in contact with Maduro’s officers. How can we explain that to the Venezuelan people?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “That’s a great and important question. The Venezuelan people have spoken. The sham election that gave Maduro the pretend authority that he has — the world has recognized. There are now 54 countries in addition to the people of Venezuela who recognize that Maduro is not a legitimate leader. He still has control of elements of power, to be sure, but the people have spoken; we know what they want. Maduro and his henchmen have destroyed this nation. The Venezuelan people can see that very plainly. It’s why they didn’t want him back. They gave power to the National Assembly, now Juan Guaido, in a way that will ultimately deliver true democracy and prosperity back to Venezuela. You know the history.

This is a rich nation, a wealthy nation, a nation of people who are industrious and are prepared to work very, very hard. What they need is a leader who is prepared to help them, not be corrupt, not turn over power to the Cubans, and demand interventions to save them by the Russians. The new leadership will do that, and the United States stands ready to support not only the Venezuelan people but all of the countries in this region — we’re sitting here today in Paraguay — the countries of this region who recognize the same.”

QUESTION: What about if Maduro continues to hold the military power and to hold the city? Does the U.S. have a new strategy to go — does Maduro have a deadline, for example, for the U.S. Government?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “So the strategy is not just an American strategy. It’s the Venezuelan people’s strategy. The opposition groups banded together, made clear that it was unacceptable what Maduro’s regime did. They gave Juan Guaido the authority through the National Assembly to lead their nation forward. This won’t be an American solution to this problem. It’ll be the solution that the Venezuelan people choose. I remark sometimes people think Maduro is winning, and yet he’s handed over all of his power to the Cubans, to the Russians. This is weakness from Maduro. And so this weakness will ultimately lead to his departure, and democracy and prosperity will be restored in Venezuela. I am very confident of that.”

QUESTION: And I know you already answered this question many times, but I have to ask. Are all options on the table still?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “Of course. They remain on the table. We keep all options on the table because it’s very important, in that we don’t know how things will proceed. The Venezuelan people are entitled to the democracy that they have demanded, and we want to make sure that the resources of the United States of America aren’t foreclosed from being used if that turns out to be the right thing to do.”

QUESTION: Now, as you mentioned, Maduro has the support of Russia and China. Does that turn a decision against the government of Maduro more complex to take? Could this rise tensions between Washington and the Kremlin?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “I always remark I’ll hear some of the Maduro people talk about intervention in Venezuela. The Russians will say the Americans shouldn’t intervene in Venezuela. I mean, it’s almost funny to say, right? They have intervened in the most fundamental ways. The Cubans own the security apparatus. I would think if you were a Venezuelan military leader, you’d be embarrassed by that, right? The people, the people of Venezuela, want their own security. They want their own democracy. They want Venezuelans to lead their nation, not people from a small island, not people from Russia. They want their country to be led by their own people, and that’s what — that’s what Brazil and Colombia, the Lima Group, the OAS, here in Paraguay, that’s what all the leaders of the region are demanding, and it’s what the United States stands ready to support.”

QUESTION: Is there any line of communication between U.S. officials and Venezuelan militaries?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “I don’t think there’s any mistake about what America’s position is with respect to the Venezuelan military. We’ve made clear publicly that they ought not to continue to support Maduro, that this regime is over, it’s done, its day is finished, and that a new page needs to be turned, and that those who continue to support Maduro will face their own consequences, and those who make a different decision, those military leaders that make the decision to defend the Venezuelan people, will find happier days.”

QUESTION: And does the U.S. support or has given any advice to the Guaido government about giving amnesty to any Venezuelan military who turns their back on Venezuelan government?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “Sure, we’re talked with Juan Guaido about what a first day would look like, right? Maduro will leave, and we want to make sure that that next day that the world stands ready to support Venezuela. That will involve making decisions about how to address the transgressions of senior military leaders, those that inflicted violence, those who did harm to Venezuelans — well, they’ll be held accountable. Those who made a different decision, a better decision, a decision on behalf of the democratic institutions of Venezuela, will be treated very differently.”

QUESTION: With many countries in Latin America turning to the right and with the economical crisis in Venezuela at its worst, do you think the Iranian Government still have some presence in Latin America? And if it does, is it still a threat for the U.S. national security?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “So the question is does the — do the Iranians? Yes. There’s no doubt Iranian money remains in South America being used for malign purposes, supporting Hezbollah, supporting transnational criminal organizations, supporting efforts at terrorism throughout the region. The United States is working with our partners in this area to take down those networks, to take down that risk. IRGC — you saw the other day there was an air flight straight, straight from Tehran to Caracas. This is Iran intervening in South America. That’s not in the best interest of the South American people, and the United States stands ready. We see Iran for what it is, the world’s largest state sponsor of terror. That’s a global threat, and we’re prepared to push back against it not only in the Middle East but in South America and wherever we find that threat present.”

QUESTION: Moving forward, Secretary Pompeo, yesterday you mentioned in a speech from Santiago, in Santiago, and you used Chile as an example, as a model for economical growth. But Chile also have many trades with China — $43 billion, if I’m not mistaken — and the U.S. comes as a second partner. Can any country from Latin America have economical and diplomatic relationship with China while at the same time they do with the United States?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “Well, of course. What we have said about China is very clear. The United States has big economic relationships with China. We want China to thrive and prosper. Here’s what we don’t want, especially in South America. We don’t want China to show up with bags full of money and bribe officials. We don’t want China to show up and put Huawei or Chinese technology into the infrastructure of these countries so that the citizens, the citizens of Chile or the citizens of Paraguay, have their information, their private information, stolen by the Chinese Government. We don’t want corrupt activity.

China should compete. We have democracies here in South America now. This is a glorious thing where there’s free markets and capitalism and opportunity. That value set of transparency, of the rule of law, that’s the one the South American people are demanding. It is not what China brings. If China shows up to compete on a commercial basis, that seems perfectly reasonable. When they show up with malign intent, to give money with strings attached, which will destroy the sovereignty of a South American nation, that’s not good for the people in that country, and the United States is prepared to help those countries recognize that threat and to offer alternatives to it.”

QUESTION: Changing the topic a little bit, the U.S. cut the funds for three countries in Central America — Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador. Is this a final decision, or can they make things better and gain the confidence of the U.S. Government and also the money?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “Yeah, of course, they can. The United States is the most generous nation when it comes to both humanitarian and foreign assistance of any country in the world. The Trump administration has maintained that. What we want to make sure is where we provide those resources, those dollars from the American taxpayer, that they are effective, that we get outcomes not only what we want but that those countries want as well. So President Trump’s decision, we saw that those countries weren’t doing what needed to be done to prevent this enormous migration challenge, this crisis that the United States has at its southern border. As those countries work to develop systems to prevent their citizens from taking this incredibly dangerous journey from Guatemala, from Honduras, or from El Salvador through Mexico into the United States, when those countries begin to take actions that stop that, we’ll reconsider that decision.”

QUESTION: And my last question, Secretary. This week Nicaragua will remember a year since the political and social crisis began. More than 350 people died in this crisis. The negotiations are very slow right now, and their oppression continues with people who has demonstrated publicly. Is the United States taking new steps against the government of the president in Nicaragua?

SECRETARY POMPEO: “That’s a great question. Here I am in Paraguay. I was in Chile. I’ll be in Peru, I’ll be in Colombia, before I head back to the United States. You watch most of the countries in South and Central America turning in the direction of freedom, in the direction of liberty, in the direction of democracy; and yet, you have Venezuela and Nicaragua stuck in history, stuck with dictatorships, stuck with bad leadership, kleptocrats, stealing from their own people.

Our efforts in Nicaragua are very similar to those in Venezuela. We want the Nicaraguan people to have all the great things that they are entitled to have and that they so desperately want. And Mr. Ortega and his wife both need to change their ways in order to give Nicaragua that very opportunity.”

QUESTION: Secretary Pompeo, thank you very much for your time with Voice of America’s Spanish Service.

SECRETARY POMPEO: “Thank you very much. Thank you, sir. It’s great to see you again. ”

QUESTION: Thank you

 

 

 

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Ivanka Trump In Africa For Women’s Economic Summit

Ivanka Trump arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Sunday for a summit on African women’s economic inclusion and empowerment.

In addition to attending the summit, the daughter of the U.S. president, who is also an advisor to her father, will meet with female workers in the coffee industry, and tour a female-run textile facility.

President Donald Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum in February, establishing the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative. W-GDP says it hopes to “reach 50 million women by 2025, through the work of the the United States Government and its partners.”

It was not immediately clear if the controversy that surrounds the U.S. president will follow his daughter to Africa. The president has not been kind in his remarks about Africa and its migrants.

“I don’t think people will have a good feeling” said Ethiopian journalist Sisay Woubshet, about the president’s daughter visit to the Continent.

Marakle Tesfaye, an activist, said, however, “I think she’s coming genuinely to empower women and it’s good that she’s coming because she will push forward our agenda.”

Trump is also scheduled to an make an appearance at a World Bank policy summit.

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Case Against Julian Assange Raises Press Freedom Questions

When U.S. prosecutors unsealed a March 2018 indictment accusing Julian Assange of conspiring to illegally access a Department of Defense computer system, they sparked more than just an examination of the case and the accused.

The WikiLeaks co-founder is charged with participating in a “password hacking agreement” with Chelsea Manning, a former U.S. Army intelligence analyst who served seven years in prison for leaking one of the largest troves of classified documents in U.S. history. Newspaper editorial pages, political pundits and cable news analysts are debating whether the case against Assange imperils freedom of the press, whether he’s a member of the press, and whether it threatens First Amendment protections.

Assange is not a journalist

Mary McCord, former principal deputy assistant attorney general for national security, says there should be no debate about whether Assange is a journalist or whether this case is about journalism and free speech.

“One only needs to examine what WikiLeaks has distributed to come to the conclusion that Assange is not a journalist,” she told Voice of America.

“WikiLeaks is a conduit to distribute stolen information, both classified and unclassified,” she said, “without context, without any analysis or explanation. Journalists add value, analyze the facts and connect the information they disseminate. WikiLeaks is just a conduit, just a platform for illegally obtained materials,” she said.

“Even if he was a journalist, there’s no free pass for those who violate the law. This is no different from physically breaking into a building and breaking into a safe — it’s the cyber equivalent,” said McCord, who is currently a visiting professor at Georgetown Law School.

Yes, he’s a journalist

Louis Clark couldn’t disagree more. 

“He’s a journalist and WikiLeaks is a journalism organization,” he said.

Clark is CEO and executive director of the Government Accountability Project, and has negotiated transparency and accountability issues with American and international government and corporate officials for nearly four decades.

He steadfastly categorizes Assange as a member of the media.

“We’re talking about the press, press freedoms and essentially First Amendment issues. It is particularly troublesome when our government decides to prosecute essentially a member of the media,” he said.

Clark is also concerned about a rush to judgment.

“I definitely think there needs to be a presumption of innocence at this point given the track record of the Department of Justice in the areas of espionage and security,” he said.

​Chilling effect

Harvard Law Professor Yochai Benkler has written about the legal implications of prosecuting WikiLeaks. He told The Guardian he believes the indictment contained “dangerous elements that pose a significant risk to national security reporting. Sections of the indictment are vastly overbroad and could have a significant chilling effect.”

Gabe Rottman is the technology and press freedom project director for the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the organization that went to court to have the Assange indictment unsealed. He and his colleagues are focused on the impact the case has on transparency and accountability in light of the Supreme Court’s recognition of broad First Amendment protection for the publication of information of public concern and how that standard must be applied to the case against Assange.

Rottman believes the emphasis has to remain on the fact that publishing of even damaging government information is legally protected even if the material is acquired unlawfully as long as the publishing party didn’t break the law to get it.

A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney of the Eastern District of Virginia declined to comment on the case.

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Finnish Voters May Pave Way for First Leftist Premier in 20 years

Finland may usher in its first leftist prime minister in two decades in parliamentary elections Sunday, as voters worry over the future of the country’s generous welfare system as the costs of caring for a rapidly aging population rise.

But if opinions polls are correct, the left-leaning Social Democrats’ ability to govern may be hampered by a surge in support for the Finns Party, a nationalist group riding a wave of anti-immigrant sentiment sweeping the Nordics.

A survey commissioned by public broadcaster Yle showed the Social Democrats could win the top spot with 19 percent of the vote, giving their leader, Antti Rinne, the first shot at forming a government.

The Finns are running close second with 16.3 percent support, after scoring rapid gains since the start of this year when a series of cases of sexual abuse of minors by foreign men emerged.

European Parliament elections

With the European Parliament election less than two months away, the Finnish ballot is being watched in Brussels. A strong result for the Finns Party could bolster a nationalist bloc threatening to shake up EU policy-making.

Underscoring the growing confidence among far-right politicians in Europe, anti-immigration parties have announced plans to join forces following the May 26 EU election, in a move that could give them major say in how the continent is run.

Just as the Social Democrats are benefiting from a growing sense of insecurity among Finland’s older and poorer voters, the Finns argue that the nation has gone too far in addressing issues such as climate change and migration at its own expense.

“We are going through a cultural shock in Finland. Part of the population is in a kind of state of shock amid all the change going on, and as a result they take the Finns Party’s hand,” said Karina Jutila, chief researcher at think tank e2.

Polling stations open at 9 a.m. (0600 GMT) Sunday and close at 8 p.m. Public broadcaster Yle will give its first estimate of the results, based on advance votes which account for 36.1 percent of the electorate this year, shortly after voting ends.

The success of Finland’s Social Democrats would mark a departure not only for Finland but also elsewhere in the region, where leftist parties have struggled in recent years, yielding some of their hold on the working class vote as anti-immigration nationalists of various stripes emerge.

How neighbors are faring

In neighboring Sweden, Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has precariously clung to power after his Social Democrats suffered their worst parliamentary election result in more than a century last autumn. To do so, he had to enlist the support of two liberal parties with a pledge to enact a string of far-reaching right-wing policies.

In Denmark, which holds an election in June, the Social Democrats are gaining ground, in part after espousing the populists’ anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Rinne calls his party’s immigration stance “the middle way,” favoring work-related immigration to compensate for Finland’s aging population, but he also favors allowing some refugees in on humanitarian grounds, as the country has done thus far.

The 56-year-old former union leader is also promising to raise taxes to fund welfare and combat economic inequality, which he says has risen under the ruling center-right coalition of prime minister Juha Sipila.

His talk of raising taxes is unlikely to drive off his supporters, many of whom value highly Finland’s huge welfare state.

But he will likely struggle to form a functioning coalition, if the Finns score high and with Finance Minister Petteri Orpo’s National Coalition, likely to win third place Sunday, calling Rinne’s economic policies “irresponsible.”

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