Eastern Europe: Olivier's sphere of influence

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ass struggle: Dec 25, 2012; by Athanatos

Oh good. Erdogan said turkey will back Azerbaijan "until the end."

I love cold war 2.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 10:51

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# ? May 11, 2024 17:26

Doctor Malaver: May 23, 2007; Ce qui s'est pass� t'a rendu plus fort

There is a thread for Armenia vs Azerbeijan.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3770770&userid=0&perpage=40&pagenumber=1

# ? Apr 3, 2016 10:58

HUGE PUBES A PLUS: Apr 30, 2005

Armenia and Azerbaijan discussion is fine here too.

Brown Moses posted:

The OCCRP is promising to release a massive story at 8pm CET about corruption, money laundering, and offshore funds links to lots of different governments in Eastern Europe and elsewhere, in many cases going all the way to the top in those countries. The top guy at the OCCRP has been saying Putin's spokeperson Peskov should plan for a late night, a journalist in Ukraine has been talking about asking Porshenko's office some difficult questions, the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is involved, and other countries being covered also include Azerbaijan and Serbia plus more.

I imagine it has to be every CIS state and likely former Soviet satellite still loyal to the Kremlin. Have to keep them all in line somehow.

https://twitter.com/GrahamWP_UK/status/716561130102071296

# ? Apr 3, 2016 11:37

Radio Prune: Feb 19, 2010

Russian MoD building on fire? Or is it the old building?

https://www.periscope.tv/avsolomin/1zqKVoAXYEZGB

# ? Apr 3, 2016 12:29

Qtotonibudinibudet: Nov 7, 2011; Omich poluyobok, skazhi ty narkoman? ya prosto tozhe gde to tam zhivu, mogli by vmeste uyobyvat' narkotiki

Current building, apparently. Address matches up.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 12:39

HUGE PUBES A PLUS: Apr 30, 2005

The ministry moved to a new building two years ago.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fire-engulfs-russian-defense-ministrys-building-moscow-124020254.html

quote:

MOSCOW (AP) � A fire is raging at a former headquarters of the Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow.

The ministry moved to a new headquarters on the Moskva River in 2014 but still kept the old building near the Kremlin.

Several hundred firefighters and several cranes were seen battling the blaze Sunday afternoon after a fire broke out several hours earlier.

The ministry said the fire will not affect its core operations since the military departments have long moved to the new headquarters. It said the old building on Znamenka Street houses the departments in charge of procurement and services.

There were no immediate reports about the cause of the fire.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 14:22

Warcabbit: Apr 26, 2008; Wedge Regret

This Panama Papers thing looks huge as hell.
https://twitter.com/hashtag/PanamaPapers?src=hash
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-35918844

quote:

Eleven million documents were leaked from one of the world's most secretive companies, Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca.

They show how Mossack Fonseca has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax.

The company says it has operated beyond reproach for 40 years and has never been charged with criminal wrong-doing.

The documents show links to 72 current or former heads of state in the data, including dictators accused of looting their own countries.

They were obtained by the German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung and shared with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ).

BBC Panorama and The Guardian are among 107 media organisations in 78 countries that have been analysing the documents. The BBC does not know the identity of the source who provided them.
Panama Papers - tax havens of the rich and powerful exposed

Eleven million documents held by the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca have been passed to German newspaper Suddeutsche Zeitung, which then shared them with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists. BBC Panorama is among 107 media organisations in 78 countries which have been analysing the documents. The BBC doesn't know the identity of the source
They show how the company has helped clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade tax
Mossack Fonseca says it has operated beyond reproach for 40 years and never been accused or charged with criminal wrong-doing
Panama Papers: Full coverage; follow reaction on Twitter using #PanamaPapers; in the BBC News app, follow the tag "Panama Papers"
Watch Panorama at 19:30 on BBC One on Monday, 4 April, or catch up later on the BBC iPlayer (UK viewers only)

Gerard Ryle, director of the ICIJ, said the documents covered the day-to-day business at Mossack Fonseca over the past 40 years.

"I think the leak will prove to be probably the biggest blow the offshore world has ever taken because of the extent of the documents," he said.

The data contains secret offshore companies linked to the families and associates of Egypt's former president Hosni Mubarak, Libya's former leader Muammar Gaddafi and Syria's president Bashar al-Assad.
Russian connection

It also reveals a suspected billion-dollar money laundering ring that was run by a Russian bank and involved close associates of President Putin.

The operation was run by Bank Rossiya, which is subject to US and EU sanctions following Russia's annexation of Crimea.

The documents reveal for the first time how the bank operates.

Money has been channelled through offshore companies, two of which were officially owned by one of the Russian president's closest friends.
Image copyright Alamy
Image caption Cellist Sergei Roldugin (l) is a close friend of Vladimir Putin's

Concert cellist Sergei Roldugin has known Vladimir Putin since they were teenagers and is godfather to the president's daughter Maria.

On paper, Mr Roldugin has personally made hundreds of millions of dollars in profits from suspicious deals.

But documents from Mr Roldugin's companies state that: "The company is a corporate screen established principally to protect the identity and confidentiality of the ultimate beneficial owner of the company."

Read more: Putin associates linked to 'money laundering'
Iceland connection

Mossack Fonseca data also shows how Icelandic Prime Minister Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson had an undeclared interest in his country's bailed-out banks.

Mr Gunnlaugsson has been accused of hiding millions of dollars of investments in his country's banks behind a secretive offshore company.

Leaked documents show that Sigmundur Gunnlaugsson and his wife bought offshore company Wintris in 2007.

He did not declare an interest in the company when entering parliament in 2009. He sold his 50% of Wintris to his wife for $1 (70p), eight months later.

Mr Gunnlaugsson is now facing calls for his resignation. He says he has not broken any rules, and his wife did not benefit financially from his decisions.

The offshore company was used to invest millions of dollars of inherited money, according to a document signed by Mr Gunnlaugsson's wife Anna Sigurlaug P�lsd�ttir in 2015.

Read more: Iceland PM's investments questioned
'Beyond reproach'

In addition, Mossack Fonseca supplied a front man who pretended to own $1.8m, so the real owner could get the cash from the bank without revealing their identity

Mossack Fonseca says it has always complied with international protocols to ensure the companies they incorporate are not used for tax evasion, money-laundering, terrorist finance or other illicit purposes.

The company says it conducts thorough due diligence and regrets any misuse of its services.

"For 40 years Mossack Fonseca has operated beyond reproach in our home country and in other jurisdictions where we have operations. Our firm has never been accused or charged in connection with criminal wrongdoing.

"If we detect suspicious activity or misconduct, we are quick to report it to the authorities. Similarly, when authorities approach us with evidence of possible misconduct, we always cooperate fully with them."

Mossack Fonseca says offshore companies are available worldwide and are used for a variety of legitimate purposes.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 19:31

Lucy Heartfilia: May 31, 2012

This is why I have a S�ddeutsche subscription.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 19:36

Warcabbit: Apr 26, 2008; Wedge Regret

http://fusion.net/story/287227/famous-presidents-shell-companies-trove/

quote:

MAURICIO MACRI
President of Argentina
Macri � who as president has vowed to fight corruption � is listed, with his Italian tycoon father Francisco and brother Mariano, as a director of Fleg Trading Ltd., incorporated in the Bahamas in 1998 and dissolved in January 2009 � a financial connection Macri didn�t disclose on asset declarations when he was mayor of Buenos Aires. His spokesman said didn�t list Fleg Trading Ltd. as an asset because he had no capital participation in the company. The company, used to participate in interests in Brazil, was related to the family business group. �This is why Maricio Macri was occasionally its director,� he said, reiterating that Macri was not a shareholder.

AYAD ALLAWI
Former Iraqi PM

A wealthy Iraqi exile who helped lead the push for war with Saddam Hussein, Allawi returned to Iraq to serve as prime minister in 2004. He also served as vice president s recently as last year. From 1985 to 2013, Mossack Fonseca helped run his Panama-registered company I.M.F. Holdings Inc. I.M.F. owned a house in Kingston upon Thames, England worth roughly $1.5 million, and another offshore company of his, Moonlight Estates Ltd., held a property in London. Representatives for Allawi confirmed that he �is the sole director and shareholder of Foxwood Estates Limited, Moonlight Estates Limited and IMF Holdings Inc.,� adding that he ran many of his house purchases through anonymous offshores �in light of an assassination attempt on him.� Indeed, he survived an attempt on his life in 1978, presumably by Saddam Hussein.

SIGMUNDUR DAVID GUNNLAUGSSON
PM of Iceland

A radio personality who led the Progressive Party to victory after the financial crisis of 2008, Gunnlaugsson and his wealthy wife owned a British Virgin Islands shell company called Wintris Inc., that held nearly $4 million in bonds in Iceland�s three major banks. He failed to declare his ownership of Wintris on entering the Parliament in 2009. In March, a TV interviewer asked Gunnlaugsson if he had ever owned an offshore company. �Myself? No,� he said, adding: �Well, the Icelandic companies I have worked with had connections with offshore companies.� A spokesman told the ICIJ that Gunnlaugsson and his family had followed all Icelandic laws.

KING SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ BIN ABDULRAHMAN AL SAUD
King of Saudi Arabia

Through a series of British Virgin Islands shell companies, the Saudi king appears to have taken out several luxury mortgages for houses in London � at least $34 million worth � and held �a luxury yacht the length of a football field.� The king did not answer the ICIJ�s requests for comment.

PETRO POROSHENKO
President of Ukraine

Known as Ukraine�s billionaire �chocoloate king,� Poroshenko swept into office in 2014 vowing reforms that have not yet come. He became the sole shareholder of Prime Asset Partners Limited in 2014, as Russian troops invaded Eastern Ukraine. The following year, Poroshenko vowed to sell most of his assets; news reports said they ultimately ended up in �Prime Asset Capital.� His spokesman told the ICIJ said that �creation of the trust and related corporate structures had no relation to political and military events in Ukraine,� adding that his assets held by an independently managed fund � Prime Asset Capital.

RAMI AND HAFEZ MAKHLOUF
Cousins of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad

�For years, any foreign company seeking to do business in Syria had to be cleared by Rami, who controlled key economic sectors such as oil and telecommunications. Hafez, a general in charge of Syria�s intelligence and security apparatus, has been suspected of helping his older brother intimidate business rivals.� The cousins have been subjected to international financial sanctions and appear to have used multiple offshore accounts to siphon wealth from Syrian industry and avoid freezes on their assets. In early 2011, emails show employees at Mossack Fonseca discussing U.S. sanctions and allegations of bribery and corruption made against members of the Makhlouf family. By that June, Mossack had cut its ties with the Makhloufs.

KOJO ANNAN
Son of ex-U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan

Then only son of former U.N. head Kofi Annan courted controversy in 1998, when a firm of his won a big contract under the U.N.�s Oil-for-Food humanitarian program in Iraq. An inquiry eventually cleared father and son of any corruption in the deal. Internal Mossack Fonseca documents show Koji Annan has held several offshore shell companies, using one to purchase a half-million-dollar apartment in central London. A spokesman for Annan said his business was for �normal, legal purposes of managing family and business matters and has been fully disclosed in accordance with applicable laws.�

FAMILY OF NAWAZ SHARIF
PM of Pakistan

For years, Sharif, a longtime presence in Pakistani politics, has had to answer questions about his family�s �riches from a network of businesses that include steel, sugar and paper mills and extensive international property holdings,� ICIJ says. Mossacks� documents show a series of offshore companies operated by Sharif�s children, Mariam, Hussein and Hasan, including one to hold �a UK property each for use by the family� and others that moved million in assets. Mossack Fonseca resigned from a company Hasan directed in 2007, calling him �a politically exposed person.� The Sharif family did not respond to the ICIJ�s requests for comment.

ARKADY AND BORIS ROTENBERG
Lifelong friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin

The billionaire brothers grew up with Putin and have benefited richly from his turns as Russia�s president and prime minister. The U.S. has sanctioned their wealth over alleged corruption, particularly allegations they profited over contracts from the 2014 Sochi Olympics. They ran at least seven British Virgin Islands shell companies �involved in everything from investing in a major pipeline construction company� to buying equipment for the construction of an Italian villa in Tuscany for Arkady�s son.�

SERGEY ROLDUGIN
Close persona friend of Putin

Widely known as one of the world�s better cellists, Roldugin has been close to Putin since the 1970s, when the future president worked in the Soviet KGB. Documents show Roldugin owned three shell companies, two of which were funded by a Russian organ that the U.S. government calls �Russia�s �personal bank for senior officials.'� Through those companies, Roldugin appears to hold significant shares of Kamaz, Russia�s largest truckmaker, and a major state media corporation.

IAN CAMERON
Father of David Cameron

The father of Great Britain�s current Conservative Prime Minister died in 2010, having amassed a fortune in smart investments. According to the documents, �Cameron helped create and develop Blairmore Holdings Inc. in Panama in 1982 and was involved in the investment fund until his 2010 death.� Blairmore was valued at $20 million in 1998 and was promoted to investors in brochures as �not liable to taxation on its income or capital gains.� The promotional literature added that Cameron�s fund �will not be subject to United Kingdom corporation tax or income tax on its profits.�

HSBC. Royal Bank of Scotland. Fifa. Brazil.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 19:51

lollontee: Nov 4, 2014; Can't post for 10 years!

We're all in it together.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 20:13

Dapper_Swindler: Feb 14, 2012; Im glad my instant dislike in you has been validated again and again.

Warcabbit posted:

http://fusion.net/story/287227/famous-presidents-shell-companies-trove/

HSBC. Royal Bank of Scotland. Fifa. Brazil.

Yeah, I am sure this is just the tip of the ice berg.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 20:20

OddObserver: Apr 3, 2009

Dapper_Swindler posted:

Yeah, I am sure this is just the tip of the ice berg.

Or one of many icebergs in the ocean, since it's just one firm.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 21:03

anilEhilated: Feb 17, 2014; But I say fuck the rain.; Grimey Drawer

The question is whether it's going to have any consequences. Here (Czech) a corruption scandal generally isn't enough to remove a politician - I assume it's very much the same further to the east.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 21:11

lollontee: Nov 4, 2014; Can't post for 10 years!

anilEhilated posted:

The question is whether it's going to have any consequences.

It won't.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 21:25

Dapper_Swindler: Feb 14, 2012; Im glad my instant dislike in you has been validated again and again.

anilEhilated posted:

The question is whether it's going to have any consequences. Here (Czech) a corruption scandal generally isn't enough to remove a politician - I assume it's very much the same further to the east.

yeah, Everyone living in eastern Europe probably assumes their politicians are corrupt. Nothing will happen and RT will bury the story in russia anyway.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 21:32

Warcabbit: Apr 26, 2008; Wedge Regret

PM, Iceland, resigned.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 22:34

HUGE PUBES A PLUS: Apr 30, 2005

There's a dedicated thread for this topic now. If any more Eastern European leaders are listed, that discussion can go here.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3770885&pagenumber=1#post458239520

Here's a link to who from Eastern Europe is linked, that is known so far.

https://www.occrp.org/en/panamapapers/persons/

# ? Apr 3, 2016 23:00

Dusty Baker 2: Jul 8, 2011; Keyboard Inghimasi

Warcabbit posted:

PM, Iceland, resigned.

Source?

# ? Apr 3, 2016 23:05

Rime: Nov 2, 2011; by Games Forum

He didn't, it's a rumor.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 23:10

OddObserver: Apr 3, 2009

^^^^
Was the panicked escape from a press conference real, though?

HUGE PUBES A PLUS posted:

There's a dedicated thread for this topic now. If any more Eastern European leaders are listed, that discussion can go here.

http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3770885&pagenumber=1#post458239520

Here's a link to who from Eastern Europe is linked, that is known so far.

https://www.occrp.org/en/panamapapers/persons/

The site lists 3 Ukrainian names, UP says 20 --- apparently the article on the KyivPost owner gives the number --- but names beyond him, ex-PM Lazarenko, and, uhm, President Poroshenko haven't been shared yet.

# ? Apr 3, 2016 23:13

Rime: Nov 2, 2011; by Games Forum

OddObserver posted:

^^^^
Was the panicked escape from a press conference real, though?

The site lists 3 Ukrainian names, UP says 20 --- apparently the article on the KyivPost owner gives the number --- but names beyond him, ex-PM Lazarenko, and, uhm, President Poroshenko haven't been shared yet.

Yup:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oapzwJUmujQ

# ? Apr 3, 2016 23:17

OddObserver: Apr 3, 2009

OddObserver posted:

The site lists 3 Ukrainian names, UP says 20 --- apparently the article on the KyivPost owner gives the number --- but names beyond him, ex-PM Lazarenko, and, uhm, President Poroshenko haven't been shared yet.

One more name: Odessa mayor Trukhanov .... with things applied for with a ... Russian passport.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 00:33

Warcabbit: Apr 26, 2008; Wedge Regret

Rime posted:

He didn't, it's a rumor.

E: wrong article.

http://www.theguardian.com/news/2016/apr/03/iceland-pm-calls-snap-election-offshore-revelations

Yep, seems to be a rumor.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 01:20

Gantolandon: Aug 19, 2012

There is a silver lining in Church - proposed abortion ban: it activated plenty of women that usually stayed out of the politics. Yesterday there were manifestations against the act in major Polish cities and plenty of people showed up - women outnumbered men, at least visually. There were plenty of other protests - in some churches, several women walked out during the reading of the letter of Polish bishops, urging the Catholics to support total abortion ban. Right now, plenty of activists are flooding Facebook fanpages of the Prime Minister, PiS and the Episcopate with very graphic descriptions of their menstruation cycles.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 11:09

anilEhilated: Feb 17, 2014; But I say fuck the rain.; Grimey Drawer

Next step: witch hunts.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 12:03

mobby_6kl: Aug 9, 2009; by Fluffdaddy

Are women in Poland generally more or less pro-abortion/"choice" then men?

# ? Apr 4, 2016 12:21

Gantolandon: Aug 19, 2012

mobby_6kl posted:

Are women in Poland generally more or less pro-abortion/"choice" then men?

The only research I saw (from 2010) maintains there is no significant difference in attitude to abortion according to the gender. I heard, however, that young women statistically lean left more than young men.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 13:51

OddObserver: Apr 3, 2009

A couple more Ukrainian names in Panama papers, both from Yanukovich era, per the Guardian: his associated Yiruy Ivanishenko, and the son of his PM Oleksiy Azarov.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 15:40

Warcabbit: Apr 26, 2008; Wedge Regret

Putin seems unhappy. China also seems unhappy.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 16:28

QuoProQuid: Jan 12, 2012; Tr*ckin' and F*ckin' all the way to tha
T O P

RT is reporting that the personal data of 50 million Turkish citizens was just leaked online.

I know that it's RT, but Jesus. Is anyone else reporting or am I just really dumb?

QuoProQuid fucked around with this message at 20:46 on Apr 4, 2016

# ? Apr 4, 2016 20:43

OddObserver: Apr 3, 2009

It's been linked from some tech sites, though I don't know if there was any thorough verification. It's a pretty lovely thing for hackers to post, and I imagine a lot of people are reluctant to touch something so private.

# ? Apr 4, 2016 20:51

Doctor Malaver: May 23, 2007; Ce qui s'est pass� t'a rendu plus fort

http://praguemonitor.com/2016/04/04/kurdish-militia-ypg-opens-office-prague

YPG (Kurdish militia) opened an office in Prague. Did this get any publicity in Czech media? Is there a Kurdish minority in Czech Republic?

# ? Apr 5, 2016 00:56

Lichtenstein: May 31, 2012; It'll make sense, eventually.

So yesterday Polsat, a :poland:

tv channel*, has shown The Wolf of Wall Street. The kicker is, they chose to remove all the sex scenes and censor swear words.

I have no idea what is the meaning behind that, but nevertheless I find it quite funny.

* I'd guesstimate it's the second biggest private channel in the country, but can't be bothered to look up the numbers.

# ? Apr 5, 2016 08:50

anilEhilated: Feb 17, 2014; But I say fuck the rain.; Grimey Drawer

Doctor Malaver posted:

http://praguemonitor.com/2016/04/04/kurdish-militia-ypg-opens-office-prague

YPG (Kurdish militia) opened an office in Prague. Did this get any publicity in Czech media? Is there a Kurdish minority in Czech Republic?

It got a couple of articles. They aren't officially recognized and the public seems to cheer for them since they're against Turkey and by extension NATO and USA (my favorite echoing response is that they should team up with Assad, call upon Putin and divide Turkey between Syria, Russia and themselves - leave it to the Average Joseph to advocate WW3). They haven't really made any impact, though; I suspect they're keeping their head down because The Public might otherwise realize they're actually muslims.

# ? Apr 5, 2016 10:09

Palpek: Dec 27, 2008; Do you feel it, Zach?
My coffee warned me about it.

Gantolandon posted:

There is a silver lining in Church - proposed abortion ban: it activated plenty of women that usually stayed out of the politics. Yesterday there were manifestations against the act in major Polish cities and plenty of people showed up - women outnumbered men, at least visually. There were plenty of other protests - in some churches, several women walked out during the reading of the letter of Polish bishops, urging the Catholics to support total abortion ban. Right now, plenty of activists are flooding Facebook fanpages of the Prime Minister, PiS and the Episcopate with very graphic descriptions of their menstruation cycles.

One of the worst things about that abortion ban idea not mentioned yet is that because of women being held legally responsible for getting one...every miscarriage would have to be investigated by the police as a potential crime. Imagine how that would go given how bad Polish police already is at treating crime victims (zero psychological training) and now they'll be asking every women who lost a child 'why did you abort your baby?'

# ? Apr 5, 2016 10:41

grate deceiver: Jul 10, 2009; Just a funny av. Not a redtext or an own ok.

Lichtenstein posted:

So yesterday Polsat, a tv channel*, has shown The Wolf of Wall Street. The kicker is, they chose to remove all the sex scenes and censor swear words.

I have no idea what is the meaning behind that, but nevertheless I find it quite funny.

* I'd guesstimate it's the second biggest private channel in the country, but can't be bothered to look up the numbers.

I honestly have no idea how anyone watches movies on tv anymore in this tyool of our lord 2016. Unless it's a paid channel specifically for movies (or a public station I guess), it's something like 20min sections interrupted by 10min blocks of commercials. Seems like a weird thing to be upset about in comparison.

# ? Apr 5, 2016 14:09

CommieGIR: Aug 22, 2006; The blue glow is a feature, not a bug; Pillbug

Palpek posted:

One of the worst things about that abortion ban idea not mentioned yet is that because of women being held legally responsible for getting one...every miscarriage would have to be investigated by the police as a potential crime. Imagine how that would go given how bad Polish police already is at treating crime victims (zero psychological training) and now they'll be asking every women who lost a child 'why did you abort your baby?'

So how long till Poland just has papal police?

# ? Apr 5, 2016 14:11

steinrokkan: Apr 2, 2011; Soiled Meat

grate deceiver posted:

I honestly have no idea how anyone watches movies on tv anymore in this tyool of our lord 2016. Unless it's a paid channel specifically for movies (or a public station I guess), it's something like 20min sections interrupted by 10min blocks of commercials. Seems like a weird thing to be upset about in comparison.

And even if it's a feature movie, it's still dubbed by the worst, cheapest actors possible. I suspect that recently TV stations started bringing drugged up hobos to the studio to do the work for free, because no other alternative makes sense.

# ? Apr 5, 2016 14:13

GABA ghoul: Oct 29, 2011

grate deceiver posted:

I honestly have no idea how anyone watches movies on tv anymore in this tyool of our lord 2016. Unless it's a paid channel specifically for movies (or a public station I guess), it's something like 20min sections interrupted by 10min blocks of commercials. Seems like a weird thing to be upset about in comparison.

Why do you think that they will stop with TV? DVD's, BR's and streaming services can be censored just as easily.

# ? Apr 5, 2016 14:16

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# ? May 11, 2024 17:26

Anne Frank Funk: Nov 4, 2008

grate deceiver posted:

I honestly have no idea how anyone watches movies on tv anymore in this tyool of our lord 2016. Unless it's a paid channel specifically for movies (or a public station I guess), it's something like 20min sections interrupted by 10min blocks of commercials. Seems like a weird thing to be upset about in comparison.

There are no viable legal alternatives in Poland (Netflix is in its infancy, Polish VOD services are laughable). Buying/renting from places like iTunes or google play is too expensive. Piracy holds strong thanks to our comparatively lax piracy laws (only seeders can potentially be prosecuted).

steinrokkan posted:

And even if it's a feature movie, it's still dubbed by the worst, cheapest actors possible. I suspect that recently TV stations started bringing drugged up hobos to the studio to do the work for free, because no other alternative makes sense.

Thankfully in Poland we only have a clique of rather professional "lectors" who voice all characters in a given movie. None of the pseudo dubbing they have in Russia or dubbing done "right" (it's never right) as in Germany. I'd buy a TV for real if we switched to subtitles like in Scandinavia.

# ? Apr 5, 2016 14:27

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Debate & Discussion > Eastern Europe: Olivier's sphere of influence

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