The Occasional Observer

There was an interesting story I saw on the internets recently--past month or so--that talked about how Russia and, to a lesser extent, China, have been pushing back against American influence in foreign policy. One of their diplomats was quoted in theis article saying that America has no right imposing its "style" of democracy on the rest of the world. The Russian or Chinese "style" of democracy are just as legitimate. Of course, with Obama speaking all types of equivocation, this is a difficult argument to refute.

But it is interesting to see how the Russian "style" of democracy plays out in reality. Here is today's installment of, Freedom of the Press, Putin style:

MOSCOW -- A prominent Russian activist who investigated abductions, killings and other rights abuses in Chechnya was found killed Wednesday, hours after being kidnapped in the Chechen capital, police officials and her organization said.

Natalya Estemirova's body was found in Ingushetia, which borders Chechnya to the west, Oleg Orlov, the chairman of Memorial, her rights group, told The Associated Press.

Ms. Estemirova's body was discovered with two close-range bullet wounds in her head not far from the region's main city, Nazran, said Ingush Interior Ministry spokeswoman Madina Khadziyeva.