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Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 4:43 pm
by Leisher
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 5:30 pm
by Troy
That is a very bizarre video. Cossacks?
Edited By Troy on 1392849041
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 6:49 pm
by TPRJones
Those are not government police. They might possibly be security hired by the Olympics, as that's the uniform they are wearing.
But I don't think it's either. I think they're actors and the whole thing is staged by Pussy Riot as a protest. Although they do get into the violence of their role quite well, so it may be real. But I doubt it. They are right in there at the very beginning, and Pussy Riot never makes a sound like they know these visuals is why they are there and not to actually do any singing or speechifying.
EDIT: Oh, as to cossacks it's an ethnic group that comes out of Russia's military history. Apart from the hats the possible guards are wearing vaguely resembling classic cossack headgear, I'm not sure why the report specified "cossacks." Although it's possible that the Olympic administration specifically hired their security from a local cossack community, I guess, but it seems an odd point to mention the ethnicity in particular.
Edited By TPRJones on 1392854082
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 7:02 pm
by TPRJones
Okay, yeah, the cossacks are indeed Olympic security. Focusing on their ethnicity instead of their job seems odd, but then the cossacks are sort of the Russian equivalent of our amish. I imagine if someone had a video of some amish guys beating up a band as part of their security gig, their amishness would be mentioned repeatedly in the article.
That first video still sits oddly for me, though. Pussy Riot is strangely quiet while being beaten and harassed.
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:15 pm
by thibodeaux
TPRJones wrote:the cossacks are sort of the Russian equivalent of our amish.
Except Cossacks are the opposite of pacifists.
Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 8:23 pm
by TPRJones
Well, yeah, I meant more like they're the unique national ethnic group that grew out of an old cultural institution into an insular tribal group and dress in a unique manner that makes them stand out and be worth mention when they make headlines. Philosophically, the amish and the cossacks are worlds apart.