Togliatti Auto Workers on Strike in Russia

In June of this year the Togliatti Auto workers went on strike and over 500 workers held signs, which proclaimed that – "We are not Slaves!" "Down with unemployment!" "1917-2009!"

The first speaker was Peter Zolotvarev, head of the trade union "Unity" who said: "We are Soviet people, we built this car manufacturing complex – Tadjiks, Russians, Kazakhs, Tatars – so, let us demand the nationalization of this Soviet Togliatti Auto complex! We demand the abolishment of the law #309 which allows our wages to be lowered by 50%!"

Many workers who worked in this auto plant during Soviet times explained to the young generation workers what they had at the time when they worked at this Togliatti plant – free living quarters, a car, free telephone, free health care, free schooling for their children and one month holidays.

OMON police were sent here from across Russia and surrounded the striking demonstrators.

Soviet Anthem Author Dies at 96

On August 27, 2009 the Soviet era author of children's books and poet, Sergei Mikhailov, who wrote the lyrics to the Soviet National Anthem died at the age of 96.

In 1943, at the height of the Second World War, the CC CPSU commissioned a new anthem and Sergei Mikhailov wrote the words to the music by Alexander Alexandrov and it was first performed in January of 1944. This hymn was sung not only in the USSR, but also over the world – because the words and music uplifted hearts and patriotism to the USSR and Socialism.

Unfortunately Sergei Mikhailov, for whatever reason undertook the job given to him by Putin, to rewrite the Soviet Anthem and eliminate the mention of Stalin in the Soviet Anthem. This new version was adopted in 2001 under pressure by the bourgeois state of Russia. And for that service of demeaning the Soviet Anthem, Putin gave Mikhailov the "Order for Service to the Fatherland" – even though Mikhailov received two Soviet highest medals for his work.

If You Let Them, They Will Do It!

According to the Russian Zvezda TV Reports – the Russian customs officers at the Zabaykalsk highway checkpoint adjacent to China's town of Manzhouli, have arrested a Chinese man attempting to smuggle Russian SU-27 combat military aircraft engine components to China. The Chinese man said that this was for "a friend who grows rice in China."

These components for the multi-role, highly maneuverable, all-weather fighter-interceptor were found in the trunk of his vehicle. The Russian authorities are still searching for the source of the stolen aircraft components. The Chinese man faces 7 years in prison.

Russia's Economic Crisis

Even the most optimistic Russian analysts claim that the country will need at least 5 years to fully recover from the economic crisis. No one believes that the GDP will grow in 2010, because the demand for oil is at a historic low. Besides all of this, Russia's un-diversified economy (relying only on oil and gas) they will continue to suffer badly.

Because the present Putin-Medvedev regime is hoping to convince Kyghyzstan to allow it to have a military base there, since United States has one of the biggest military base in this Central Asian State.

The above is from Nezavisimaya Gazeta and Reuters news reports.

China Accuses Russia

According to China's People's Daily newspaper in August 8, 2009, the Chinese Government is raising concerns over the treatment of Chinese nationals in Russia. A recent raid by Russia's Federal Immigration Service in the Cherkizovsky Market near Moscow, led to the seizure of over 150 Chinese for various immigration and trade violations. China is demanding of Russia a more sympathetic treatment of its nationals.

China urged Russia to protect Chinese businessmen's interests in Russia.

Appeal from Lithuania against Growth of Fascism

On June 9, 2009, the Parliament of Lithuania gave approval to the Penal Code of Lithuania, which will criminalize any public approval or justification that was committed by "communism and fascism." This Penal Code will also charge any person that denounces the actions of the "Lithuanian Freedom Fight Movement", who during the years 1944-1945 were fighting with weapons, together with the German Nazi Army against the Soviet liberation Red Army. Anyone convicted will face at least 3 years in jail.

These Lithuanian members were trained and armed by the retreating German Army and were Nazi collaborators all through the war and terrorized civilians after the Second World War was over.

The International Council for Friendship and Solidarity with Soviet People and Northstar Compass condemns this new Penal Code as nothing more than the glorification of fascism and, we have sent a protest to the Lithuanian Government. We urge all our readers to also do so!

Is Russia-Georgia Conflict Heating Up?

According to news dispatches received before NSC went to press, President Medvedev said that Georgian actions now include their troop build-up on the borders of two separatist regions of Georgia.

May 1 – Day of Struggle

In Mineralniye Vody the workers came out to this event, which was organized by the present bourgeois state. During Soviet times all meetings and demonstrations were held on this spot. When the USSR was dismembered, we held on to this tradition. But in 2007 the Russian state did not allow us to hold May Day or November 7th celebrations here near the Lenin Monument.

We, the dedicated Communists refused to parade with the state supported sheep. We held our meeting across the street from the state-sponsored event. We carried Soviet and Red Flags, portraits if Stalin and songs "May Day is Victory Day!" – "No Unity With Enemies of the USSR!" "Down With Capitalism!"

We sang the International and the Hymn of the Soviet Union, and other patriotic Soviet sings. This forced the city sponsored event to shut off their microphone until we finished singing, since many of their people started to sing these Soviet songs with us.

Vladimir Shkarupa AUCPB

Grandson of Stalin Is Suing a Russian Newspaper

From Reuters News Agency September 1, 2009

"Yevgeny Dzugashvili is suing the Russian newspaper "Novaya Gazeta" and the author of that vicious article for close to 11 Million rubles. In the preliminary hearing, Leonid Zhura, who is Dzugashvili's lawyer, stated to the press that that article is based in "Half as Century of lies have been poured over Stalin's reputation and he cannot defend himself from the grave, so this case is not only essential but crucial to set the record straight! We must rehabilitate Joseph Stalin!"

Last month there were gilded words of praise for Stalin in the marbled halls of the world renowned Central Moscow Metro Station. Stalin was also voted as Russia's third most popular figure in history, in a nation-wide poll.

It is very interesting as to why this protégé of Mr. Putin, President Medvedev, on the 70th Anniversary of the start of WW II, while Mr. Putin was blaming Stalin and Hitler in the same breath for responsibility when Putin was in Poland (as if well rehearsed, all of the Western media were attacking the USSR and Stalin in particular for starting the Second World War). Mr. Medvedev was forced (!?) to make the following comment:

"The European OSCE decision blaming USSR and Germany for WW II is a flat-out lie! The war cost the Soviet Union over 25 million people. Joseph Stalin saved Europe from Hitler and I reject all attempts to equate him with the Fuehrer!"

Our question to you Mr. President is: "Why don't you as President of Russia have a talk with your Prime Minister to get allhis history straight, instead of sitting on his horse!"

History does not lie! It is only those who try to interpret history that always lie!

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