VOA标准英语2010年-Rock Star Tells Putin Russia Ruled by

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, left, responds to questions from rock musician Yuri Shevchuk, right

Russia's Security Service Could Gain Powers Formerly¹ Associated With Soviet² KGB
The Russian Internet community is widely discussing a recent encounter between one of Russia's best known rock musicians, Yuri Shevchuk, and the country's powerful prime minister, Vladimir Putin. During a meeting in St. Petersburg, the singer confronted the politician with bold questions about the future of democracy in Russia.

Russian rock star Yuri Shevchuk was one of several cultural leaders invited to meet with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Long known as an outspoken³ opponent of the Kremlin, Shevchuk seized the day.

He charged that Russia is ruled by a privileged class of "dukes," its press freedom non-existent and demonstrations⁴ broken up by "repressive" security services - all that face-to-face with arguably the most powerful man in the country.  Mr. Putin responded, and asked Shevchuk not to turn the meeting into a bazaar⁵.

"The country has no future without a normal democratic development," said Putin.  "It's obvious. Because only in a free society, a person can realize himself and then develop the country, science, production on a highest standard. If this doesn't happen then everything stagnates⁶. But the second most important thing is that everyone must follow the law."

Russian TV did not broadcast Yuri Shevchuk's questions, only Mr. Putin's answers. Neither did it show events that followed later when 1,500 people gathered in Moscow's central square to express their disagreement with government policies.

Police broke up the rally 20 minutes after it began and arrested 150 protesters, including blogger Ilya Yashin, who says the Internet is the only way for Russian opposition⁷ parties and movements to be heard.

"The Internet has a unique meaning for us," said Yashin.  "It's the last line of defense⁸ for freedom of speech in the country. People have no way of getting their political word out on TV. Russian TV does not have any live political broadcasts, and the capacity of newspapers is limited. So the Internet and the blogosphere have been developing very rapidly in recent years."

Yashin says he expects more protests in the months leading up to elections next year when voters choose a new parliament and president.

But Masha Lipman from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Moscow says she does not expect the protests will lead to significant changes in the Kremlin.

"This is not something that can affect politics at this point," explained Lipman.  "This is not part of the political process. The political process is very tightly controlled and the entry to the political stage is very tightly filtered and controlled by the Kremlin. But the public mood, I think the word is mood here, is changing."

There's wide-spread speculation⁹ that Vladimir Putin will again run for president in the 2012 elections. A recent poll in Russia shows that both Mr. Putin and President Dmitri Medvedev enjoy approval ratings that any leader could envy - 80 percent and 77 percent, respectively.  Meanwhile, the number of Russians with access to the Internet is now at 37 percent, and growing.
 

1 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

2 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

3 outspoken   

adj.直言无讳的，坦率的，坦白无隐的

参考例句：

• He was outspoken in his criticism.他在批评中直言不讳。
• She is an outspoken critic of the school system in this city.她是这座城市里学校制度的坦率的批评者。

4 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。

5 bazaar   

n.集市，商店集中区

参考例句：

• Chickens,goats and rabbits were offered for barter at the bazaar.在集市上，鸡、山羊和兔子被摆出来作物物交换之用。
• We bargained for a beautiful rug in the bazaar.我们在集市通过讨价还价买到了一条很漂亮的地毯。

6 stagnates   

v.停滞，不流动，不发展( stagnate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The water stagnates in the ditch. 水在沟中停滞而变浊。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Consequently, income per capita stagnates. 其结果，人均国民收入停滞不前。 来自辞典例句

7 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。