This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-29202789

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Traitors in Vladimir Putin's Russia Traitors in Vladimir Putin's Russia
(about 20 hours later)
In a Moscow café, Andrei Lugovoi talks to me about a subject close to his heart: betrayal.In a Moscow café, Andrei Lugovoi talks to me about a subject close to his heart: betrayal.
The man British police view as prime suspect in the killing of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko is making his TV debut, as host of a documentary series called Traitors. It's about Soviet citizens who betrayed the motherland.The man British police view as prime suspect in the killing of former Russian agent Alexander Litvinenko is making his TV debut, as host of a documentary series called Traitors. It's about Soviet citizens who betrayed the motherland.
"This programme isn't about politics or propaganda," Mr Lugovoi says."This programme isn't about politics or propaganda," Mr Lugovoi says.
"It's about the essence of treachery. It's about why eight Soviet citizens with a good upbringing, brilliant education and wonderful careers decided to work for a foreign state and do enormous damage to our country.""It's about the essence of treachery. It's about why eight Soviet citizens with a good upbringing, brilliant education and wonderful careers decided to work for a foreign state and do enormous damage to our country."
The TV trailer for Traitors is very James Bond. To dramatic music, Mr Lugovoi is shown destroying wads of cash in a fire, uncovering secret spy codes in a dusty book and firing a gun. The presenter himself is referred to as the "living legend wanted by British intelligence".The TV trailer for Traitors is very James Bond. To dramatic music, Mr Lugovoi is shown destroying wads of cash in a fire, uncovering secret spy codes in a dusty book and firing a gun. The presenter himself is referred to as the "living legend wanted by British intelligence".
He denies poisoning Alexander Litvinenko in a London sushi bar in 2006, although he believes Mr Litvinenko was a "traitor".He denies poisoning Alexander Litvinenko in a London sushi bar in 2006, although he believes Mr Litvinenko was a "traitor".
"Based on the statements of Litvinenko's own wife," Mr Lugovoi says, "he was working for the British secret service.""Based on the statements of Litvinenko's own wife," Mr Lugovoi says, "he was working for the British secret service."
His TV series is about traitors of the past. But it has a contemporary ring to it.His TV series is about traitors of the past. But it has a contemporary ring to it.
"Treachery is a topical subject, and not just for Russia," Mr Lugovoi explains. "For Britain and America too. You've had your fair share of traitors working for the USSR and Russia. As long as there is confrontation between our countries there will always be traitors.""Treachery is a topical subject, and not just for Russia," Mr Lugovoi explains. "For Britain and America too. You've had your fair share of traitors working for the USSR and Russia. As long as there is confrontation between our countries there will always be traitors."
Russia's president seems to think so.Russia's president seems to think so.
Last month, in a live TV broadcast from a political youth camp, Vladimir Putin warned that some people in Russia who were prepared to "fully betray the country's national interests". He compared them to the Bolsheviks, who had exploited Russia's weakness in World War One to carry out revolution back home. Last month, in a live TV broadcast from a political youth camp, Vladimir Putin warned that some people in Russia were prepared to "fully betray the country's national interests". He compared them to the Bolsheviks, who had exploited Russia's weakness in World War One to carry out revolution back home.
'Scapegoats''Scapegoats'
The state-controlled media has picked up the theme and has been warning of a "fifth column" threatening Russia from the inside.The state-controlled media has picked up the theme and has been warning of a "fifth column" threatening Russia from the inside.
Russian TV channel NTV broadcast a two-part film recently called Friends of the Junta. The documentaries denounced a string of Russian politicians, pop stars and social activists for supporting the Ukrainian government. They were portrayed as traitors.Russian TV channel NTV broadcast a two-part film recently called Friends of the Junta. The documentaries denounced a string of Russian politicians, pop stars and social activists for supporting the Ukrainian government. They were portrayed as traitors.
"It's the same pattern that was in Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany," believes Moscow history teacher Tamara Eidelman. "It's a tragic way. Because if you start looking for scapegoats, you don't look for real answers, you don't look for real ways out of the crisis.""It's the same pattern that was in Stalin's Russia and Hitler's Germany," believes Moscow history teacher Tamara Eidelman. "It's a tragic way. Because if you start looking for scapegoats, you don't look for real answers, you don't look for real ways out of the crisis."
Ms Eidelman has publicly criticised Russia's intervention in Ukraine. NTV included her in its Friends of the Junta film.Ms Eidelman has publicly criticised Russia's intervention in Ukraine. NTV included her in its Friends of the Junta film.
"It's much easier to rule when you have enemies and everybody can unite against these enemies," she says. "And you can always explain that prices are rising and shops are getting empty and so many terrible things happen because of these enemies. We've seen it in history many times.""It's much easier to rule when you have enemies and everybody can unite against these enemies," she says. "And you can always explain that prices are rising and shops are getting empty and so many terrible things happen because of these enemies. We've seen it in history many times."
Tamara Eidelman concedes that Vladimir Putin's Russia is not Stalin's Russia - where so-called "enemies of the people" were sent to the Gulag or straight to the firing squad.Tamara Eidelman concedes that Vladimir Putin's Russia is not Stalin's Russia - where so-called "enemies of the people" were sent to the Gulag or straight to the firing squad.
And yet Russia's current search for scapegoats is reminiscent of the past.And yet Russia's current search for scapegoats is reminiscent of the past.
With Russia under increasing pressure from sanctions and increasingly isolated from the West, the authorities are raising the spectre of traitors, turncoats and internal enemies to ensure that it's not the Kremlin that Russians blame for their country's problems.With Russia under increasing pressure from sanctions and increasingly isolated from the West, the authorities are raising the spectre of traitors, turncoats and internal enemies to ensure that it's not the Kremlin that Russians blame for their country's problems.