A bad day for democracy. I was about to email Tim Ireland about his blog not responding, when I read this: -
Tim Ireland’s Bloggerheads site is currently down after his webhost pulled the plug. You can thank the latest Russian (that should be Uzbek) billionaire to reach the UK. The details will come out in due course.
Bob Piper, Clive Summerfield, Boris Johnson and Craig Murray have also been effected.
We need a constitution in this country that enshrines a freedom of speech. This is case and point. Few people on the blogosphere (or wherever) have fought so vociferously for political rights in this country. Bloggerheads (obviously the site is down) is a touchstone for those who see the internet as tool for democracy. We should stand beside him. Regardless of political persuasion.
Where are our political masters in this time of need? You’ll suck off the blogosphere when it suits, now is the time to stand up and fight alongside us. This is not about anything but political freedom and our rights to investigate those who seek to shape our society.
UPDATE: From The Guardian last week (via Sunny): -
Sphere: Related ContentSchillings, the lawyers acting for Usmanov, have been in touch with several independent Arsenal supporters’ websites and blogs warning them to remove postings referring to allegations made against him by Craig Murray, the former British ambassador to Uzbekistan. Usmanov was jailed under the old Soviet regime but says that he was a political prisoner who was then freed and granted a full pardon once Mikhail Gorbachev came to power as president. Schillings have warned the websites that repetition of Murray’s allegations were regarded as “false, indefensible and grossly defamatoryâ€.
This is bloody outrageous.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention, Tyger. I know I’m usually away with the fairies in my own little world!
I found a transcript of some of Craig Murray’s allegation on another site. Even if only half of it is true it beggars belief.
Hi Jams,
Well Craig isn’t a kook, so I’m inclined to believe he has little to gain from putting himself in this position. Only his belief in what he’s doing.
Once again thanks for the lead in to this Tyger. Am in the process of joining the background noise on this outrage. It really like this could blow up in Usmanov’s face. Not only that, the original piece is dead easy to find and won’t go away.
No worries Jams, there are many bloggers more involved than I.
All the noise we can make is welcome. Usmanov will regret this.
BTW, all,
I’m off out now. Worky worky again.
Welcome back Bob!
You be careful which riff-raff you hang around with in future. That Ireland, he’s nothing but trouble.