This page has been archived and commenting is disabled.

Putin Signs Crimean "Absorption" Law As Visa, MasterCard Halt Payment Services For Bank Rossiya

Tyler Durden's picture




 

Moments ago the "absorption" of Crimea into the Russian Federation was completed after Putin signed the final previously passed by parliament. And with that, in less than a month, the Crimean "question" has been answered. The only question is whether Putin will stop here or will the ease with which he just expanded the Russian political map leave him hungry for more.

In other news, as part of the Western escalations against Russia, Bank Rossiya, the one bank exclusively identified in the sanctions list, announced that Visa and MasterCard have stopped, without notification, providing services for payment transactions for clients. Another bank that saw the drop of merchant credit card services was SMP bank, co-owned by brothers Boris and Arkady Rotenberg, who were also on the latest U.S. sanctions list.

SMP bank said in a statement that it considered the credit card giants' move unlawful, because the U.S. sanctions targeted shareholders and not the bank itself, Reuters reported Friday.

Earlier in the day, Bank Rossiya said it was working in a "stable regime" and was taking all the necessary legal measures to defend its rights and its clients' rights and legal interests.

"In connection with the information about U.S. sanctions being imposed on Rossiya we can report that the bank is working in a stable regime. The bank is meeting and will, without a doubt, fully meet all its obligations to its clients and partners," the bank said in a statement.

"The management of Rossiya understands the difficulties of clients in the current situation and will do all it can to solve them," the bank said in a statement.

These moves in turn promptly led to Putin announcing that he wants to open an account with the Bank Rossiya. From Moscow Times:

“I don't have an account there, but I will certainly open one there on Monday,” Putin said Friday, while speaking at a Security Council meeting, Interfax reported.

Putin later asked for his salary to be transferred to Bank Rossiya and ordered Russia's Central Bank to take the sanction-hit lender's clients under protection and provide all possible assistance to them, The Associated Press reported.

U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday announced that Washington was levying a new round of sanctions affecting 20 Russian officials and businessmen, but also Bank Rossiya, which is chaired and part owned by businessman Yuri Kovalchuk, who is one of the 20.

Why was the bank singled out?

The United States Treasury Department stated that Bank Rossiya is used by senior Russian officials and that its shareholders include members of Putin's inner circle.

 

- advertisements -

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.
Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:50 | 4576188 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

Will he want more?  Does a Russian bear shit in the woods?  Of course he'll want more.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:51 | 4576193 DavidC
DavidC's picture

Russia didn't start this, the USA did.

DavidC

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:01 | 4576216 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Open noose, insert head, tighten noose, drop floor on banker.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:18 | 4576230 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

For all other moments there's MasterCard....but not this one.

 

They even banned the commercials.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4jn6NWqjlk

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:30 | 4576293 NoDebt
NoDebt's picture

@David- yeah, but he's sure as hell going to finish it.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:42 | 4576344 Pegasus Muse
Pegasus Muse's picture

"Russia didn't start this, the USA did."

Abby gives her take -- one you won't hear on US LameStream media.

====

Abby Martin Takes Down the Cold War-Obsessed Neocons Behind her and RT in the Press

Published on Mar 20, 2014

Abby Martin calls out the Foreign Policy Initiative or FPI, a DC neocon think tank that rose out of the ashes of PNAC. Abby discusses the real motivation behind their recent attacks against the credibility of Breaking the Set; advocating for a revival of the Cold War.

http://tinyurl.com/mukfpa2 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:25 | 4576273 Unknown User
Unknown User's picture

It's just grate the EU dropped the Ukraine's export tariff to zero and made them sign the association agreement before turning the place in to a sweatshop. But do they really believe they can hold on to the place with a coup regime without money and almost zero approval?

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:49 | 4576382 Independent
Independent's picture

I would love to see some of those EU technocrats barricaded in a building in Kiev by angry crowds as the torches are lit to set it on fire.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:13 | 4576468 Manthong
Manthong's picture

I would love to see ALL of those EU technocrats barricaded in a building in Brussels by angry crowds as the torches are lit to set it on fire.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 11:52 | 4577201 jughead
jughead's picture

Both of you be patient and your dreams will come true.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:27 | 4576281 PT
PT's picture

Hahahahahahahahaha.  Hmmmm, maybe it's time to let my card go into deficit.  Anyone feel like touring Russia?  Maybe we can hire a car and drive around a little bit.

How long will Mastervisacard do this before they decide they would like some repayments? 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:54 | 4576202 Headbanger
Headbanger's picture

Good!  Let's give Putin Detroit next!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:04 | 4576224 y3maxx
y3maxx's picture

...This thread has been infiltrated by "Newbie", anti Russian, Pro NSA Posters.

hhhhmmmmmmm

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:15 | 4576242 GetZeeGold
GetZeeGold's picture

 

 

On top of that......we love Obamacare! You pay to little for your healthcare premiums...so we have confiscated it.

 

We are the free crap army......we are armed and mobilized!!!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:19 | 4576261 SpanishGoop
SpanishGoop's picture

Detroit is bankrupt so i think the EU wants it more.

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:54 | 4576397 eclectic syncretist
eclectic syncretist's picture

Let's give russia the federal reserve.  That would seal their doom.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:16 | 4576251 hungarianboy
hungarianboy's picture

Putin is a true leader.

You see, he opens an account there and his salary will be transferred there

Above that, he order the russian central bank to take action.

 

This is how a leader reacts. I don't see anybody in the west doing something like this.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 10:03 | 4576663 Nexus789
Nexus789's picture

At least Putin acts...none of those awe inspiring red lines fo him.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 10:10 | 4576697 Eugend66
Eugend66's picture

I`m romanian and I aprove your message.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 10:21 | 4576745 SunnyDD
SunnyDD's picture

me wantna open an account tooo...

and samof de Russcoins tooo... please.

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:51 | 4576190 asierguti
asierguti's picture

Obama, please, ban Russia from using SWIFT, and make them ask for the oil, gas and minerals in gold.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:39 | 4576333 Tabarnaque
Tabarnaque's picture

I could not have said it better! It is coming and the whole Ukraine thing will just accelerate the move away from the USD and the SWIFT. Now the BRICS know that there can be no peace with the neocons in Washington. It is open war.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 10:12 | 4576706 Urban Redneck
Urban Redneck's picture

SWIFT could be replaced in a matter of days at the central bank level and in a few months at the commercial bank level. The more challenging undertaking would be to create a non-NSA approved RETAIL payments network (to complete with the Visa/MC/Pulse/Amex oligopoly).

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:39 | 4576335 richsob
richsob's picture

Yea, do that.  And see how fast their sales drop like a rock.  Nobody is going to pay for everything with gold.  Got that?  No one.  First, because they don't want to.  And second, because they can't.  Makes no difference what you want for your stuff if your customers won't pay you in a way that is impossible/impractical/unreasonable for them.  Jeez!  The "theories" about everybody suddenly going on a gold standard are ridiculous.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:51 | 4576191 Seize Mars
Seize Mars's picture

Your move, Israel - oops I mean Washington D.C.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:56 | 4576209 Bearwagon
Bearwagon's picture

"This aggression will not stand, man!"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cyLdtG7KZvw

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:51 | 4576192 MFLTucson
MFLTucson's picture

The only question is whether Putin will stop here...

 

 

The answer is, ...If he wants too!  No one will stop him from doing what he wants!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:01 | 4576215 Bearwagon
Bearwagon's picture

The questions seems to be more like "when will the crassly stupid western idiots realize, that Putin ain't gonna play along their rules, granting them an unjust advantage from the outset?"
The answer is: Never - they are way to moronic.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:15 | 4576477 Van Halen
Van Halen's picture

The bigger question is will the Kenyan Marxist stop here.

Answer: No. He's thouroghly enjoying his role as a figurehead to hypnotize the masses while the people above him rob/enslave/kill us all.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:52 | 4576195 ParkAveFlasher
ParkAveFlasher's picture

Watch out, Putin!  ATM fees.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:53 | 4576198 PlusTic
PlusTic's picture

Obama will roll over and keep dreaming of his next round of golf...as it is his job as chief puppet to dismantle the sovereignty of the US

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:54 | 4576201 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

the bankstas only know how to punish little people. look at iran, look at n. korea. starve the little people and hope that they overthrow the gubbermint. great tyrannical plan bozos.

 

You go to hell and you die! [/Mr. Garrison]

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:54 | 4576204 youngman
youngman's picture

This wont affect the Russian SNAP cards will it????  No cabbage for the poor...no more beets..that will show them

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:04 | 4576221 negative rates
negative rates's picture

Who needs a snap card when yee aint got no teeth.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:54 | 4576205 JustUsChickensHere
JustUsChickensHere's picture

I have to do it (fonestar would)  .... Putin could start using Bitcoin rather than Visa/Mastercard  ... !!!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:10 | 4576240 Husk-Erzulie
Husk-Erzulie's picture

For all you reactionary bitcoin naysayers... this just proves a point.  The whole idea behind a distributed network is that no single government or institution can control a choke point.  In other words, idiot politicians can't fuck with the money supply... can't inflate it, can't choke it off, can't make it accesable only to subservient drones.  Do you get it yet?  Yes, gold is money... it ain't currency though; if you want to get the zio banksters out of the picture and on the run, instead of standing there with their boot on your face, get behind crypto currency.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:25 | 4576269 Confused
Confused's picture

Just playing devils advocate: No Gov or institution (that we know of, yet) can control a choke point. But it can all go Poof! on the whim of a hacker? So. Yeah. I'm not 100% convinced. Yet. 

 

Its an alternative. And thats cool. Your point is valid. 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:17 | 4576487 Husk-Erzulie
Husk-Erzulie's picture

Well,

One way to look at it is this... the developers, who are an ad hoc organization, want the system hacked.  They want it to come under attack, they want every two bit basement hacker and overpaid NSA wanker to take their best shots.  That's the whole idea behind the "anti-fragile" concept... every attack makes it stronger.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:25 | 4576517 Toolshed
Toolshed's picture

Dear god you btc cultists are just sooooooo full of shit!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:31 | 4576540 Husk-Erzulie
Husk-Erzulie's picture

Remain a myopic drone.

Cling to your Federal Reserve Notes.

Continue to worship the Zionist/Banker boot which is lodged firmly up your ass.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 10:27 | 4576785 SunnyDD
SunnyDD's picture

me watna Russcoins!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:55 | 4576206 new game
new game's picture

retaliation on deck. hope for best, plan for the worse.

not understanding what russia did that was wrong?

will of the people doesn't mean anything?

so, merica is offended, really, adds up to one conclusion:

the empire is on the move covertly and open and notorious.

this just don't have a good endgame.  what is wrong with humanity?

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 07:56 | 4576207 Judge Crater
Judge Crater's picture

For the first time, Obama takes executive action against the banksters.  But not in the United States, of course. 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:00 | 4576213 franciscopendergrass
franciscopendergrass's picture

As much as I don't like Putin, at least he puts his money where his mouth is and puts himself out there.  This would be like if Obama, our dear leader, actually signed up for Obamacare (a program bearing his name).  Then again, Putin has so many foreign bank accounts that bear his name it probably doesn't even matter. 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:27 | 4576286 Independent
Independent's picture

You need to have lots of money to fight the Tribe,  would you rather the tribe run Russia like they did under the oligarchs, when salaries and pensions were not payed and the military was gutted like Ukraine's by its Tribe Oligarchs.  I guess it depends on your point of view.  I have no problem with ethnic slavs holding on to billions of dollars, its their country and they need to be able to fight the Squid

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:06 | 4576448 het2000
het2000's picture

Putin doesnt need sallary, he stole enough already

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 11:47 | 4577181 Independent
Independent's picture

At least he is making Russia great not like the Jooos that were before him that were running it into the craphole.  Did you not read what I wrote above you or are you really a troll with no brain.  Or maybe Soros has your rear end covered and penetrated

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:00 | 4576214 xamax
xamax's picture

We think Russian economy will suffer from sanctions, for us a first tangible effect from President Obama's sanctions.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:02 | 4576218 chaartist
chaartist's picture

Putin makes me laugh more every day. He is good player and also a good joker. This must piss them off more than angry reaction.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:03 | 4576220 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

And how will they pay for their Ebay transactions?

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:44 | 4576356 Tabarnaque
Tabarnaque's picture

The BRICS Visa / SWIFT system is coming. Ukraine will only accelerate its construction.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:55 | 4576407 Sudden Debt
Sudden Debt's picture

we already have that in Europe. so nice... with every wirring I do oudside my country I get 10 warnings and messages on my screen that say TAX TAX TAX THIS AND THAT

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:25 | 4576519 Mine Is Bigger
Mine Is Bigger's picture

There is no mention of Amex.  But I guess Amex is not big in Russia.  Too bad, Russia banned bitcoins!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:09 | 4576223 magpie
magpie's picture

Next, the EU like the Ukraine, will stop paying its gas bills.

That and polish frogmen blowing up Nordstream. Things can only go one direction from here.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 11:59 | 4576299 Independent
Independent's picture

No problem lots of people in Asia need gas and oil.  Winter comes quickly especially if the Russians decide to drop a nuclear bomb on one of those active volcanoes in Kamchatka.  Will do wonders on global weather lol.  May start snowing in Barcelona and Miami in mid August.  Or maybe the Russians resume atmospheric nuclear testing over the Antarctic.  Trust me if the Russians get pissed off and want to start playing dirty there ain't ever going to be any more European vacations when the ozone hole spans all of southern Europe, and the beaches are all gone from Rising ocean levels.

And who is going to stop them and how, anyone wants to go nuclear all the way biatch.   Like Tyson said everyone has a plan until they get punched.  Same thing with the giggling little biatch Euros and neo cons, its all funny when someone else dies but when your kids start coming down with leukemia it will be a different story, wont be talking so tough punks when your kids are suffering and dying.

I think Putin will let these little turds have their fun and ramp up sanctions after sanctions making themselves look like idiots, especially after we have seen a democratically elected govt thrown out by thugs paid by USSA and Euroland, because it wanted to get the best deal for its taxpayers and not sign up with a Euro deal that would of made them all slaves.  Now instead of having savings on their gas bills they face up to double the costs for fuel and loans that put nooses around their necks, with conditions like foreign land ownership and poisonous cyanide gold mining and fracking that will poison their drinking water (then they can buy the drinking water then from the Euro countries that dont allow cyanide mining on their land or fracking) and shutting down factories cause the Krauts dont want competition for their export economy.  Then one day he will go on TV and announce that Russia will Resume Aerial and Underwater Nuclear Testing in the Atlantic and Mediterranean in International waters just off the coast of Euroland, within exactly one minutes after his speech ends, and not just with nuclear but with Thermonuclear weapons LOL (hey suckers put your next bone marrow transplants on your VISA and Mastercard and prepay the hospice care cause you'll need it).  Would love to see the shocked look on the faces of the Europussies and see how their economies react, go long wig manufacturers and puke bags suckers.  Mabye then the Eurochimps will get the courage to storm their capitals and hang their bureau'krauts' and then march into Belgium and do the same to the technocrats in Brussels.

Sat, 03/22/2014 - 00:34 | 4579627 MEAN BUSINESS
MEAN BUSINESS's picture

Priceless.

ROFL, thanks Independent. THAT'S^ mean business! greenie for you! 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:06 | 4576225 new game
new game's picture

this is going to piss some people off bigtime. wtf is this current admin thinking.

i see treasury dump starting sooon. i see reverse sanctions on our banks.

i see escalation by sociopaths kicking sand in there box. someone is going to do something irrational soon...

waiting for that first shot, silence for now, but isn't that what the mic wants???

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:06 | 4576228 Van Halen
Van Halen's picture

Perhaps they'll ban bitcoin transactions too, now that some were found again at Mt. Gox...

http://www.investing.com/news/forex-news/hundreds-of-thousands-of-bitcoi...

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:22 | 4576510 Toolshed
Toolshed's picture

You just had to blow the fonestar dog whistle didn't you.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:06 | 4576229 vyeung
vyeung's picture

suck on that you fascist pigs. Now, I wonder how many more of these pathetic moves before Russia uses the Financial Nuke. Hey my fellow LNG/OIL customers, from today we will be very happy to accept any currency for settlement including gold. BOOOOOOOOOM. Say goodbye to your stupid and pathetic sanctions as well as your cheap arse gas in the US/EU.

The Rothies are working overtime to make this situation worse to bad so that Russia/EU/US self destruct so that they can swoop in to buy things up on the penny's. Nothing like a blood sucking bunch of psychopaths working behind the scenes.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:08 | 4576234 buzzsaw99
buzzsaw99's picture

all that oil and putin is still just a tin pot dictator with no credible currency of his own. he and his ilk will always be at the mercy of the joo bankers because he is too damn stupid to run his own shit right.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:48 | 4576504 Independent
Independent's picture

Hey buzzers your face looks like you were downwind from an aerial nuclear test, guess you can spend your fancy dollars on some plastic surgery so you can look a little bit like your former self, which was still ugly LOL.

Let me tell you something else, the potty pots are in EU, USSA, and Jewsrael, and their banking system don't mean shit because you can stuff all the dollars you want into your gas tank and light a match and your car ain't going anywhere without oil sucker.  Putin is not scared cause he is sitting on oil and gas and all the necessary minerals needed to run his economy for a lot longer than the western world.  He can sit and wait the West out as the lights start dimming and shutting off in Euro Capitals.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 10:57 | 4576916 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

It is a picture of the Quato guy on that Arnold S. Mars movie.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:21 | 4576507 Toolshed
Toolshed's picture

"all that oil and obama is still just a tin pot dictator with no credible currency of his own. he and his ilk will always be at the mercy of the joo bankers because he is too damn stupid to run his own shit right."

FIFY

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:09 | 4576238 JustObserving
JustObserving's picture

The Anti-Russia propaganda continues after the illegal putsch and the installation of an illegal government which was very hostile to Russia:

Anti-Russia propaganda and the fabrication of a new pro-war consensus 21 March 2014

Since Crimea voted last Sunday to secede from Ukraine and rejoin Russia, US officials and the American media have mounted a deafening propaganda campaign, posturing as defenders of world peace, the rights of small nations and international law in opposition to Russia. In this campaign, no lie told to justify support for the Ukrainian regime that emerged from last month’s fascist-led coup is too absurd.

As he announced new sanctions against Russia yesterday, President Obama denounced Russia’s annexation of Crimea. “Basic principles between governments in the world must be upheld in the 21st century,” Obama intoned, such as “the notion that nations do not redraw borders simply because they are larger or more powerful.”

Writing along similar lines, the Washington Post editorialized that “Mr. Putin’s claim that Russia should have a say in the political orientation of its neighbors, and whether they join alliances such as the European Union or NATO, is entirely unacceptable.”

Who is supposed to believe this nonsense? The governing principle of US foreign policy is that it has an unchallengeable right to determine the political orientation of its unfortunate “neighbors” in the Western hemisphere and that of every other country in the world.

As far back as the formulation of the Monroe Doctrine in 1823, the United States claimed the entire Western hemisphere as its sphere of influence, dictating what relations it could have with European powers.

http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2014/03/21/pers-m21.html

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:20 | 4576505 Toolshed
Toolshed's picture

No doubt the US is still trying to be the playground bully, but the world is rapidly tiring of that routine.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:09 | 4576239 xamax
xamax's picture

We think everybody should stay calm. Nobody wants war.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:14 | 4576249 magpie
magpie's picture

Niemand hat die Absicht eine Mauer zu errichten ?

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:27 | 4576287 Confused
Confused's picture

Naturlich. 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:15 | 4576250 Dr. Engali
Dr. Engali's picture

Are you sure about that? it sure seems like the western world "leaders" do.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:16 | 4576486 Toolshed
Toolshed's picture

No kidding! They have been stirring up trouble all over the globe. I think a strategic nuke strike on the Koch compound would go a long way towards calming things down. And if not, no loss.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:16 | 4576253 glaucon was right
glaucon was right's picture

It is hard to admit, but I am starting to like this Putin guy.

He acts like a real man with integrity. I know it is just for show, but he at least pretends to give a shit about his people.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 12:07 | 4576536 Independent
Independent's picture

Apparently he does, he kicked out the Tribe oligarchs and took the money and payed salaries and pensions and saved the military from becoming like Ukraine's where the Tribe Oligarchs are in control look at Yani and Tymoshenko, money went into the healthcare system also  apparently you can get a surgery in Russia and it costs you nothing, now how would that go down in the USA?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XnvMrySlqAQ&index=10&list=PL46tNPw4JvEiV...

I think the man has tons of integrity but maybe you like your leaders dont.

Here are you men of integrity in Ukraine for example

http://www.radioislam.org/islam/english/jewishp/ukraine/ukraine_jew_cont...

here is the old Tribal crowd from Russia in this older article when they were running rampant stealing and looting

http://www.radioislam.org/thetruth/capitalists.htm

where ukraine's money went

http://collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=23224&alias=top-diplomats-join-kiev-...

Hey Glucagon hope your fucking gallbladder gets a bad case of gangrenous cholecystitis and ruptures and you go septic you little integrity turd, and I will pretend I cared about you at your funeral.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:16 | 4576255 Downtoolong
Downtoolong's picture

And here I thought the Financial Division of the U.S. Armed Forces was just a bunch of guys who paid the bills.

Looks like we may need to add a financial L-wing to the Pentagon now, with offices for all the TBTF banks. Either that or tear the whole thing down and replace it with a Hexagon.

Wait until they start throwing some of their derivatives at Putin, then he’ll be sorry.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:17 | 4576257 smacker
smacker's picture

"The only question is whether Putin will stop here or will the ease with which he just expanded the Russian political map leave him hungry for more."

 

This remains to be seen. Time will tell. My best guess is that he will not move against other Republics unless the Russian ethnic groups in them are provoked. Putin's measured actions thus far indicate this mindset in Moscow.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:38 | 4576328 post turtle saver
post turtle saver's picture

standing around in a country as an ethnic Russian doesn't entitle you to redefining borders and asking Russia to annex everything around you in sight by force... don't play that lame "here lets drop some Russian passports from the sky and *bam* now they're all citizens that need our protection" bullshit either... that excuse was fucking WEAK and Putin knows it, but what choice did he have? he's weak at home and he has war hawks breathing down his neck that want his job

this is going to rapidly blow up in Putin's face and, more importantly, it's going to push US politics in a direction that he and the Russian people do not want them to go... it's the dumbass "glory days of Great Soviet" hawks around him pushing this... so, all he did was give the US hawks and MIC an excuse to pump up budgets and go looking for trouble... nice work Putin, you WEAK FUCKING IDIOT

I swear to Christ... the next dumbass that comes on here talking about chess and checkers gets five across the eyes... this was a weak gambit that's going to fail miserably and, as far as the US is concerned, chess is mathematically solved so who gives a shit... 'Go' is next on the list and China knows it, which is why they're playing soft and keeping their mouths shut

silly BRICs... you don't kick a fire ant hill without expectations of getting stung... you were all better off just leaving the US alone to stare at its belly button but noooooo... you had to get all puffed up about it and start kicking sand around... well, now the US has something to focus on other than itself, way to go clowns you're going to get exactly what you asked for

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:14 | 4576472 Toolshed
Toolshed's picture

"I swear to Christ... the next dumbass that comes on here talking about chess and checkers gets five across the eyes..."

Hey PTS why is obama trying to play checkers while Putin is kicking his butt at chess? Well?.............

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:23 | 4576513 smacker
smacker's picture

Last time I looked, 96%+ of the people of Crimea exercised their right to self determination without reported coercion.

That kinda pulls the plug on your diatribe.

{shrug}

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:51 | 4576621 Independent
Independent's picture

Hey Turtle turd I am playing chess and checkers on the back of your shell, oh and you think and move so slow I can play a few games and not have to move my seat LOL.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:53 | 4576395 PT
PT's picture

... while quietly ignoring the hunger of the US ...

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:18 | 4576260 HastaLaVista
HastaLaVista's picture

Nice job, Visa and MasterCard! You just lost your long earned reputation for the most of Russians. Now, every one in Russia knows that you can stop the service any time and without any explanations to the card holders.

Its about time for MasterCard and Visa bosses to start writing the book "How to loose one of the most potential markets in one day.". Dont you know that Russia also has own card payment system ready, but its introduction was delayed due of pressure from some Visa lobbyist in the Russian Duma? You just smashed your own face into the reality.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:36 | 4576305 AbbeBrel
AbbeBrel's picture

I just love the smell of burning plastic in the morning :-)

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 13:02 | 4577547 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

"Dear USA VISA/MC cardholder. Due to unexpected conditions, we are raising rates 5% immediately. Sorry for this short notice."

 

"If you have any questions, re-read the small print on the reverse side of your agreement."

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:38 | 4576332 PT
PT's picture

I reeeeeeeeeaaaaaallllyyy hope you're right.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:41 | 4576341 PT
PT's picture

It works two ways.  How many people have a balance on their M/V card?  How many have a debt?  Will they continue to make repayments?

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 12:59 | 4577531 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

"Hello, Boris here. Visa? no, I have no travel plans. Goodbye."

*Click.*

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:37 | 4576310 HRamos_3
HRamos_3's picture

The Russian Ukrainian Naval Base for Gas treaty, widely referred to as the Kharkiv Accords or the Kharkiv Pact in the Russian and Ukrainian media, is a treaty between Ukraine and Russia whereby the Russian lease on naval facilities in Crimea would be extended beyond 2017 by 25 years (to 2042) with an additional 5 year renewal option (to 2047) in exchange for a multiyear discounted contract to provide Ukraine with Russian natural gas. The agreement, signed on 21 April 2010 in Kharkiv, Ukraine, by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev and ratified by the parliaments of the two countries on 27 April 2010, aroused much controversy in Ukraine. The treaty is a continuation of a treaty signed in 1997 between the two nations.

 

VS

 

One significant part of treaty making is that signing a treaty implies recognition that the other side is a sovereign state and that the agreement being considered is enforceable under international law.

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:37 | 4576323 Peanut Butter E...
Peanut Butter Engineer's picture

<-- now accept UnionPay
<-- beg the US banks to let us process visa and MasterCard

Which do you prefer?

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:44 | 4576355 PT
PT's picture

For local transactions there is cash.  For everything else, there is money orders!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:46 | 4576357 Peanut Butter E...
Peanut Butter Engineer's picture

This is the reason why the Chinese ban Visa and MasterCard from competing in China's banking sector to prevent US from bullying china with sanctions.

Let this be a lesson for everyone else doing business with US.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:56 | 4576412 laomei
laomei's picture

Funny how things are slowly revealed as having a firm basis in national security, while at the time they are decried as "unfair".

China bans: Farcebook, Twitter, most Google services, require tweaks and modifications be made to android and ios to gain market access. 

Oops, turns out the NSA is using all of those as spying tools and vectors for malware.

China creates Unionpay and locks out most visa/mc/amex access apart from levying strong requirements.  V/MC/AMEX go cry and whine about it being unfair.

Oops, turns out the US uses them as financial weapons, sure is nice having safe alternatives with near-global acceptance.

China forces tech-sharing joint ventures on foreign autos to build domestically or see their vehicles taxed out the ass.  What ya gonna do GM? suspend operations? that's nice, everything's already here and all you'll be doing is killing your sales with zero leverage.

 

It's almost, just almost as if when you look past the crying and whining, China has some entirely reasonable and intelligent policies that ensure national security.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:08 | 4576455 Toolshed
Toolshed's picture

Nice attempt at covering up the fact that the Chinese have no ethics, morals, or respect for intellectual property rights, but everyone already knows the Chinese are thieving weasels. I find it amusing how many US corporations let their greed overwhelm their better judgement.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 12:11 | 4577291 Independent
Independent's picture

Like the US corporations are not thieving weasels getting spy data from NSA about foreign companies and govts.  Or how about all the dead people out there because of American Corporate ethics, morals, and respect for human rights.  Please dont be a tool from a toolshed

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 12:56 | 4577521 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

Man, like the Union Carbide company had super-accident precautions in place in Bhopal (1984).

"Congressman, I have researched those two companies you asked me to. Here is the information."
"Thanks, Agent Smith."
"Anything else, sir?"
"No, I have to call my broker. Thanks again!"
"Our ears are yours, sir. By the way, The General wants to know about his appropriation for this year."
"I added 2% moar to his budget over his request."
"Thank you, congressman."

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 10:55 | 4576901 SunnyDD
SunnyDD's picture

Yes! ho-lay me now wanta Unionpay, Russcions and Crimeacoins please.........

 

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 12:13 | 4577294 Independent
Independent's picture

The only sunny thing about you is the sunny view as one looks through one ear of your head and out the other punk.  Forgot to tell you before you used the Paper Bag, I barfed in it and then jerked off afterwards into the bag.  That stuff is not your runny nose.

Sat, 03/22/2014 - 01:14 | 4579662 MEAN BUSINESS
MEAN BUSINESS's picture

Vlad, is that you? Putin' the 'Independent' in CIS since...! Sorry SunnyDD but this^ is brutally funny. LMFAO (gawd I hope Inde doesn't set sights on me!)

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 12:49 | 4577482 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

Banning Tweeter or Fuckbook is the best way to keep any opposition from organizing in today's web world.

The NGOs in Egypt used FB and Tweeters to organize their revolt to install the fascist muslim 'hood into power.

Several countries I have been in allowed no FB, Tweeter, or other kinds of social media. One time I was in a hotel in central asia. Super censoship in that country. I went to take beer to my partner (I don't drink, so I gave him my free beers) and the dude had these two lesbians going at it on his computer. I figured he had a DVD, but he said no, idiot, you can get all the porn you want in this country on the web.

"How about midgets?" I asked.

"Check this site out, LC. They even toss them around."

"Aliens?"

"Yep."

"Black chicks with bubble butts?"

"Look, I'll send you some links. Gimme the beer."

 

Man, my wrist was strained the next day from the midgettrannyalien sex website!

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:56 | 4576637 Independent
Independent's picture

Gotta love the Chinese, they have their own versions of Googe, facebook, etc.  They keep it all inhouse baby, they know not to rely on two faced westerners.  They learned from the days of the Boxer Rebellion.  Whitey will suck you dry and put chains on you while you are strung out on the opium he got you addicted to.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:45 | 4576361 Hongcha
Hongcha's picture

He stopped where I thought he would stop two weeks ago.  Where it was prudent.  No one could do anything about it.  So obvious.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 08:50 | 4576384 shovelhead
shovelhead's picture

The real problems are when they start red flagging pro Putin posters as terrorists and collaborators.

Look forward to the opening of "Springtime in FEMA."

Because Obama can't be happy with half a Nazi loaf.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:31 | 4576538 Quinvarius
Quinvarius's picture

It is kind of funny to see all the capital controls and Smoot Hawley type activity taking place disguised as some sort of grand social justice.  Expect a lot more of it.  And then when it gets bad enough, watch the armies cross borders that trade used to.  Politicians and bankers are predictable failures.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:35 | 4576555 yrbmegr
yrbmegr's picture

Why don't people post in Russian on this site?

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 11:51 | 4577169 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

Potomu chto my dolzhny byli by perevesti yego .

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 09:42 | 4576579 2muchtax
2muchtax's picture

I think a lot of people are not seeing what has just happened.

The west and Russia just divided Ukraine, post-war Germany style. The EU gets another debt/Euro machine and cheap labor, the US/Chevron gets to frack the northern region for NG, and Russia gets the southern sea ports.

Obama gets to look weak, his favorite activity. Putin gets to look strong, his favorite activity. The EU gets more bank/debt customers, their favorite activity.

This was pre-planned. A few thousand thugs ran the president off with no military response??? And the US/EU told a sovergn nation that they could not crack down on armed thugs taking over the capital? What do you think Obama meant by "tell Vlad i'll have more flexibility after the [mock] elections"? What do you think the US Deputy Sec of State meant by we have spent $6B on NGOs in Ukraine, while standing beside a VP of Chevron? What do you think the State Dept meant by "F*ck the EU" (i.e. NG prices)?

And what has captured the media??? A mysterious missing plane; with Iranians and stolen passports; a pilot who practices landing at US owned WWII airstrips; manually turned off tracking devices; diverted flight patterns; passenger's phones pinging internet services days later.

Fri, 03/21/2014 - 11:41 | 4577145 lakecity55
lakecity55's picture

OK, I have been reading all this crap for weeks, as the rest of you.

The USSR collapsed. So, goodbye worldwide Soviet Communist Subversion.

Why then, did the West begin to surround Russian Federation? Yeltsin allowed the oligarchs to rip off the federation, so they lost what economic powers they still had, until their new regime rebuilt their stuffs. Gazprom is expanding.

Vlad comes in, kicks out the worst oligarchs, then maintains less-rotten oligarchs, so there is an improvement. Everyone has oligarchs. We do not have enough in Amerikkka, we have to import oligarchs like Soros with arrest warrants out on him in numerous countries. That particular Judenratte needs to be in the crossbar motel.

But, again, why do we have to surround the federation? The Only reason I can fathom is western oligarchs want the Russian oligarchs' Stuff. They are willing to kill off a lot of us to get this Stuff. All of them.

We have an Oligarch problem, men!

I am going overseas again on another job. I will no doubt see more of these oligarchs. We need to tag them with RFID chips and follow them around until we can arrest all of them at the Oligarch Convention.

Hopefully, I will stop in Dubai and meet my gold dealer guy who I met on the plane once. He befriended me as he discovered I was reading a Koran I had disguised as another tome.

"You are Muslim?" he asked, incredulously.
"No. Christian. But I see no reason for Jew, Christian, or Muslim to fight each other."
"You have truly read the Koran. But there are Zionists."
"As there are Saudi Wahhabi."
"You must come to my home when we reach Dubai."
"Inshallah."

And, remember, always Fly Dubai or Emirates, where they treat you like a Sheik.*

*not a paid endorsement

Do NOT follow this link or you will be banned from the site!