Foreign Digest: Russia, Georgia, Botswana, Brazil and Peru

Russia: The former leader in Wales of the anti-migrant pro-Russian Reform UK Party and European Parliament Member was convicted of accepting a Russian bribe. This evidence is the latest proof of Russian interference in the politics of the United Kingdom, as well as throughout Europe and in America, especially since Russia began invading Ukraine in 2014. Another example recently revealed that many of the most-followed Trumpist accounts on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), including some with tens of thousands of followers, are based abroad, including in multiple continents, even though they typically pose as Americans. About half of such accounts have been estimated to be either of Russian origin or Russian troll farms abroad. The Russian accounts spread propaganda and disinformation, and are especially associated with anti-vaccination disinformation. Russian accounts, in addition to promoting Kremlin policies, amplify Trumpists and their misleading or false statements, as well as conspiracy theories, and foment division, doubt in the integrity of elections or in the truth. Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin is an ex-Soviet intelligence officer who is trying to restore the Soviet Union and Russian Empire. Georgia: Georgians marked one year of daily peaceful protests against the pro-Russian and increasingly authoritarian Government of Georgia on November 28. There were protests in the capital and in other major cities across the former Soviet Republic in the southern Caucuses region. Georgians are demanding the release of political prisoners who were arrested for peaceful protests, and for membership in the European Union. Georgia’s Government reneged on a promise to pursue membership. Botswana: Botswana recently completed the first peaceful transfer of power since independence from the United Kingdom in 196 . The southern African State has been an oasis of peace, stability, elective representative government and liberty. But unlike neighboring States where one party has ruled through authoritarian means or rigged elections, Botswanans had elected one party for decades, which yielded power upon defeat and the certification of the votes. Botswana is now even more of a good example to other States in the Dark Continent. Brazil: Former far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was sentenced last week to prison to serve out his 27-year sentence for attempting to overturn the presidential election three years ago, after he had recently attempted to escape. Peru: The former center-left Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was convicted of conspiracy for trying to dissolve Congress and rule by decree to avoid impeachment for a corruption scandal, and sentenced to 11 years in prison. He had been impeached and removed from office in 2022 for “moral incapacity” for corruption, after taking office the year before. Castillo is the fourth former Peruvian President in a little over a year and the fifth in recent decades across the political spectrum to be sentenced to prison for corruption or oppression, while others have been forced from office for corruption, such as Castillo’s center-left successor, whom I posted about a few months ago.