Did Kuchma and Putin plot to blow up the gas lines and blame it on the opposition?

By Aussiegirl

An article in the Independent reports the following news. Although on first blush it appears outlandish, it follows a known Putin tactic. It is credibly believed with some evidence, that Putin has staged terrorist attacks on Russian soil to consolidate his own power. The book, Darkness at Dawn, describes the aftermath of the dissolution of the Soviet Union and how Russia has descended into a "thugocracy" and makes a strong case to back the notion. One such staged attack was foiled when the residents of a large apartment building found explosives which were traced to Russian security services. Looks like Kuchma and Putin were very busy in that hastily called meeting in the Moscow airport a few days ago. These guys are desperate and who knows what they will be capable of in order not to lose this election.


Opposition was to be smeared with terror attack, says official
By Askold Krushelnycky in Kiev
06 December 2004

"Ukraine's embattled government is ready to stage faked terrorist attacks to destabilise the country and discredit the opposition ahead of a rerun of the presidential vote, a senior government source has told The Independent.

The official, who works for the government of the Moscow-backed candidate and current Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych, said: "One of the plans is to blow up a pipeline and blame it on opposition supporters. Ukraine is the key transit country for Russian gas supplies to the West."
Mr Yanukovych's backers fear the prospect of their candidate losing to Viktor Yushchenko and are ready to plunge the country into economic chaos, the source revealed. "They are planning to use criminals - plain bandits - that they have a hold over." The source said that a senior member of the government had been tasked with overseeing terrorist acts."