From Odessa with Gossip

The Cosmopolicast returns. Plus: The morning roundup and the "Name this feature" contest.

Good morning, everyone. Thank you for all the nice messages you sent telling us you liked the premium news roundup. We’re so pleased. We’ll make it a regular feature.

But we need a good name for it. “The morning roundup” sounds dull. So, we’re holding a contest: Name the morning roundup. If we choose your suggestion, you get a free month’s subscription.

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The angels and demons of Odessa

The Cosmopolicast returns. Monique, Vivek, and I talked to Vladislav Davidzon and David Patrikarakos about their books: Vladislav is the author of From Odessa with Love, Political and Literary Essays from Post-Soviet Ukraine (into which, as Monique notes, he poured his entire being), and David is the author of War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century. Port cities and nostalgia. Odessa’s cosmopolitan culture, mobsters and sleaze. The Russian threat to Ukraine. What does it mean to be Ukrainian? The role of social media in modern war. Plus: Why does everything blow up as soon as David gets there?

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From the Cosmopolitan Globalists

Arun Kapil writes: Pécresse in ‘22?

Valérie Pécresse’s victory is a game-changer in the presidential race, as if she makes it to the 2nd round next April—which is entirely possible—she will stand a good chance of defeating Macron, thus becoming France’s first-ever Présidente de la République (and if, in some unlikely scenario, she faces off against Le Pen or Zemmour—or, in an even more unlikely scenario, against a candidate of the left—she will definitely be elected France’s first female president).

Nicolas Tenzer won his case against Russia Today, which sued him for “defamatory tweets.” This was an important test for the French justice system’s ability to protect its citizens from Russian lawfare.

He writes:

Is it possible for a foreign state uses the French justice system to silence its critics? This is one of the issues that will be raised before the 17th chamber—specialized in libel and slander cases—of the Paris judicial court on September 30. On that day, I will have to answer for two critical tweets against Russia Today. Other similar proceedings have been launched against public officials, intellectuals and political figures. In largely similar cases, the complaints of this channel have already been dismissed as ineligible.

This is a matter of State in a double sense: the complaint comes from a State and it is indeed the primary institution of the rule of law, justice, which is, in fact, instrumentalized in this large-scale attempt.

Nicolas was acquitted in full by the 17th Chamber of the Paris judicial court, which properly ruled that “the accused author must be able to express himself all the more freely as his analysis is at the heart of the mechanism of freedom of expression.”

RT immediately announced that it will appeal. NB: Even though the case was entirely spurious and the outcome foreordained, Nicolas has had to waste an enormous amount of time and money to defend himself. As he writes:

The case is of general significance: these complaints are multiplying in France and elsewhere and, if they are not stopped by the law, regardless of the outcome of the current proceedings, they will continue to thrive in the future. In the United Kingdom, investigative journalist Catherine Belton, former Moscow correspondent for the Financial Times and author of one of the best and most critically acclaimed books on the Russian regime, Putin’s People, and her publisher HarperCollins, are being sued by four oligarchs and a Russian company. The European Parliament and the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights have warned about SLAPPs (strategic lawsuits against public participation). Those initiated by foreign States or companies or personalities of these States are certainly specific and even more worrying.

As he notes,

… why have I been the object of four complaints, two of which were lodged by Russia Today, in close connection with my positions on the actions of the Russian regime? I have been working on this regime for more than fifteen years and I have been constantly alerting people about it. I denounce its crimes inside and outside, especially its war crimes in Syria. I have often qualified it as the first and most immediate threat to Europe and the world. I have dissected the workings of its propaganda. I have explored the nature of the regime and its ideology. Thousands of people, in France as well as abroad, have denounced, sometimes more vehemently than me, Russia Today and highlighted its methods. Not all are attacked in this way. In some countries, this would be legally impossible, or at least more complicated than in France. The will is to intimidate. In my case, in spite of the little pleasure that a lawsuit represents, it is a lost cause and even an encouragement to continue. …

It is imperative, as he writes, that France and the European Union pass legislation to protect their citizens against this kind of harassment:

Some, faced with these risks, have backed down, even though it is independent personalities who, in addition to international consortia of journalists, are advancing the work of truth. In several countries, including France, there are almost no legal limitations to these complaints: the indictment is automatic if the material existence of the incriminated fact is established. The judge is not empowered by law to make a selection, which the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights is proposing to change. In France, the 17th Chamber is so overcrowded that proceedings—as is the case here—often take more than two years to be judged. Taking into account the appeals, the proceedings can take more than five years. Often, in the event that the judge finds that a complaint is abusive, the compensation awarded is far from covering the moral and financial damage. They are not sufficiently dissuasive.

Speaking of which, don’t miss Monique Camarra’s latest Kremlin File, co-hosted with Olga Lautman, featuring Toomas Hendrik Ilves and Nicolas Tenzer. They discuss Putin’s latest threat to Ukraine and the region and what Europe and the US can do to contain him.

Ron Steenblik has written a working paper on Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform.

And Cosmopolitan Globalist Ali Kheyrollahi strongly recommends this BBC Persian documentary: Between the Lines: Ayatollah Khamenei’s Security Discourse. “Please just watch the first thirty seconds,” he says. “Then if you’re interested, watch the rest.”

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The Cosmopolitan Globalist French Election Summit

Frédéric Guarino, Jérome Clavel and I met on Twitter Space today to discuss Valérie Pécresse’s nomination. We talked about what her entry means for the race and how she and Macron are apt to campaign against each other. We enjoyed it so much that we decided to do it every Sunday at 3:00 pm Paris time between now and the election. Are you on Twitter? Are you curious about French politics? You’re warmly invited to join us for our weekly roundup, gossip, punditry, and handicapping. (We can be flexible about the time if people on the US West Coast want to join: We could also do it a few hours later. Let us know.)

Frédéric’s notes for our first session would be a good guide if you’re just tuning in: Valérie Pécresse, a self-professed mix of Merkel and Thatcher.

Meanwhile, Vladislav Davidzon and Arun Kapil have dutifully trekked off to check out the Zemmour rally in Paris:

Vladislav Davidzon @VladDavidzon

Zemmour rally in Paris is almost empty

Vladislav Davidzon @VladDavidzon

Laurence Trochu, the philosophy professor and conservative politician who is warming up the crowd before Zemmour got nothing when she mentioned Hugo, and a big boo when she denounced the “multiculturalism” and “transhumanism”of Macron. Yes she said “transhumanism” dear reader... https://t.co/lFrEHzYAat

Vladislav Davidzon @VladDavidzon

Zemmour rally in Paris is almost empty https://t.co/q0UVvnBvwO

Follow him for more updates live from the Zemmourathon. (It has apparently turned very violent. As predicted.)

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Coming up: We’ll announce the proposition and the speakers for our forthcoming live debate, as you requested.

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Sunday diversion

Take an online tour of the Louvre’s Petite Galerie. In THE ADVENT OF THE ARTIST, we look at the transition from the anonymous craftsman of the classical period to the artist of the Renaissance. Featuring works by Delacroix, Rembrandt, Tintoret and more. It’s wonderfully done.

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The premium feature that needs a name

Here’s what’s happening in the world today.