Is anybody out there? Politics on the U.S.-Russia border

Written by Joshua Grenzsund

Thursday, 28 February 2008

A shot of Russia's Big Diomede, also known as Ratmanova Island, which is only two miles from United States soil. How are relations between Alaska and Russia affected by high-powered presidential elections in both countries? World writer Joshua Grenzsund explains the relationship between Alaska's Little Diomede Island and Russia's Big Diomede. In the lower 49, it’s easy to forget Alaska’s shore is only 58 miles from the Chukotka Autonomous Region of Russia’s mainland. Additionally, few of us have probably realized that Alaska’s Little Diomede Island, which is nearly in the middle of the Bering Strait, is only two miles distant from Russia’s Big Diomede — or Ratmanova Island. As tensions renew between the United States and Russia — both of which are conducting high-profile presidential elections — Diomede and Ratmanova, though connected by winter ice and located more closely to each other than to their respective countries' mainlands, remain completely isolated from each other and the alternate reality of national politics. It seems all the world is riveted by presidential elections. The US election almost feels like a reality TV show with Senators John McCain, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama insinuating that the future of democracy hinges on who becomes the next commander-in-chief. On the other hand, Russia’s election turns more into a tragic comedy each day. In a very neo-Soviet move, Russian President Vladimir Putin hand-picked his successor, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev. Medvedev quickly asked Putin to be his Prime Minister, and many speculate this position will become the de-facto seat of power in the new government. Russia’s election is Mar. 2, and the results are a foregone conclusion. Opposition candidates have been marginalized, intimidated and even jailed, and Medvedev said he will not even run a traditional campaign because he does not have time. However, a recent poll shows almost 70% of Russians plan to vote for Medvedev. Russia Today reported that the government already started collecting ballots as early as Feb. 15 in the most Northeastern reaches of Russia, starting with Ratmanova Island — one mile from U.S. soil. Eastern Russia’s Koluma news agency reported that although the Siberian oblasts are sparsely populated, it is expected that as many as 160,000 votes will be cast over the next few days by nomadic herders and those living in remote towns, working in petroleum or stationed at military outposts. There is little doubt the official vote from this region will be staunchly pro-Medvedev. The Governor of Chukotka is Roman Abramovich, a 41-year-old billionaire oligarch who received his appointment in October 2005 at the recommendation of Putin. Abramovich fits the profile of the powerful and loyal young men Putin has used to consolidate Russian power politically and economically over the past several years. While the border station on Ratmanova appears politically secure under Russian-style democracy (or so it seems in the Russian press) the scene across the short stretch of ice in the village of Diomede - the United States’ most Western outpost - is ambivalent to say the least. In a recent phone interview, Henry Soolook, a 43-year-old life-long resident of Little Diomede and employee of the Diomede Tribal Council, spoke about the political atmosphere on the island. In contrast to daily, or even hourly updates bombarding those living closer to the core of the presidential elections, Soolook said the roughly 150 inhabitants of Diomede live without television or radio and with only limited Internet access. Within this isolation, the villagers are not paying any particular attention to who wins each party’s nomination in the US, much less who will be the next Russian president. He expects that although there are plans to cast ballots in November's general election, most people in Diomede could not name any of the remaining presidential candidates. But this distance from the politician’s names and the greater machinations of national elections only served to understate what Soolook considered the common concerns of Diomede’s population – being cut off from relatives living in Russian territory and the impacts of changing ice conditions, with thaws coming in mid-May. According to Soolook, there was an exciting time in the 1980s when relatives on both sides of the international border were able to visit each other with relative freedom. However, all travel has been cut since the end of that decade. Diomede residents no longer cross to the Russian side, not even while hunting, and the short distance truly marks a world apart. The outcomes of both nations’ elections will affect these sorts of border tensions, as a hawk like McCain in the White House and Putin taking up the Prime Minister seat at the Kremlin would likely drive relations closer to a renewed cold war. Similarly, the early thaws of arctic ice affect the residents of Diomede as residents hunt bearded seals and polar bears. Soolook reported there has only been one polar bear sighting this winter, an unusually low number for the area. While national politics may be ineffective in addressing global climate change, political campaigns certainly invoke it as a way to round out their image and garner votes. The fact that these concerns of political borders and environmental change come directly from constituents living on the furthest extremes of ice and isolation on the U.S.-Russia border should help remind us of the significant connection between national elections, international relations and personal contact. 2008 thecampusword.com