Frida Ghitis : Russia , Egypt , other ` ` populist '' states show little democracy in stifled democracy . ` Mother of God , Cast Putin Out , '' which later became part of their YouTube hit `` Punk Prayer . '' She says Pussy Riot sentence and jailing of Putin critics are recent examples . She says Ecuador , Venezuela , Egypt use violence , intimidation to ` ` coercively pre - Putin '' states . Ghitis : Democracy real only if it allows the powerful flow of information ; without that , it 's a mirage .
Frida Ghitis : Russia , Egypt , other ` ` populist '' states show little democracy in stifled democracy . She says Pussy Riot sentence and jailing of Putin critics are recent examples . She says Ecuador , Venezuela , Egypt use violence , intimidation to ` ` coercively pre - Putin '' states . Ghitis : Democracy real only if it allows the powerful flow of information ; without that , it 's a mirage .