Archive for Danila
Putin Alone
Vladimir Putin has forged a political system dependent completely on one person—himself. The nature of his government depends on complete secrecy and surprise, to the extent that even his aides often don’t hear of his plans in advance. As we have repeatedly reiterated, we believe that a political system that rests on one person is […]
Oct 28, 2007 | Continued
Court Closes House of the Journalist in Moscow
Domjour, the Central House of the Journalist, is being closed down. A Moscow court has ruled that the Central House of the Journalist must shut down for three months. The news was related by Igor Yakovenko, general-secretary of the Union of Russian Journalists. Domjour provides rooms and facilities for press-conferences, seminars, concerts, and other major […]
Oct 27, 2007 | Continued
If It Works, We’ll Take Credit
In the city of Pskov, unknown individuals have a staged a political action, in an apparent commentary on skyrocketing food costs. Stickers with the words “United Russia Prices” have appeared on grocery bins in city stores, and on stalls displaying all kinds of food. They also bear the logo of the political party. Vendors don’t […]
Oct 27, 2007 | Continued
Kagarlitsky: No Need to Falsify Elections
Boris Kagarlitsky, a prominent left-wing activist, and director of the Institute of Globalization Studies, published a fascinating article in the October 25th edition of the Moscow Times. He writes that the Kremlin and United Russia no longer have a need to falsify elections, as the current electoral laws all but guarantee an overwhelming victory for […]
Oct 25, 2007 | Continued
Young Russians “Vote With Their Rifles”
In Vladivostok, the “young guard” has executed Kasparov in a mock firing squad On October 8th, the “young guard” of the United Russia party held a sports-political paintball competition entitled “If You Want to Vote, Learn to Shoot!” and “Vote With Your Rifle!” according to the October 24th edition of Nezavisimaya Gazeta. 100 delegates from […]
Oct 24, 2007 | Continued
Beaten Journalist Fears For Her Family
In Kazan, a journalist’s children are threatened with violence. Kazan journalist Natalya Petrova, a former colleague of Anna Politkovskaya who covered the first Chechen war, fears for the lives of her children. In an interview on the 24th, she told that ever since she was brutally attacked by local militsiya officers, she has been receiving […]
Oct 24, 2007 | Continued
United Russia Continues To Bribe Voters
Vedomosti: United Russia is buying votes Representatives of the United Russia political party continue to regularly give out gifts to voters across Russia, which is illegal according to the electoral code. Vedomosti reported on October 23rd on just a handful of instances: On October 5th, in the town of Baksan (in the Kabardino-Balkar Republic), party […]
Oct 23, 2007 | Continued
Electoral Monitoring Group Dissolved
The upcoming Russian Parliamentary elections are shaping up to be the least transparent in recent memory. As we recently reported, official monitors from Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have yet to be invited into the country. Now, it appears that domestic watchdog groups are also abandoning their posts, with unclear reasons. On […]
Oct 23, 2007 | Continued
A Drunk Electorate
Ads for “Putinka” vodka summons readers to vote for United Russia. Advertisements for a the “Putinka” brand of vodka, which practically urge a vote for the party in power, technically do not brake electoral law. At least that’s what representatives of the Central Electoral Commission (CEC) told a Sobkor®ru correspondent. An electoral expert has noted […]
Oct 22, 2007 | Continued
Victim’s Attorneys Lambaste Government Report on Dubrovka Theater Massacre
The response of the Russian government to questions from the European Court of Human Rights, relating to the seizure of hostages in the Dubrovka Theatee in 2002, is rife with inaccuracies and misleading information. Attorneys for victims of the attack–a terrorist hostage situation turned tragedy, where more than a hundred perished–announced their outrage at an […]
Oct 22, 2007 | Continued