Culture

Moscow Theater Stages Play of Magnitsky’s Death
A Moscow theater is staging a play based on the daily journal of Hermitage Capital Management lawyer Sergei Magnitsky, whose death last November continues to resonate throughout Russian civil society.
Jul 16, 2010 | Continued
Organizers of ‘Forbidden Art’ Fined, Avoid Jail
The organizers of a Moscow exhibit of banned works of art have been convicted of inciting religious hatred and heavily fined, but managed to avoid a possible three-year prison term.
Jul 12, 2010 | Continued
More Russians See a Cult of Personality Around Putin
New poll results from the Levada Center show that more and more Russian citizens are noticing a growing cult of personality around Vladimir Putin – and that a majority of the country still favors his total concentration of power.
Jul 10, 2010 | Continued
Ilyumzhinov’s Game – For the Benefit of the Elites
In a column for Grani.ru, Russian political analyst Stanislav Belkovsky discusses the scandal that has erupted in the battle for the presidency of the World Chess Federation – and why one Kremlin aide has such a stake in the matter.
Jun 9, 2010 | Continued
Putin Makes Heavily Qualified Defense of Right to Protest
Vladimir Putin has at once called on Russia’s local governments to grant oppositionists their right to protest and assured all parties involved that he has no way of ensuring that this could actually happen.
May 31, 2010 | Continued
Moscow Bans Gay Pride Parade for Fifth Year in a Row
Organizers of the annual Moscow Pride parades got word from the mayor’s office on Thursday that the application to hold their event has been turned down for the fifth time in a row.
May 21, 2010 | Continued
Stalin Controversies Abound in Victory Day Run-Up
Human rights advocates are voicing outrage at a St. Petersburg city bus covered with a gigantic picture of Josef Stalin, while oppositionists in Moscow ask the president to officially denounce the Soviet dictator.
May 6, 2010 | Continued
Dalai Lama Denied Russian Visa
Buddhist leaders in Kalmytkia say that the Russian Foreign Ministry has turned down their request for a visa to allow the Dalai Lama to visit the country, citing the current anniversary of China and Russia’s shared WWII victory.
Apr 26, 2010 | Continued
The Moscow Times on Nashi’s Fifth Anniversary
The radical pro-Kremlin youth group Nashi held its fifth anniversary celebration yesterday, with government leaders present to urge them to “remain in the fight.”
Apr 16, 2010 | Continued
Traffic Cops Awarded for ‘Resisting Temptation’
As President Medvedev vows to fight corruption, authorities in the Siberian Republic of Khakassia have taken to financially awarding traffic cops for turning down bribes.
Apr 9, 2010 | Continued