Recommended Reading
A Warm Welcome For Nuclear Waste
The authorities have refused to sanction a demonstration against the import of radioactive waste. On October 9th, St. Petersburg authorities responded with rejection to a notification given by members of the “Ekozaschita” (literally, Eco-Protection) activist group, as well as other environmental-activists. The notice informed officials of an October 11th protest against the import of spent […]
Oct 10, 2007 | Continued
The Psychological Effects of War in Chechnya
Every policeman who has spent time in Chechnya needs psychological help – author “Officials of the militsia, after a tour in Chechnya, are in need of qualified psychological help,” announed Asmik Novinka, sociologist and author of a new book, Between Russia and Chechnya. At a press conference on October 9th, marking the release of her […]
Oct 10, 2007 | Continued
Putin Bows to the Siloviki
On October 7, president Putin celebrated his 55th birthday, amid a company of “close friends,” almost all of whom have ties to the military and security services. Putin’s reign has seen the vast majority of important posts go to the hands of these “siloviki,” and it’s not surprising that he has chosen to honor his […]
Oct 9, 2007 | Continued
Politkovskaya Remembered On Anniversary of Murder
Today a memorial plaque was placed in the entrance-way of the building where Anna Politkovskaya lived and was murdered on October 7th, one year ago today. The sign was mounted by United Civil Front activists, led by Garry Kasparov, the Other Russia presidential candidate and UCF leader. Over the course of the day, a continuous […]
Oct 7, 2007 | Continued
Young Guard Told to “Vote With Your Rifle”
The Vladivostok “Young Guard” of the United Russia party will conduct a “regional youth sport-political competition entitled ‘Vote With Your Rifle!’” as reported by RIA PrimaMedia. The event will take place in two stages. The first is a paintball game called “If You Want to Vote, Learn to Shoot!” The second is a live-round paramilitary […]
Oct 7, 2007 | Continued
FSB Raids Two Perm Newspapers
On October 5th, FSB soldiers raided and closed down the editorial offices of two newspapers in the central Russian city of Perm. Gazeta.ru reported that the troopers, masked and armed with automatic weapons, blocked entrance for editors and journalists of the “Perm Review” as well as “Perm’s Neighbors”. Officials of the Federal Security Bureau, the […]
Oct 6, 2007 | Continued
Politkovskaya Forum Shut Down
An international forum to be held in memory of slain journalist Anna Politkovskaya has been dismantled by authorities, although organizers from the Fund for the Support of Tolerance, who put on the event, have refused to bow to the state. The forum was to be held in Nizhny Novgorod on October 5th and 6th, in […]
Oct 6, 2007 | Continued
Zubkov Stuck in Soviet Mentality
Statements made by Russia’s new Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov, seem to indicate that he’s still living in the Soviet Union, at least in his mind. Zubkov was completely unknown to both Russia and the world before his recent nomination to the post. One of the few well-known highlights of his career is a tenure as […]
Oct 5, 2007 | Continued
Economic Growth and Authoritarianism
Many Western economist and political theorists suppose that liberal economic policies inevitably lead to political and social freedoms. Under their thinking, Russia’s rising GDP will shelter the country from authoritarianism, as business leaders and investors demand social reform. Anatole Kaletsky of The Times (UK), proposes that these experts need to rethink their stance: History has […]
Oct 5, 2007 | Continued
Putin’s Militant Youth
Maksim Mischenko, leader of the “Young Russia” movement, is assuming authority to combat the Other Russia. This he announced this on October 3rd, during an appearance at a rally in Moscow of the pro-Kremlin movement, “Everything is Going as Planned!” “We are fighting with a dragon. The dragon wants to tear up the country from […]
Oct 4, 2007 | Continued