Latest News
WWF: Sochi Olympic Construction ‘Out of Control’
The World Wildlife Foundation is halting partnership with the main construction firm for the 2014 Olympics in Sochi and threatening to withdraw support altogether, citing irreparable environmental damage and low-quality construction.
17Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on WWF: Sochi Olympic Construction ‘Out of Control’ | Continued
Anger at Putin Flares in Irkutsk and Samara
Russians called for Prime Minister Putin to step down in two large but unrelated protests over the weekend, following a trend set by a massive anti-governmental rally in Kaliningrad in late January.
16Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Anger at Putin Flares in Irkutsk and Samara | Continued
Children Taken from St. Petserburg Mother for State Debts
Custody officials in St. Petersburg have taken four children into custody from a woman in debt to the state housing authorities, promising to return the children after she repays the money.
15Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Children Taken from St. Petserburg Mother for State Debts | Continued
EC: Russian Modernization Requires ‘Supremacy of Law’
A report from the European Commission outlining a path for Russian modernization cites “the supremacy of law” as a necessary first step, which Kremlin bureaucrats are dismissing in favor of an “application-oriented” approach.
12Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on EC: Russian Modernization Requires ‘Supremacy of Law’ | Continued
Kaliningrad Governor Renegs on Opposition Meeting
After a massive prompted Kaliningrad Governor Georgy Boos to call a meeting with opposition leaders, the event was postponed on Wednesday evening – the governor’s second cancellation in under two weeks.
11Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Kaliningrad Governor Renegs on Opposition Meeting | Continued
Charges Filed Against Police for Beating Composer
In yet another high-profile scandal involving Russia’s police forces, criminal proceedings are finally being filed a week after a music professor in Yekaterinburg was brutally beaten and robbed by police.
10Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Charges Filed Against Police for Beating Composer | Continued
Rights Groups Condemn Illegal Detentions in Chechnya
The illegal detention of three human rights lawyers in Chechnya over the weekend is drawing severe criticism from numerous international rights organizations.
9Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Rights Groups Condemn Illegal Detentions in Chechnya | Continued
Beeline Blocks Access to Opposition Websites
Prominent rights advocate Evgeny Arkhipov says that the meaning of extremism in Russia has expanded to include dissent, citing Friday’s news that a telecommunications firm is blocking access to opposition websites.
8Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Beeline Blocks Access to Opposition Websites | Continued
Putin to United Russia: No False Promises
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to United Russia party leaders that they cannot make false promises to voters and must learn how to better communicate with the public.
6Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Putin to United Russia: No False Promises | Continued
Medvedev Confirms Revamped Military Doctrine
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev has officially confirmed the country’s new military doctrine, which will now allow Russia to conduct a pre-emptive nuclear strike.
5Feb2010 | R J | Comments Off on Medvedev Confirms Revamped Military Doctrine | Continued