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Duma May Get Extra-Judicial Right to Fire Deputies
A new United Russia legislative measure is in the works to give the ethics committee the right to revoke deputies of their status simply for making public statements that discredit the State Duma or have an “anti-state orientation.”
16Jul2012 | R J | Comments Off on Duma May Get Extra-Judicial Right to Fire Deputies | Continued
Moscow Helsinki Group to Survive on Russian Donations
The Moscow Helsinki Group has announced that it will stop accepting funding from international sources after a law labeling such NGOs as “foreign agents” was passed on Friday, leaving it reliant on donations from within Russia.
14Jul2012 | R J | Comments Off on Moscow Helsinki Group to Survive on Russian Donations | Continued
Duma Bill Would Re-Criminalize “Libel”
The decriminalization of libel that was passed under Dmitri Medvedev’s presidency could be revoked if a new Duma bill is passed; analysts speculate that the bill is directed at Oleg Orlov and Aleksei Navalny in particular.
7Jul2012 | R J | Comments Off on Duma Bill Would Re-Criminalize “Libel” | Continued
Enemies or Fools
Political scientist Anton Orekh delves into the blatantly illogical nature of the Kremlin’s current attempt to label NGOs that accept international funding as “foreign agents.”
5Jul2012 | R J | Comments Off on Enemies or Fools | Continued
European Parliament Concerned Over Khimki Forest
European Parliament deputies are planning an extensive series of measures to address illegal highway construction that is damaging outer Moscow’s Khimki Forest, after activist Yevgenia Chirikova spoke there on Friday.
29Jun2012 | R J | Comments Off on European Parliament Concerned Over Khimki Forest | Continued
Kasparov: How Obama Can Support Russia and Oppose Putin
In this op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, Garry Kasparov stresses the urgency of passing the Magnitsky Act, which would would block entry to the US and freeze the assets there of 60 Russian officials involved with the murder of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.
27Jun2012 | R J | Comments Off on Kasparov: How Obama Can Support Russia and Oppose Putin | Continued
Navalny, Investigators Trade Barbs Over Hack
Opposition blogger Aleksei Navalny is blaming federal investigators of purposefully leaking his email passwords, who in turn are accusing him of trying to discredit their investigation.
26Jun2012 | R J | Comments Off on Navalny, Investigators Trade Barbs Over Hack | Continued
Only 15% of Russians Fully Support Putin’s Views
New poll results from the Levada Center show that only 15 percent of Putin’s are in full agreement with their president’s views, indicating a steady decline in support.
25Jun2012 | R J | Comments Off on Only 15% of Russians Fully Support Putin’s Views | Continued
New Tough Protest Law Claims First Victim
Oleg Shein has become the first person to be convicted under a tough new law on public demonstrations, fined 20 thousand rubles despite numerous contradictions in witness testimony.
22Jun2012 | R J | Comments Off on New Tough Protest Law Claims First Victim | Continued
Persecution of Pussy Riot is ‘Illegal,’ Say Experts
A group of experts commissioned by Russia’s Presidential Council on Human Rights has concluded that the persecution of a punk band is more representative of the inspector’s personal judgment call than anything else.
21Jun2012 | R J | Comments Off on Persecution of Pussy Riot is ‘Illegal,’ Say Experts | Continued