May 24, 2010 By Citizen M

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – May 24, 2010

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TODAY: Chess federation loses home; Siberian authorities ban miners’ protest; promise to close suspect mines; new anti-corruption measures; Duma lawmakers complain about judiciary’s failure to comply with new economic crime law.  US drops Russia sanctions after Iran deal; Russian missile deal with Tehran apparently unaffected.  Defense to try lotteries; wobbling bridge; Soviet collectibles.

The Russian chess federation has been ousted from its headquarters after it refused to back the Kremlin-favored incumbent, Kalmyk President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov.  Siberian authorities have banned a march to be held by miners angered by the Raspadskaya mine explosions.  According to RFE/RL, the threat of industrial action by workers enraged by the events is ‘spooking the Kremlin, which has a long-standing fear of politicized miners’.  Officials in the Kemerovo region where the accident occurred have reportedly promised to close any unsafe mines.  Workers in the Altai Krai region have ended their hunger strike as they have started to receive their back pay.  The Moscow Times reports that Kremlin chief of staff Sergei Naryshkin has ordered a crack down on graft which will see gifting banned and bribe takers punished.  Apparently State Duma deputies have complained about judges’ lack of compliance with the law banning pretrial detention for those held on economic crimes. 

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