TODAY: No closure on Estemirova case one year on; Medvedev disappointed on results of corruption crackdown; encourages harsher penalties for graft offenses; ex-cons deemed unfit for service in police force.  Magazine found guilty of defamation over single word; Kremlin attempts to negotiate with Strategy 31; Memorial denied access to Katyn info; Black Panthers cause RT/Fox News war.  The fall of the regional Titans; drownings rise as heatwave and vodka prove dangerous combination

The Guardian reports on the delays and oversights in the investigation into the murder of human rights campaigner Natalya Estemirova, one year ago today.  On the anniversary of her death, Amnesty International has called upon Russia to show political will in bringing her killers to justice.  President Medvedev has, the Moscow Times reports, admitted to lawmakers that his program to curb corruption has gleaned no ‘meaningful successes’.  ‘Often efforts toward fighting corruption are limited to energetically signing papers’, the President has lamented.  It is perhaps this kind of transparency-promoting bill that the President is referring to.  Medvedev has also urged the Federal Assembly to contemplate the introduction of multiple penalties for corruption offenses.  Bloomberg says that a new law will prevent anyone with a criminal record from joining the police force and the ex-cons who are already working in the sector will be dismissed.  The speaker of the Moscow City Duma has voiced his support for the idea of drawing up lists of most corruption-prone posts.