TODAY: Police receive permission to use ‘non-lethal weapons’ on protestors; Politkovskaya murder trial proceeds in camera; insight into Khimki forest beating case; ex-Tula governor arrested on corruption charges.  Young Socialists present alternative cabinet; race for presidency joined by movie star; Putin predicts purge of United Russia; Wikileaks offers insight into PM’s personal take on Estonia.

The Other Russia reveals that Russian police may be accorded the right to employ ‘special measures’, in other words, tear gas, tasers and water cannons, in dispersing opposition rallies if protestors block traffic in any way.   Moscow’s Basmanny Court met yesterday to consider extending custody for Chechan national Rustam Makhmudov, who is accused of the murder of Novaya Gazeta reporter Anna Politkovskaya.  Journalists were asked to leave the court, after an investigator requested that the session be held behind closed doors; reporters will only be allowed back in for the ruling.  The authorities have also named convicted criminal, Lom-Ali Gaitukayev, as the organiser of the killing.  Gaitukayev is currently serving a lengthy jail term on unrelated charges of attempted murder.  The Moscow Times reports that a career criminal has corroborated investigators’ findings in the near fatal attack on Khimki forest campaigner Konstantin Fetisov, and identified the masterminds of the assault.   Ex-Tula Governor Vyacheslav Dudka has been charged with accepting a bribe of $1.3 million and placed under house arrest.  This article notes how unusual it is to see such a charge openly leveled against a high-ranking official, former or otherwise.