TODAY: Sixth anniversary of Anna Politkovskaya murder; Navalny’s debit card plans foiled; investigation to be conducted into opposition funding claims; opposition candidate beaten; Putin turns 60 amid fanfare and protest; Tajikistan extends military base lease.

Yesterday marked the sixth anniversary of the assassination of journalist Anna Politkovskaya, with 200 people gathering for an authorised rally in Moscow to mark the occasion.  The U.S. State Department made a tribute to Politkovskaya, calling her ‘a champion of human dignity’, and calling on the Russian authorities to find those responsible for her murder.  Alexei Navalny’s plans to launch a debit card to fund his anti-corruption work are on hold after the main bank backing him withdrew its support.  Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika has ordered that recent claims that the opposition are using money from abroad to finance preparations for a seizure of power should be checked.  Reports say that a ‘strong opposition contender’ for the mayoral race in Voskresensk was beaten unconscious in broad daylight last week.  Yesterday was also the birthday of President Vladimir Putin, who turned 60.