TODAY: Further cable providers drop broadcaster Dozhd, watchdog investigates WWII poll; U.S. says Russia may have violated nuclear treaty; central bank pledges to defend a failing ruble; Rostelecom will sell stake to VTB; ‘gay propaganda’ law used against newspaper editor; Olympians call on Russia for tolerance.

Two further cable providers have stopped broadcasting independent news channel Dozhd, and prosecutors were investigating it on possible charges of extremism after the station asked viewers for their opinions about whether or not the Soviet city of Leningrad should have been surrendered during World War II.  In a letter to the broadcaster, state watchdog Roskomnadzor criticised the poll, saying, ‘Questions or statements of this kind might be taken as an insult to WWII veterans and the survivors of the Leningrad blockade.’  The BBC documents some of the initial public criticisms that were leveled against Dozhd online, including a comment from a United Russia MP who argued that the poll constituted an attempt to ‘rehabilitate Nazism’.  The U.S. government says Russia may have violated its nuclear arms control treaty after testing a new cruise missile, and is conducting a compliance review.  Exceptionally high premature death rates amongst Russian men (in their early fifties) are being blamed on vodka consumption.