TODAY: Russia goes against Kiev’s wishes to recognise eastern Ukraine elections; Ukraine crisis to blame for Russia’s blocking Antarctic conservation? African migrants facing abuse; Putin critic tortured in exile; Central Bank measures to boost ruble fail; Germany’s rejection of coal will increase dependence on Russia; Ekho Moskvy warned; Antares crash a ‘wake-up call’.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called on Russia not to recognise the results of this weekend’s separatist elections in eastern Ukraine, but the Foreign Ministry says it considers the elections to be valid, and that it ‘respects the will of the people’.  German Chancellor Angela Merkel told President Vladimir Putin that the elections would not be recognised in Europe.  Russia has apparently taken an ‘obstructionist position’ on conservation in the Antarctic, blocking the creation of marine-protected areas on the Southern Ocean, with negotiators blaming tensions stemming from the Ukraine crisis.  This LA Times piece about African migrants in Russia says that much of the racism and abuse that they typically suffer goes unpunished. ‘Living here in Russia is like living in hell on Earth.’  A Russian Premier League soccer coach says he will not sign black players.  A former Chechen leader currently exiled in France says he was kidnapped and tortured by Russians after accusing Vladimir Putin of war crimes.  Writer Yevgenia Albats told the Times, ‘That I am going to die in a country run by the KGB makes me sick.’