August 13, 2013 By Citizen M

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – August 13, 2013

TODAY: Navalny accused of receiving foreign backing, Sobyanin brushes off accusations about daughter’s wealth; poor attendance at IAAF; IOC ‘cross’ with Russia over anti-gay laws, California pension funds boycotting Russia investments; DSK finds a place on Russian boards; tank biathlon.

Anti-corruption blogger, opposition figurehead and candidate for the Moscow mayoral elections in September, Alexei Navalny, has been accused of receiving foreign funding for his election campaign under a scheme whereby donors can be reimbursed by anonymous backers.  Navalny and his supporters see the Prosecutor General’s speculations as an attempt to undermine his popularity, insisting that ‘Our campaign is the most transparent in terms of financing.’  The entrepreneurial contingent of Navanly’s support group has increased, with 170 businessmen now openly backing his campaign.  Navalny is pressing Sergei Sobyanin, his main opponent, to provide transparent information on his income and property ownership, amid reports that Sobyanin’s 16-year-old daughter is listed as the owner of a multi-million-dollar Moscow apartment.  Sobyanin insists that ‘everything was declared years ago.  So no one is hiding anything.’  Masha Gessen notes the correlation between the ‘blatantly nationalist statements’ of the two candidates and the recent crackdown on Moscow’s migrant workers.