TODAY: Russia says Syrian intervention would be premature; Duma’s idea of direct mayoral elections is not what voters want; Putin to snub London Olympics; activist jailed for spitting on Putin picture; Moscow unimpressed by McFaul; Barents Sea Crab, regional tourism. 

Russia maintains that it is ‘categorically against any intervention in the Syrian conflict’, and will block U.N. support for foreign military intervention in Syria, despite the deaths of 108 people in Houla over the weekend.  A spokesperson for President Vladimir Putin says that any pressure on Russia to change its mind would be inappropriate, and that intervention at this point would be ‘premature’.  The Moscow Duma is moving towards approving the return of direct mayoral elections, but not ‘in the way that voters would like to see them’: restrictions will make it difficult for opposition candidates to register.  Former Europe minister Denis MacShane says that Putin is planning to snub the London Olympics because he ‘realises that he is not welcome’.  An opposition activist has been charged with ‘breaching public order’ and jailed for 15 days for spitting on a portrait of Putin.  Moscow authorities will not allow an opposition protest to go ahead as proposed on June 12, suggesting a different route which opposition leaders have already ruled out.  Newly proposed laws would ban Russians from wearing masks at protests.