TODAY: Strategy 31 protesters detained; Russia recognises Libyan Transitional National Council; tandem speculations; dead police chief alleged corruption; Khodorkovsky parole request dampened; fake diplomas no longer cutting it.

A dozen Strategy 31 activists were detained yesterday – ‘minutes after they unfurled anti-Kremlin banners’ – at a sit-down protest near Triumfalnaya Square in Moscow.  They have since been released.  The Other Russia has some details: ‘In an unprecedented move, police refrained from arresting Strategy 31 co-organizer and Other Russia party leader Eduard Limonov when he joined the sit-in.’  Having recognised the Libyan Transitional National Council, Russia will send its special envoy for Africa and the Middle East to take part in today’s French-hosted ‘Friends of Libya’ conference in a bid to uphold its interests in the country.  Reuters has compiled a timeline of significant events in the Putin-Medvedev tandem, as the President indicates that he would like to stay on in the role if Putin decides not to run; this analysis suggests that this week’s Rosneft-Exxon tie-up, presided over by the Prime Minister, strongly indicates that this will not be the case.  ‘Putin’s fingerprints [are] all over’ the appointment of Georgy Poltavchenko as Governor of St. Petersburg.