TODAY: Opposition blog erased; Nemtsov alleges phone hacking; Nashi regional office to be shut down; Kim Jong-Il’s death will not affect relations, says Lavrov; Russia pressing NATO to explain Libya deaths; Yavlinsky and Putin register for elections, webcams to be installed at election stations; Prokhorov warns against Putin policies; U.S. Ambassador approved; Pskov mayor to resign over United Russia result; row over banning of Bhagavad Gita.

The blog of opposition figure and author Boris Akunin has been hacked, with all of the entries erased.  And a further opposition figure, Boris Nemtsov, alleges that the Kremlin is responsible for the publication of his private phone calls in which he referred to other opposition activists as ‘hamsters’ and ‘scared penguins’, and has apologised for any offence caused.  A court in Voronezh has ordered that the regional office of Nashi be shut down.  Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is confident that the death of Kim Jong-Il will not affect relations between Russia and North Korea.  Why has Russia not acknowledged the death of Czech President Vaclav Havel, wonders The Other Russia.  Russia wants NATO to account for civilian deaths in Libya following its air strike campaign.