TODAY: Kremlin accused of censorship; CEC establishes opposition TV ban; talk of potential fraud abounds; opposition activist sentenced.  Magnitsky beaten to death says new report; Tomsk cracks down on religious extremism.  Lavrov rejects idea of Syrian arms embargo; Stalin’s daughter dies

A former translator for Ria-Novosti has resigned after he was allegedly ordered by the Kremlin not to translate ‘harsh stories about Putin or United Russia’.   The company has denied that one of its outlets was ordered to ‘soften’ texts translated from foreign media which were critical of the ruling elite.  According to the Moscow Times, the head of the Central Elections Commission, Vladimir Churov, has banned campaign ads by opposition parties on state television, despite not disposing of the authority to do so.  Russia has rebuffed international concerns that foreign monitors of its parliamentary elections would be limited by announcing that all 650 international observers will be able to monitor Sunday’s vote.   The BBC reports on election fraud in the region of Tambov.  This article suggests that with the highest Internet penetration in Europe, the web could be a fertile ground for Russia’s political opposition.   A former member of United Russia has brought attention to his critical stance on the party of ‘corruption and theft’ by attempting to sell his membership card for one rouble on the Internet.  A Russian opposition activist has been sentenced to one and half years in a penal colony for attacking a police officer during an unsanctioned rally in central Moscow last year.