TODAY: Khimki forest defender assaulted; pop icon backs freedom for Pussy Riot; Shein files suit against election results; the future of the presidential rights council; Politkovskaya probe ongoing, says Investigative Committee.  Russians seeking justice in ECHR may have problems; court criticizes Russia over Katyn; Syrian opposition pleased with Kremlin talks; Moscow building site collapses

RFE/RL reports that yesterday, when Yevgenia Chirikova was honored with an environmental prize, an activist in her movement, 23-year-old Aleksei Dmitriyev was severely beaten in a violent attack near his home.  Pop veteran Alla Pugachyova has seconded criticisms of the incarceration of members of feminist punk bank Pussy Riot as too harsh, apparently echoing popular sentiment noted in a poll by VTsIOM which indicated that just 10% of Russians view their imprisonment as an appropriate punishment.  Ex-Astrakhan mayoral candidate Oleg Shein, who will reportedly arrive in Moscow today, has filed a suit with the Kirovsky district court to overturn the mayoral election results.   ‘Opening a transparent and impartial investigation into claims of election fraud in Astrakhan would clearly open a Pandora’s box. If this process were to start, investigators would quickly find egregious violations and fraud in almost every region and city of the country’.  In an article contemplating the future of the presidential human rights council under Putin, campaigner Svetlana Gannushkina proclaims that she will cease her work with the council upon his return.  The Investigative Committee has rejected Interior Ministry claims that its probe into the murder of Anna Politkovskaya in 2006 is nearly solved.