February 21, 2008 By Citizen M

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Feb. 21, 2008

210208.jpgTODAY: Russia sets up new democracy think tank abroad; Adamov sentenced. Putin and Medvedev unveil $1bn aviation project; Medvedev is “ignoring” the presidential race; Russia expresses concern over US missile. Hot on the heels of news that Kenneth Roth, the head of international rights group Human Rights Watch, was denied a Russian visa, comes a report that Russia has set up a new think tank with offices in New York and Paris to “monitor the situation on human rights and democracy in the West.” Meanwhile, a Russian journalist who wrote an article comparing President Vladimir Putin with Adolf Hitler could now face criminal charges, on grounds that this article contained calls “to change the present constitutional order”. After finding him guilty of abuse of office and defrauding Russia, Zamoskvoretsky District Court sentenced former Nuclear Power Minister Yevgeny Adamov to 5.5 years in prison. Adamov’s lawyer said the case against his client had been fabricated.