RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Jan. 9, 2008
TODAY: 16-yr old activist attacked; Sarkozy defends Putin’s election; are corruption charges driving Putin’s political ambition?; Poland expects imports to be resumed; Russia tries to claim back its overseas Orthodox churches. One Russian newspaper is reporting that a 16-year-old activist who participated in an Other Russia rally protesting the State Duma elections was beaten outside her home. French President Nicolas Sarkozy has defended his congratulation of Vladimir Putin following the recent Russian elections. “It is ridiculous to hold against Mr Putin an election when absolutely all its international observers will tell you that he is the most popular politician in Russia.”