RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – May 19, 2008
TODAY: Kasparov’s National Assembly meets for the first time; Khodorkovsky accuses Sechin of plotting his arrest; Putin accused of decorating private residence with state treasures; special report on Russia Today’s english news channel. Georgia reveals Abkhazia footage. Opposition leader Garry Kasparov has formally launched the National Assembly, an alternative parliament aimed at the “restoration of democracy and popular government in Russia.” Its first meeting was held on Saturday. Former Yukos-head Mikhail Khodorkovsky has accused Igor Sechin, one of Vladimir Putin’s most senior aides, of plotting to have him arrested. Sechin, he says, “orchestrated the first case out of greed and the second out of cowardice.” Putin has been accused of using public money and donated art to decorate the St Petersburg palace he used as a private residence. And the UK media’s fascination with Russian wealth continues with an article on Roman Abramovich’s various spending. Russia’s London ambassador expressed optimism that mutual goodwill could easily repair the “limited damage” done to UK-Russia ties by the murder of former KGB officer Alexander Litvinenko.