October 1, 2008 By Citizen M

RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Oct 1, 2008

011008.jpgTODAY: Anti-corruption legislation marks renewed Medvedev campaign; stand-off in Brussels over Russia’s call to limit EU observers in South Ossetia; ties with Bolivia to be strengthened; the ongoing pro-Stalin trend. A new package of anti-corruption legislation is to be introduced in the State Duma this week, says President Dmitry Medvedev. Under a new constitutional law, all state officials and their family members will have to declare their incomes and assets. The legislation comes just one week after Transparency International noted that corruption in the country is at its worst level for eight years. The Federal Security Service says it has terminated 120 terrorist organizations this year. Europe is ready to send its two hundred observers into Georgia to oversee the withdrawal of Russian troops, but is Russia ready to let them in? A military spokesman says that the monitors will have to steer clear of a buffer zone around South Ossetia, causing a ‘stand-offwith Brussels. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the US has done nothing to ease Russian concerns over the planned missile shield in eastern Europe. Russia and Ukraine, despite recent tensions, have renewed their ten-year friendship agreement – or at least, have not declined to renew it…