January 14, 2010 By Citizen M

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Jan 14, 2010

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TODAY: Criminal case against rights advocate; whistleblower supporter detained; activists plan to go ahead with banned march.  Kuzmin case dropped; changes rung in upper echelons of military; START coming soon apparently.  Ukraine election race fraud allegations; Kiev seeking genocide ruling for famine.  TV school drama controversy

In the city of Krasnodar, a criminal case has been opened against human rights activist Anastasia Denisova, for use of unlicensed computer software, which carries up to a six-year jail term.  A deputy of the Omsk City Council has been detained for his support of corruption-blasting ex-policeman Aleksei Dymovsky.  Activists are apparently determined that their march in commemoration of Stanislav Markelov and Anastasia Baburova will take place, despite a city authority ban.   A piece by the President of the International Federation of Journalists in the Guardian highlights the toll paid by Russian journalists for freedom of expression.  The criminal case against former A Just Russia leader and Stavropol Mayor Dmitry Kuzmin, who was charged with embezzlement and libel but a few months after a party victory in 2006, has been dropped.  The State Duma has given preliminary support to a bill designed to offer state assistance to socially oriented nonprofit organizations.  The last of RFE/RL’s three parter on the political leanings of the Eurasian middle classes examines the influence of Putinism