In an ‘unprecedented‘, ‘immediate‘ response to a poll that suggested Russians value political over technical modernization, President Dmitry Medvedev insists that his modernization drive cannot go forward without taking measures against corruption, state involvement in the economy, and fair competition.  A Moscow suburb newspaper that focuses on the ‘shortcomings of local government‘, including corruption and drug trafficking, will not be shut down, after a case against it was thrown out – but the mystery of the editor’s beating by plainclothes police officers in 2009 remains unsolved.  The New York Times has a special piece on Alexei Dymovsky, the ‘YouTube cop’, whose video has now reached over two million views and who is ‘still apparently considered a danger‘ by the authorities. 

National Bolshevik and Other Russia leader Eduard Limonov says he will stop filing Strategy 31 rally requests because they are never approved anyway, and accused the group’s plan to go ahead without him of being ‘traitor[ous]‘.  It seems that the group’s latest request may be granted by authorities simply because it excludes Limonov.  NATO is pleased about improvements in military relations with Russia.  A Russian helicopter that accidentally landed in ‘the wrong place‘ in Darfur has been recovered, but its pilot remains missing.  Konstantin Yaroshenko, the Russian pilot detained in Liberia by the US on suspicion of drug trafficking, has not received any medical treatment and ‘still does not understand what he is guilty of,‘ according to his lawyer. 

More Russian spy stories, this time a 2009 incident in the Czech Republic.  And Georgia’s new Economy Minister, a political neophyte, is being branded a ‘stripper‘ by the Russian media thanks to her old Facebook photos.