RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Oct 21, 2010
TODAY: Krasnodar floods affect 6,000; Strategy 31 protests receive sanction for a 200-strong march; Russia gets low press freedom rating; Sobyanin to be voted in today, Luzhkov begins university lecturing; negative similarities with Ukraine, Chechen attacks, Smolensk report.
Last weekend’s floods in Krasnodar injured, displaced, or damaged the homes of over 6,000 people, says the region’s governor. Lyudmila Alexeyeva cautiously welcomed an ‘ambiguous victory‘ for the Strategy 31 protesters after permission was granted for (just 200 of them) to march on Moscow’s Triumfalnaya Square at the end of this month. According to Vladislav Surkov, the Kremlin is ‘completely unconcerned with such events‘. Russia is climbing Reporters Without Borders’ annual press freedom rating, but still ranks 140th out of 178. A request by Yabloko leader Sergei Mitrokhin to investigate the income declaration of United Russia leader Boris Gryzlov has been passed ‘inexplicably‘ by the government to the Health and Social Development Ministry, sparking complaints and sarcasm from opposition voices about the seriousness of the government’s anti-corruption drive.