TODAY: Microsoft allegedly colludes in police raids on human rights groups, says New York Times; pressure mounting on Luzhkov as TV campaign points to corruption and negligence; protesters detained at City Hall demonstration. Medvedev defends Russian ‘democracy’ a la Putin; Mitvol takes on Nashi over brothel accusations; Gorky Park to have Russian makeover

A lengthy feature by Clifford J Levy in the New York Times alleges that software colossus Microsoft is complicit in crackdowns upon dissident groups, which the police purport, with the company’s approval, to be anti-piracy raids.  Lake Baikal ecological group, Baikal Environmental Wave, is the latest organizaton to have its research seized.  Microsoft, the article suggests, has even applied itself for investigations to be held into particular human rights activists on the basis of piracy concerns.  In a separate set of allegations, anti-corruption group Transparency International argues that the company has employed lawyers who have been implicated in unrelated corruption scandals.  For Microsoft’s statement in response to the allegations, see the New York Times.  A bribery investigation led by German and US authorities into a Hewlett Packard government contract in Russia, in which the company’s employees are alleged to have given improper payments to officials to stimulate business growth, is currently expanding, Reuters reports.