Khodorkovsky Arrest Marked Beginning of Authoritarianism

By Citizen M | Published: October 28, 2013

An insightful piece by Victor Davidoff in the Moscow Times this weekend connects the jailing of Mikhail Khodorkovsky ten years ago with certain aspects of Russia’s decline, noting in particular that Yukos, before its demise, was in the habit of funding philanthropic projects, nongovernmental organisations and, most fatefully, the Kremlin’s political opponents. Khodorkovsky’s arrest altered the relationship […]

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Khodorkovsky: Ten Years in Prison

By Citizen M | Published: October 25, 2013

In the ten years since Mikhail Khodorkovsky was arrested and imprisoned, it’s not just his young family members that have changed.  Russia’s economic and social landscapes have also changed, and not for the better.  Writing in the New York Times to mark the tenth anniversary of his arrest on October 25, 2003, Khodorkovsky discusses state […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Oct 25, 2013

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: EEC summit sees Russia rigid on barring Ukraine from Customs Union; LGBT writers plan to release ‘underground’ book; U.S. espionage accusations dismissed; tenth anniversary of imprisonment of former Yukos head; Kremlin wants Rosneft money; Tolokonnikova investigation request denied. The Eurasian Economic Community summit was held in Minsk yesterday, with Turkey and India both expressing a […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Oct 22, 2013

By Citizen M | Published: October 22, 2013

TODAY: FSB plotting new surveillance; EU court throws out Katyn case; Netherlands files lawsuit; Belarus wants compensation from Uralkali; Putin and Singh sign agreements; gay parenting bill withdrawn, for now; gay rights protesters try new Olympics angle. The FSB has drafted plans to implement heavier electronic surveillance by forcing Internet providers to store web traffic […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Sept 27, 2013

By Citizen M | Published: September 27, 2013

TODAY: Greenpeace activists denied bail; Pussy Riot prison complaints spark Amnesty appeal; release on the cards for Bolotnaya protesters? Syria resolution on chemical weapons reached; Moscow accused of ‘bullying’ its neighbours. Uralkali head moved to house arrest; Khordokovsky awarded prize. The 30 Greenpeace activists who were detained last week for attempting to scale a Russian […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – Sept 16, 2013

By Citizen M | Published: September 16, 2013

TODAY: Syrian government praises Russia-U.S. deal, opposition is wary; SCO meets in Kyrgyzstan; Sechin accused of misconduct; Ketchum in Russia; Gazprom FIFA contract; Valdai discussion begins today; Pussy Riot poll; Twitter diplomacy. Syrian minister Ali Haidar praised ‘a victory […] won thanks to our friends,’ after Russia secured a landmark deal to prevent U.S. military action.  […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – August 9, 2013

By Citizen M | Published: August 9, 2013

TODAY: 2+2 talks between U.S. and Russia go ahead; Snowden row undermines prospect of progress; HRW lambasts crackdown on migrants; the Kremlin’s novel economic reboot plan.  Immunity for journalists on the cards?  Rifts ignite in energy sector; calls for Winter Olympic boycott continue; Gorbachev lives. Despite rancour over Edward Snowden, talks between Russian Foreign Minister […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – August 7, 2013

By Citizen M | Published: August 7, 2013

TODAY: U.S.-Russia meetings to go ahead as Obama raises spectre of Cold War; court cuts Khodorkovsky’s sentence by two months; spotlight on migrant workers; Politkovskaya witnesses to be questioned in private; dissident priest stabbed; gasoline, sulfur, rubber, construction, infrastructure. A high-level meeting between American and Russian officials will go ahead this Friday despite tensions over […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – July 26, 2013

By Citizen M | Published: July 26, 2013

TODAY: European Court says Khodorkovsky trial not political, but sees violations; Navalny sentencing to be evaluated by rights council; September elections to be freer than usual; gay community urges vodka boycott; Kremlin approves financial stimulus package; Yandex celebrates stock high, co-founder is in coma; officials stand up to U.S. Snowden threats. The European Court of Human Rights […]

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RA’s Daily Russia News Blast – July 24, 2013

By Citizen M | Published: July 24, 2013

TODAY: Entrepreneurs freed under new amnesty; Navalny is second most popular for Moscow mayor; legistlating hooligans and luxury cars; Dutch gay rights protesters banned from entering Russia; Politkovskaya’s children will boycott murder trial; Snowden may be granted asylum in Russia; Public Television out of cash. Thirteen people thus far have been freed under President Vladimir […]

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