russia politics

February 24, 2011

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Feb 24, 2011

TODAY: Whistleblower Alexei Navalny’s determination revealed in Guardian interview; activists take a stand on torture in prison; Left Front leader released.  Russians evacuated from violence-hit Tripoli; Sergei Lavrov warns against putt...
February 23, 2011

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Feb 23, 2011

TODAY: Medvedev predicts long-term struggles in Arab states; denies possibility that similar fate could befall Russia; advocates freedom of Internet.  Russian citizens on trial in Belarus; rights ombudsman says awareness of civil liberties is...
February 22, 2011

Sechin Says Investors Have Nothing to Fear

Today’s Wall Street Journal has managed the feat of getting an interview (albeit a somewhat tetchy one) with siloviki chieftain and Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin.  The Rosneft Chairman had plenty to talk about regarding the new disp...
February 22, 2011

Gambling for Power

The Moscow Times spoke yesterday of a turf war erupting between the Prosecutor General’s office and the recently created Investigative Committee.  The dispute stemmed from the recent gambling ring bust in Moscow’s suburbs, an ille...
February 22, 2011

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Feb 22, 2011

TODAY: Gorbachev launches stinging verbal attack on Putin’s ‘overconfidence’; Khodorkovsky disheartened by prospect of PM’s possible return to power; Kudrin’s reform talk analyzed. Patriarch’s dacha plans upset ...
February 21, 2011

Opposition Politicians Refute Medvedev’s Reform Rhetoric

Mikhail Kasyanov, Vladimir Milov, Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Ryzhkov of the People’s Freedom Party, are taking no prisoners in a Washington Post op-ed: Contrary to the wishful thinking many in Russia and abroad expressed when Medvedev took o...
February 21, 2011

Kudrin For Transparency?

The Moscow Times’ Olga Razumovskaya is one the commentators to have remarked upon Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin’s unusual espousing of political reform at the end of last week.  The Minister told the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum th...
February 21, 2011

Kudrin For Transparency?

The Moscow Times’ Olga Razumovskaya is one the commentators to have remarked upon Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin’s unusual espousing of political reform at the end of last week.  The Minister told the Krasnoyarsk Economic Forum th...
February 21, 2011

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Feb 21, 2011

TODAY: Terrorists hit Caucasus ski resort; three tourists killed; bombs defused; security concerns over Sochi Olympics. Opposition leaders refute President’s reforming attempts; is Khordokovksy whistleblower a concern for Putin?  Extrem...
February 18, 2011

Russia Still Failing on Rights, says UN Chief

,U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has concluded her five-day visit to Russia with, unsurprisingly, little in the way of compliments for the Russian government’s stance.  The scant praise she did offer was to President...