RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Sept 19, 2011

By Citizen M | Published: September 19, 2011

TODAY: Alexander Lebedev exercises his muscles on television debate with fellow tycoons; Boris Berezovsky accused of Politkovskaya murder; Khodorkovsky foresees intellectual exodus if Putin remains; Prokhorov mutes Kremlin criticism. Latvia’s pro-Russia party in surprise win; Moscow mosque demolished; migrants to capital face tide of prejudice; US couple found guilty of abusing adopted Russian son Newspaper […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Sept 5, 2011

By Citizen M | Published: September 5, 2011

TODAY: Ex-officer charged over involvement in Politkovskaya murder; claims to have revealed murder’s mastermind.  United Russia’s tribulations; Prokhorov could run for President; Communist party invokes Stalinist denouncing practice.  CIS 20-year anniversary meeting clouded by tension; Medvedev decries OSCE’s election monitoring; makes deal on extension of military base in Tajikistan.  Moscow’s birthday; cold turkey boot camp […]

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Stern: Germany as a Role Model for Russia, not vice versa

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: July 18, 2011

Germany must not make the mistake of accepting the Kremlin’s narrative for the world to remain endlessly patient for its “reform from within,” “modernisation,” and the embryonic growth of democratic society through the creation of hollow state-approved opposition parties.

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The Opposition Camp

By Citizen M | Published: June 20, 2011

The Seliger summer camp has all the hallmarks of any camp; it promotes the values of team building, sharing and participation all under the evergreen canopy of the great outdoors. Unlike other camps however, it is accompanied by the deafening primal scream of United Russia’s arch nationalism.  The Kremlin’s annual journey into the heart of […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 20, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Dissident Yelena Bonner has died; Navalny stars at Seliger alternative; Russia maintains homophobic stance; journalist censored after political comments.   Following assertive St Petersburg speech, Medvedev says will not run against Putin.  Russia criticizes Libya mission; Medvedev backs Obama for next year’s election.  Soccer star tazered by copsYelena Bonner, the Russian rights activist and widow […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 17, 2011

By Citizen M | Published: June 17, 2011

TODAY: Putin’s new photographer raises eyebrows; Potemkin lawn; worm salad governor out; Troitsky to escape fine; Sochi mascot scandals continue. Belarus cautioned by the Kremlin on media freedom; Moscow plans anti-xenophobia campaign.  Relaxation of US-Russia visa rules; Margelov gives verdict on Libya; Russia backs Ki-Moon. The Prime Minister’s press office has been forced to justify […]

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MEPs Foresee Election Fraud

By Citizen M | Published: June 16, 2011

It’s a while off, but a European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee has preempted what we will doubtless be hearing as a complaint in December, namely that the parliamentary elections will not have been conducted with sufficient freedom and legitimacy.  Following a public hearing held by the Foreign Affairs Committee and the MEP Delegation to the […]

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Totem And Taboo

By Citizen M | Published:

Amid all of the Economic Forum analysis and the pre-presidential race commentaries, it is refreshing to see Simon Shuster of Time magazine offer something of a guilty pleasure.  It is a well-known fact that the media in Russia are about as free as an arm in a tourniquet, but none so much as when it […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 16, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: US presses Russia on rights abuses; bikers up in arms; army officer’s extraordinary bribes; competition for Prokhorov?  China takes Russian side on US missile defense; NATO Sec-General criticizes Russian ‘out of date’ attitude. RFE/RL has an interview with Michael McFaul, senior director of Russian and Eurasian affairs on the U.S. president’s National Security Council […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 15, 2011

By Citizen M | Published: June 15, 2011

TODAY: Orlov acquitted in rare boon for NGO workers; Khodorkovsky whistleblower’s claims countered by authorities; Mironov enters lower house.  Medvedev fires two top police officials as reform of law enforcement ramps up; St Petersburg neo-Nazis sentenced; chess master says Gaddafi open to peace talks; does Russia wants Karimov out?  Gullit leaves Terek Grozny in a […]

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