Orlov Acquitted In Kadyrov Case

By Citizen M | Published: June 14, 2011

A rare piece of good news just in on the Russian rights landscape.  Oleg Orlov, head of the Memorial group, has, somewhat surprisingly, been acquitted in the slander case brought against him by Chechen president Ramzan Kadyrov.  The accusations originated from comments made by Orlov suggesting that the Chechen leader was responsible for the murder […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 14, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Budanov buried with military honors; fears of reprisals swell; another lawsuit for Artemy Troitsky; sentence for Orlov to be announced today; tardy governor holds up air traffic. Libya mediation through chess?  Russian pavilion draws praise at Venice Bienniale The burial of Yuri Budanov, the ex-colonel who served a prison sentence for murdering a Chechen […]

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Sharon Stone: Hollywood Mascot for Moscow?

By Citizen M | Published: June 13, 2011

Couldn’t help but be amused by Shaun Walker’s piece in the Independent today, on actress Sharon Stone’s apparent predilection for all things Russian.  Those of you who had the misfortune to witness Vladimir Putin crooning Blueberry Hill at a fundraiser event may remember with a similar grimace the reaction of the Hollywood guests who lapped […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 13, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Protestors thwarted on Russia Day; Russia’s only convicted war criminal slain; Moscow fares badly in rule of law report; Magnitsky-linked officials fired; Khodorkovsky dispatched to unknown location.  Russia ignores UN talks on Syria; raises complaints over US cruiser’s entry into Black Sea; Vanauti recognizes Abkhazia.  Russia’s celebrity cheerleader, Sharon Stone. 28 people of a […]

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Vegetable Summit – Chances of a Healthy Outcome?

By Citizen M | Published: June 10, 2011

The Kremlin’s blanket ban on European vegetable imports over the cucumber ‘stink’ has, some have said, threatened to poison EU-Russia relations at today’s meeting between President Dmitry Medvedev, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and European Council President Herman van Rompuy in Nizhny Novgorod.  The Economist has refreshingly turned its […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 10, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Authorities sweep in on Troitsky concert venue; Orlov refuses to resile from Kadyrov comments; elderly residents decry care home abuse; anti-abortion tactics borrowed from US; Izvestia make-over.  Russia opposes UN action on Syria; missile shield disagreement is a stutter for START; EU-Russia relations under spotlight as summit begins; tensions with Georgia increase.  Fears of […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 9, 2011

By Citizen M | Published: June 9, 2011

TODAY: EU-Russia summit begins in shadow of E.coli vegetable dispute; Defense Minister talks of arms race with NATO.  Pearl Ensign trial underway; hurdles for summer camp Seliger; anarchists behind bomb attack; Muslim rector slain in Dagestan.  Kremlin announces war on drugs; putting the Vegas in St Petersburg; could culture soothe Russia-UK ties? Today the Russia-EU […]

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Human Rights Watch Condemns Memorial Worker Attack

By Citizen M | Published: June 8, 2011

Unnerving details are beginning to emerge of the brutal assault on Memorial worker Bakhrom Hamroev, who was attacked outside his home on the evening of June 6.  Hamroev, who specializes in issues relating to Central Asia and Islam, apparently believes the attack was designed to prevent him from carrying out his professional activities. Memorial has […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 8, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Police on hunt for rights worker attacker; Khodorkovsky seeks parole again; freedom for fines for economic criminals; NTV broadcasts program made by Magnitsky supporters.  Bomb in Siberia; Georgia-Russia tensions mount; Russia-NATO in counter-terrorism exercise; Russia’s envoy talks to Libyan rebels; Putin woos construction workers with song Police in Moscow say they are searching for […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 7, 2011

By Citizen M | Published: June 7, 2011

TODAY: Rights worker beaten outside home; the increasing difficulty of protesting in Moscow; Luzkhov mulls return, but not to ruling party; Khodorkovsky denied parole. Communist and Just Russia parties take a leaf out of United Russia’s book; women’s movement; Medvedev criticizes Putin’s ‘outdated’ politics; Moscow takes the lead in lethargy Bakhrom Khamroyev, an employee of […]

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