Unfriendly Fire

By Citizen M | Published: June 6, 2011

Russia’s armed forces scarcely receive good publicity, and whilst their lack of structure, insufficient funding and superannuated facilities receive fairly constant criticism, these are certainly not the most worrying flaws of the services.  Non-governmental organizations have been trying for many years to raise awareness of the institutionalized abuse young conscripts face, a form of extreme […]

» Read More

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – June 6, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Foreign Ministry raises alarm over NATO’s Libya campaign; Putin’s cucumber comments threaten EU relations.  Saakashvili claims dissidents are Kremlin-sponsored; stars attend five day war film premiere. US Senate voices concern over Khodorkovsky verdict.  Top military doctor’s graft charges; Yelena Baturina’s brother found guilty of fraud; dead soldiers remembered via social network Russia has reportedly […]

» Read More

UK’s Bribery Law Approaches Russia

By Citizen M | Published: May 23, 2011

When the terms ‘business’ and ‘Russia’ are found in the same sentence, the word ‘corruption’ is never far behind it seems, so it is unsurprising that much has been made of how the UK Bribery Act could effect (indeed hopefully improve) the investment climate in the ambit of the Kremlin.  The Lawyer has a special […]

» Read More

Auto-censorship Threatens Freedom Of Expression

By Citizen M | Published: May 20, 2011

President Medvedev may have made a rather embarrassing show of things at his damp squib of a press conference on Wednesday.  Journalists present didn’t seem to feel any more optimistic about their performance.  Yevgenia Albats, editor in chief of the independent Novoye vremya, (The New Times), apparently called the event ‘shameful for Russian journalism’, after […]

» Read More

Lebedev Commits to People’s Front

By Citizen M | Published:

‘Is a real fight against corruption not to Russia’s benefit?’  The words of Alexander Lebedev, known best as the owner of the Independent and Novaya Gazeta newspapers and the frequent victim of unwanted police raids on his National Reserve Bank offices by FSB officers, on his pledge that the Our Capital movement which he heads […]

» Read More

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

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Medvedev’s star wanes after press conference; Nashi victim of hacker Charlie Sheen prank; rare military whistleblower speaks out; gay rights rally deemed disturbing to children.  Shoot out in South Ossetia;  Israeli espionage; Sakharov remembered Since Medvedev said so little at his press conference, ‘what was the point of the exercise?‘  The Economist has some suggestions.  […]

» Read More

The Implications of Mironov’s Departure

By Citizen M | Published: May 19, 2011

One of the stranger parentheses in President Medevev’s ‘disappointing’ press conference yesterday was his sudden announcement that Sergei Mironov, the head of the Federation Council and founder of pro-Kremlin opposition party a Just Russia has been dismissed.  This titbit may in fact have been the closest to anything the President was willing to divulge about […]

» Read More

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

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Medvedev’s press conference deemed damp squib; election intrigue remains; Putin upstages tandem partner with hunting recommendations.  Federation Council speaker Sergei Mironov dismissed.  Rospil logo raises ire of authorities; LiveJournal blocked in Ulyanovsk; Al-Qaida website in Russian; Russian spymaster meets Kim Jong II; Israeli attache expelled on spying charge Reports back from Medvedev’s highly publicized […]

» Read More

Sochi First, Education Second

By Citizen M | Published: May 18, 2011

The Sochi Olympics is, it would seem, never far from controversy.  The recent set of scandalizing posters advertising housing in the Olympic complex might have lead one to imagine that Putin et al are using Berlin 1936 as the blue print for their own Olympic adventure.  Pictures of looming Aryans enjoying the snow-capped vistas provoked […]

» Read More

Stage Managing the Election

By Citizen M | Published:

As President Medvedev prepares to take center stage for the biggest Q and A he has ever held this afternoon, journalists are pondering whether the President will take the opportunity to divulge any details about his election strategy.  Medvedev has apparently rebuffed questions about re-election with the comment, ‘Political life is not just show business […]

» Read More