The United Russia Front

By Citizen M | Published: May 11, 2011

Putin’s decision to create an All-Russia People’s Front, announced at a United Russia conference in Volgograd on Friday, sparked a flurry of analysis as to the Prime Minister’s motivations, beyond its ostensible aim of creating an inclusive political vehicle in Russian society.  Commentators have identified the move as a reaction to dwindling popularity ratings of the Prime […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – May 11, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Anti-corruption activist faces investigation; six police officials sacked; President blames cabinet for under-performing of Russia’s defense industry. The motivation behind Putin’s people’s front; Medvedev considers chemical castration to decrease sex crimes against children; Evgeny Lebedev on freedom of speech According to the Moscow Times, the Investigative Committee has reopened a fraud case against whistle […]

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Strategy 31 Loses Alexeyeva

By Citizen M | Published: March 30, 2011

This month marks the end of Lyudmila Alexeyeva’s involvement in Strategy 31.  The movement, started in July 2009 by Eduard Limonov, held protest rallies at the end of every month that contained 31 days, an emblematic nod to Article 31 of the Russian Constitution, regarding the right to hold peaceful demonstrations.  The rallies were initially […]

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Choose Your Own (Kremlin) Adventure

By Citizen M | Published: March 22, 2011

Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin are grabbing headlines with last night’s row over the U.N. Security Council’s resolution on military intervention in Libya, after Putin likened it to ‘medieval calls for crusades‘.  (Never mind, of course, that Russia’s failure to veto the move ‘effectively allow[ed] the allied assault to go forward.‘)  Medvedev was quick to […]

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

By Citizen M | Published: March 17, 2011

TODAY: Khimki forest champion’s offices raided; opposition divided on March 31 rallies; Pearl Ensign trial delayed (again); Putin puts business before rights in Minsk.  Medvedev cautions against military intervention in Libya; Latvia’s Waffen SS tributes irk Moscow; Baturina loses lawsuit; Bolshoi ballet head forced to step down amid photo scandal RFE/RL reports that the offices […]

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Illusive/Elusive Democracy

By Citizen M | Published: March 15, 2011

Former Duma-member-turned-liberal Vladimir Rhyzkhov is absolutely scathing about the weekend’s election violations in today’s Moscow Times.  A number of commentators today note that United Russia’s attempts to sway the vote with fake ballots actually indicate that it is losing its grip on the illusion of democratic power, and that more and more voters are withdrawing […]

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Election Violations

By Citizen M | Published: March 14, 2011

Here’s a quick round-up of some of the violations reported in the wake of the weekend’s regional elections: Saratov: Parties vying for seats in the local legislature accused each other of attempting to cast fake ballots.  ‘1,000 fake ballots have been put into ballot box at one of polling stations in Saratov‘, reports ITAR-TASS, claims […]

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Gorbachev Honored with Order of St Andrew

By Citizen M | Published: March 2, 2011

It was reported this morning that Mikhail Gorbachev planned to spend his 80th birthday, which is today, quietly with family at home.   It seems Mr Gorbachev has received an unexpected visitor in the shape of President Medvedev, who has reportedly appeared at the last Soviet leader’s Gorki residence to present him with the country’s top […]

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RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – March 2, 2011

By Citizen M | Published:

TODAY: Lavrov urges caution on Libya; Russia will deploy missiles to Kuril islands; Vitaly Churkin defends Belarus on UN’s Ivory Coast accusations.  Khimki forest activist claims threats to her children; new police law met with a new stunt from Voina; Russian Nobel Peace Prize?  Gorbachev’s legacy examined as last Soviet leader turns 80; nightclub takes […]

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Russia’s Legal Double Standard

By Citizen M | Published: March 1, 2011

In a neatly-argued piece today in today’s Moscow Times, opposition member Vladimir Ryzhkov addresses the iniquities of the Russian justice system, drawing upon his own experience of taking Vladimir Putin to court for slander.  This was prompted by comments the Prime Minister made in his annual televised call-in show, where he compared Ryzhkov (along with […]

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