Russia

November 17, 2009

Putizzle in the house

Looks like we’re not done having fun with this one yet.  From the Associated Press: Putin did not technically rap — but he did deliver his speech clutching a mike to the backdrop of a hip hop groove. He clapped his hands while lis...
November 17, 2009

The Return of Medical Blackmail

The following is a press release being sent around by Hermitage Capital Management with regard to the death last night of Sergei Magnitsky.  The link to the 40-page complaint by Magnitsky to Chief Prosecutor Yuri Chaika detailing the urgent c...
November 17, 2009

Video: The Murdered Lawyer

I am not sure how much longer the Browder film will be available online, given that one individual featured in it has died (I have seen it pulled from some sites).  Anyways, if you haven’t seen it yet, today is the day if you would like...
November 17, 2009

Unlawfully Jailed Hermitage Lawyer Dies in Custody

This is horrible, horrible news, especially considering the circumstances behind the arrest of Sergei Magnitsky, a lawyer involved in the William Browder and Hermitage Capital affair (this saga of state corruption is best told in a ten minute film...
November 17, 2009

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Nov 17, 2009

TODAY: Medvedev speaks in Singapore, elections committee to be formed under the president?; Abkhazia pledges dialing allegiance to Russia; Moscow real estate and low-rise government housing; kiosk theft, Nabokov. Soundbites from Dmitry Medvedev...
November 16, 2009

Video Game “Call of Duty” Pushes Russia’s Buttons

As many readers are aware, the Russian government has been on a recent censorship tear, including talk of banning off-color and proudly offensive animated TV imports such as The Simpsons, Family Guy, and South Park (oddly, Venezuela’s Hugo C...
November 16, 2009

Stable Authoritarianism

From time to time, La Russophobe forwards us links to what they are publishing.  This posting on subnational authoritarianism in particular is quite interesting.  Writing in the Russian Analytical Digest, Vladimir Gelman argues that the ...
November 16, 2009

Video: Hip Hop Putin

In what are sure to be the most bizarre and cringe-worthy videos of the week, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin showed up as the featured guest on a popular hip hop TV show in Russia.  According to the AFP, Putin commented “And breakdance i...
November 16, 2009

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Nov 16, 2009

TODAY: Medvedev meets Obama in Singapore on sidelines of Apec, discusses Iran and START; what happened to Russia’s US-Afghan supply route?; more law enforcement officers weighing in on corruption; Putin didn’t attend hip-hop party to b...
November 13, 2009

RA’s Daily Russian News Blast – Nov 13, 2009

TODAY: Medvedev’s state of the nation address warns opposition against using democracy to rock the boat; talks up modernization. Media unconvinced President can match word with deed. Topol-M problem for START replacement talks;  Litvine...