MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax) – Russian State Duma Speaker Sergei Naryshkin has criticized the statements made by representatives of the Moscow Helsinki Group, Memorial, Golos, and the For Human Rights movement, which have publicly refused to comply with the law on foreign agents. “I can only say that the law has been adopted and needs to be observed,” Naryshkin told […]
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(RIA Novosti – November 19, 2012) Civil servants who are not computer literate should be dismissed, Russian Prime Minister has said, state news agency RIA Novosti reported on 19 November. “A civil servant who is unable to create a document in electronic form, who is afraid to turn on a computer, should be dismissed from state service,” Medvedev said at […]
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(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Kristen Blyth – November 19, 2012) What would you do with a billion dollars? You could buy Twitter. You could purchase a flight to space for 11 of your closest friends. Or, if you’re Russia, you could waste a sum equal to the GDP of Western Sahara on satellite malfunction and that’s not even […]
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MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax) – Journalists sacked from Radio Liberty have launched a news website of their own, Radio Liberty in Exile, at www.svobodanew.com. The website has the news, politics, history and regions sections carrying exclusive materials as well as reprinted news and articles from other media outlets. The video, blogs and opinion sections feature journalists and public figures sharing […]
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MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) Russia’s capital outflow may reach $70 billion in 2012, more than the previous forecast of $60-65 billion, Deputy Economic Development Minister Andrei Klepach said on Tuesday. “We’ll specify the figure by December. Perhaps, it will be slightly larger [than the Central Bank’s estimate of $67 billion] at $70 billion, or may be less” Klepach […]
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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 20, 2012) The material well-being of Russians has improved over the past 10 years, and there are fewer people who barely make ends meet, according to a recent study by the Levada Center pollster. The survey polled 1,600 people in October and showed that since 2002 the number of Russians easily capable of purchasing […]
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MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax) – Former Russian finance minister Alexei Kudrin, who today heads a nongovernmental organization called Civil Initiatives Committee, has practically ruled out the possibility of Russia resorting to a revolution to change its established political practices and argued that an “evolutionary path through increasing freedom” is more likely. “I think that there is practically no reason” to […]
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MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) – The Moscow authorities have refused to grant permission for an opposition rally against “political repression” that was to be held later this week on that grounds that there is no such thing in Russia. “The current law does not provide any measures used by the state for repression based on political motives,” according to […]
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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – November 20, 2012) Although much-debated amendments for nongovernmental organizations go into force this Wednesday, do not expect foreign-funded NGOs to rush to re-register as “foreign agents” with the Justice Ministry. Prominent rights activists have announced they would boycott the new law, which they have lambasted as imposing an insulting title that makes […]
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MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) Russia’s economy will remain primarily based on raw materials production until 2030, along with the remnants of high technologies like the nuclear and space industries inherited from the Soviet era, Rosiiskaya Gazeta reported on Tuesday, citing the latest forecast by Russian economists. The Global Strategic Survey 2030 was prepared by the Institute of World […]
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(Interfax – November 20, 2012) The United States is prepared to cooperate with Russia in modernizing the system of control over conventional weapons in Europe, U.S. Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security Rose Gottemoeller said. “CFE [Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty] remains important,” she said on her Twitter page. “We look forward to working with […]
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(RFE/RL – November 19, 2012) Following his reelection, U.S. President Barack Obama now faces the task of revitalizing U.S.-Russian relations. Ties between Washington and Moscow have seemed to stagnate somewhat since the “reset” of 2009-10 and the return to the Kremlin of Vladimir Putin. RFE/RL correspondent Robert Coalson spoke recently with Steven Pifer, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution […]
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TBILISI. Nov 19 (Interfax) – The Georgian Ministry of Culture and Monument Protection does not intend to revise the status or name of the Soviet Occupation Museum functioning in Tbilisi, a ministry statement says. With the change of government in Georgia activist groups have stepped up efforts in the past few weeks demanding that the museum be closed or renamed. […]
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(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Evgeniya Chaykovskaya – November 19, 2012) Russian state companies have the highest-paid top managers, according to a list published by Forbes magazine. The magazine put VTB’s chairman of the board, Andrei Kostin, on the top spot with earnings of $30 million in 2011, with $194 million spent on payments to all key managers. He is […]
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(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Alina Lobzina – November 19, 2012) Well-known personalities who are descendants of Stalin-era forced collectivization victims are to tell their family stories in a film screening at Moscow’s center for documentary films DOC on Wednesday. The center is holding a screening of a new film, “Bread for Stalin. Stories of the dispossessed,” which was created […]
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GORKI, November 19 (RIA Novosti) – Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday lashed out at his government over its failure to fulfill 58 decisions issued by the country’s Constitutional Court and adopt over 200 government ordinances. He said that was “unacceptable” and “outrageous.” As for the 200 ordinances that the government was supposed to have issued by now, they […]
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(Interfax – November 19, 2012) Leading Russian NGOs intend to ignore the legislative amendments which require the registration as “agents of foreign influence” of non-governmental organizations with Western backing. The law will enter into force on Nov. 20, Tuesday. “I do not know a single human rights organization, which has appealed for being registered as a “foreign agent,” said Lyudmila […]
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(RFE/RL – November 17, 2012) As one of the most recognizable personalities on Russian television, Vladimir Pozner is no stranger to the spotlight. But the 78-year-old veteran journalist found himself in the midst of a controversy last month after lambasting the state of justice in the country during his popular show on state-controlled Channel One. Pozner harshly criticized the abduction […]
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(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Henry Meyer – November 18, 2012) Vladimir Putin, who has stirred up unprecedented protest to his more than decade-long rule in Russia, was not far from the minds of some watching the Royal Shakespeare Company’s “Julius Caesar” in Moscow. The story of betrayal and assassination of a dictator followed by civil war, set in a modern-day […]
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(Interfax – November 19, 2012) Former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev is pessimistic about the future political situation in Russia in the short-term perspective. When asked how he believes the situation will be developing in the country in an interview with The New Times, a Russian political magazine, Gorbachev said: “Difficult.” “I think there will be no mass repression. It won’t […]
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(Dr. Donald N. Jensen – Voice of America – Russian Service Crossfire – November 15, 2012) For decades US Presidents have called for American energy independence but have been unable to do much about it in the face of growing domestic energy consumption, popular fondness for gas guzzling vehicles and environmental restrictions. Those dreams, however, may finally be fulfilled. This […]
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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Roland Oliphant – November 19, 2012) U.S. President Barack Obama could sign the Magnitsky act into law by the end of this year, backers of the bill have said. The landmark legislation was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday. The bill would allow permanent normal trade relations with Russia and at the […]
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MOSCOW. Nov 19 (Interfax) – Moscow forestalled the adoption of the so-called Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act in the U.S. by enacting the law on NGOs acting as foreign agents, which is quite painful for Washington, but it should be prepared to see a number of European Union countries considering bills analogous to the one just passed by […]
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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – November 19, 2012) President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel traded barbs over Pussy Riot, human rights and democracy during Kremlin talks Friday that marked a turn in Berlin’s policy toward Moscow. Merkel, who had been under pressure not to be soft on Putin, seemingly enjoyed confronting her host about […]
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(Russia warns U.S. over human rights bill – Reuters – Thomas Grove – November 16, 2012 – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/16/us-usa-russia-idUSBRE8AF0RA20121116) Reuters covers Russian attempts to pressure the u.S. Congress over human rights legislation before it, being addresses in connection with trade legislation: Russia increased pressure on the U.S. Congress on Friday not to pass legislation that would punish Russian officials for human […]
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(What the Papers Say, Nov. 16, 2012 – Moscow Times/BBC Monitoring – November 16, 2012 – http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/what-the-papers-say-nov-16-2012/471565.html) The Moscow Times and BBC Monitoring examine highlights from Russian print newspapers: http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/what-the-papers-say-nov-16-2012/471565.html
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(Museum at heart of Russia’s Jewish culture revival – AP – Nataliya Vasilyeva – November 16, 2012 – click here for full article) AP takes a look at Moscow’s new Jewish Museum and Center of Tolerance: The museum, which opened this week, tells the history of Jewry through people’s stories, which come alive in video interviews and interactive displays. The […]
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CORRUPTION. There are those who believe that one of the main reasons for Putin’s re-appearance in the President’s chair was that only he has the political muscle to really move on Russia’s widespread problem of corruption, especially corruption at the top. I have always said that we won’t know that the anti-corruption drive is serious until it takes down someone in an office near Putin’s or Medvedev’s. Do we start to see this? The OboronServis case is getting bigger. The case concerns skulduggery with the extensive number of military properties …
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(Fyodor Krashenninikov and Leonid Volkov – www.opendemocracy.net – November 16, 2012) Leonid Volkov is protest movement activist and political blogger based in the city of Yekaterinburg. In 2009, Volkov ran for and won a seat on Yekaterinburg’s city council. Together with Fyodor Krasheninnikov he co-authored “Cloud Democracy” published in Russia in 2011. Fyodor Krasheninnikov is political PR consultant, protest movement […]
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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Bratersky – November 16, 2012) When President Vladimir Putin was asked in an interview last month about anti-corruption lawyer Alexei Navalny, he indicated that he thought opposition leaders had achieved little of substance. “I’m not repudiating anyone, and I don’t want to cheapen the merits of any of the possible leaders of the opposition,” […]
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(Interfax – November 14, 2012) Most indicators of social well-being show a positive trend in Russia, Interfax news agency reported on 14 November, quoting sociologists from the All-Russia Public Opinion Research Centre (VTsIOM). According to their information, over the last month people’s perception of their financial situation has increased by two points (from 64 to 66), due to an increase […]
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(Three cheers for the Magnitsky Act and American values- AEIdeas – www.aei.org – Leon Aron – November 15, 2012 – Leon Aron is Resident Scholar and Director of Russian Studies at the American Enterprise Institute – http://www.aei-ideas.org/2012/11/three-cheers-for-the-magnitsky-act-and-american-values/) Leon Aron of the American Enterprise Institute addresses the Magnitsky Act legislation currently before Congress: In the next few days, the House and […]
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(The Hill – Vicki Needham – November 15, 2012 – http://thehill.com/blogs/on-the-money/1005-trade/268385-top-senator-eager-to-clear-russia-trade-bill) The Hill covers Congressional action on legislation normalizing U.S. trade relations with Russia and imposing sanctions on human rights violators. One lawmaker wants to expand the human rights sanctions to make them global: A top Senate Democrat said he is determined to jump the final hurdle and clear a […]
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(RFE/RL – Tom Balmforth – November 14, 2012) MOSCOW The law was supposed to make the Internet safer for children. So far, it has led to the brief blocking of an electronic library, a popular satirical encyclopedia, and the country’s most highly trafficked torrent-tracking website. The sites are just the first collateral damage from controversial legislation aimed at regulating […]
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(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Henry Meyer and Jason Corcoran – November 16, 2012) Russian government reticence to discuss President Vladimir Putin’s health issues is adding to investor concern about the lack of transparency in a country that’s losing $80 billion a year in capital flight. The Russian leader canceled or postponed five foreign trips over more than a month, including […]
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(Interfax – Moscow, 14 November) Head of the State Duma Committee for International Affairs Aleksey Pushkov is convinced that the US Congressmen’s intention to pass the so-called Magnitskiy list law’ on Friday (16 November) and to abolish the Jackson-Vanik amendment at the same time shows that two different lobbying groups, one political and one economic, are involved. “By now, one […]
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(The Caucasus Emirate Goes Global – Stratfor.com – Gordon Hahn – Dr. Gordon M. Hahn is Senior Associate at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, D.C. – www.stratfor.com/other-voices/caucasus-emirate-goes-global) Gordon Hahn writes on the influences of international Islamic terrorism upon unrest in the Caucasus: For a decade almost all observers ignored, downplayed, and obfuscated an ugly truth about […]
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(Russia threatens tough response if US back rights bill – Reuters – Steve Gutterman – November 15 – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/15/russia-usa-idUSL5E8MFA6K20121115) Leading up to House consideration of Congressional legislation impacting trade relations with Russia, and sanctions over human rights issues, Reuters covers Russian warnings: Russia warned the United States on Thursday to expect a tough response if Congress passes “unfriendly and provocative” […]
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(Will the Cold Snap in Russian-German Relations Last? – RIA Novosti – Fyodor Lukyanov – November 15, 2012 – Fyodor Lukyanov is Editor-in-Chief of the Russia in Global Affairs journal http://en.ria.ru/columnists/20121115/177487605.html) Writing for RIA Novosti, Russia in Global Affairs commentator Fyodor Lukyanov considers the state of relations between Russia and Germany: Russian-German relations have hit a cold snap ahead […]
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(Russia nuclear envoy makes snap visit to Iran – AFP – November 15, 2012 – click here for full article) AFP covers a visit to Tehran by Russian nuclear envoy Sergei Ryabkov: Ryabkov, who is also deputy foreign minister, met Saeed Jalili, who said Tehran “hopes for a swift return of the P5+1 countries to the negotiating table,” the official […]
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(Bloomberg – bloomberg.com – Ksenia Galouchko and Michael Patterson – November 15, 2012) Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s efforts to give his citizens a better night’s sleep and ease stress for the nation’s farm animals are undermining his push to make Moscow a global financial center. Trading of Micex Index (INDEXCF) stocks has dropped 15 percent in Moscow since Oct. […]
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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Rachel Nielsen – November 15, 2012) At Wednesday’s congress of a major business lobbying group, the president of the country pulled a no-show, the first deputy prime minister told the group to avoid politics and a State Duma deputy personally fielded business complaints. The congress was the 10th annual gathering for Opora, a nationwide group […]
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NOVO-OGARYOVO. Nov 15 (Interfax) – Russian President Vladimir Putin thinks it necessary to raise the contribution that small and medium businesses make to Russia’s GDP. “The number of our small and medium enterprises is growing, but this level is still far from where it should be, given that in countries with a developed market economy the contribution of small and […]
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MOSCOW, November 15 (RIA Novosti) Russia ranked lowest among the BRICS nations in the Global Dynamism Index (GDI) published by the advisory firm Grant Thornton International on Thursday. Russia ranked just 43rd in the Index of 50 leading economies on their dynamism in five key areas business operating environment, economics and growth, science and technology, labor and human […]
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Ekaterina Loushnikova – www.opendemocracy.net – November 9, 2012 – Ekaterina Loushnikova is radio and print journalist based in the city of Kirov Many of the Soviet Gulag camps are now deserted, but Vyatlag is still in operation, though now most of the prisoners are there for criminal rather than political offences. But as Ekaterina Loushnikova has found, memories of the […]
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(Interfax – November 14, 2012) Russia’s chief auditor has described as “critical” the scale of embezzlement of fund allocated for state procurement, privately-owned Russian news agency Interfax reported on 14 November. “Every year, R1,000bn is embezzled from the funds allocated for state procurement,” Chairman of the Russian Audit Chamber Sergey Stepashin was quoted as saying. The sum is equal to […]
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(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Alina Lobzina – November 14, 2012) A State Duma deputy who was riled by the press for estimating the intellectual abilities of “the dumbest” of his colleagues above those of an average Russian, lamented the lack of control over journalists on Wednesday. Ilya Kovtunov, member of ruling United Russia party, tweeted his apologies but got […]
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Follow @JohnsonRussiaLi (Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 15, 2012) Russia doesn’t have an active Twitter handle, and it’s not even clear whether the coveted @Russia account is the government’s property, according to a study released Thursday. The study places @Russia in a group of 30 accounts named after countries out of 193 ones that the study looked at […]
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WASHINGTON November 14 (By Suleiman Wali for RIA Novosti) – A controversial new law that expands the definition of treason in Russia is being decried by critics in the United States as the Kremlin’s continuing effort to return the country to a “darker criminal code.” “Over the past six months, a series of laws have been passed in Russia that […]
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(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova and Anatoly Medetsky – November 15, 2012) The Kremlin remained silent Wednesday after U.S. lawmakers moved to advance a bill to punish Russian officials for human rights violations. A decision Tuesday by the House Rules Committee will bring the bill, which aroused strong opposition in Moscow, up for a vote by the full […]
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