Tensions on the Korean peninsula bring Russia and China closer

North Korea Map and Flag

(Russia Beyond the Headlines – rbth.ru – Andrei Ilyashenko, special to RBTH – April 1, 2013) Andrei Ilyashenko is a columnist on the Middle East issues for several Russian media and military magazines. For Moscow and Beijing the consequences of North Korea’s posturing in recent months could turn into a major security issue. North Korean propagandists recently posted a YouTube […]

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Russia’s ‘Novaya Gazeta’ Marks 20th Anniversary

File Photo of Mourners with Photo of Anna Politkovskaya

(RFE/RL –  rferl.org – Claire Bigg – April 1, 2013) Few Russian newspapers have faced as much adversity as “Novaya gazeta.” Best known for its hard-hitting investigative reports on government corruption and rights abuses in the North Caucasus, the newspaper has come under intense government pressure in its two decades of existence. It has battled several high-profile lawsuits, suffered serious […]

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Litmus Test Election Reveals Flaws

Arm and Torso of Person in Brown Sweater Placing Paper Ballot into Ballot Box

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – April 1, 2013 – Natalya Krainova) ZHUKOVSKY, Moscow Region ­ This town of 100,000 people, 25 kilometers southeast of the capital, elected its mayor on Sunday in an election marred by numerous reports of falsifications and vote-buying in favor of the government-sponsored candidate. The election was seen as a litmus test of people’s trust in […]

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Ombudsman concerned about rights violations in regional Russia

Vladimir Lukin file photo

(Interfax – March 28, 2013) Russia’s rights ombudsman Vladimir Lukin presented a report on the observation of human rights in Russia in 2012 to President Vladimir Putin, the Interfax news agency reported on 28 March. He highlighted that not enough attention was paid to rights issues in some regions and expressed concern about pressure on regional ombudsmen. Lukin said that […]

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Putin Borrows From Soviet Union on Social Justice

File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Jonathan Earle – April 1, 2013) President Vladimir Putin described the Soviet Union as a land of opportunity and called for two Soviet relics, mandatory school uniforms and the “Hero of Labor” award, to be dusted off in the name of social justice, during an informal meeting with supporters in Rostov-on-Don on Friday. The Soviet […]

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Putin’s income declaration to be published in mid-April – spokesman

Vladimir Putin file photo

MOSCOW. March 31 (Interfax) – President Vladimir Putin and the other Kremlin officials declared their incomes before April 1, as required, and their income declarations will be published in mid-April, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has announced. “All income declarations for 2012 have been submitted and they will be processed and published within two weeks,” Peskov said. The Kremlin releases income […]

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Vice Presidential Post Mulled to Ensure Power Transition

Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – April 1, 2013) A group of President Vladimir Putin’s advisors are considering reintroducing the position of vice president ­ a move that might create conditions for a smooth transition of power to Putin’s presumed successor. “There are a lot of downsides to it, since we don’t want to return to the situation with Rutskoi,” said […]

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