Tag: Government

Russian deputy PM says democracy depends on innovative economy

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Skolkovo File Photo

(Interfax – Skolkovo, 28 November) Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov has described innovative work as a priority political task because high technologies contribute to the development of democracy. “I think innovative work is a priority political task. It precedes party building, it precedes elections, it comes before everything else, because there will be no democracy without high technologies and […]

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Putin’s Repressive Power Is Tested and Found Lacking

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin file photo

(Jamestown Foundation – jamestown.org – Eurasia Daily Monitor: Volume 9, Issue 217 – Pavel K. Baev – Nov. 28, 2012) A capacity for unleashing targeted repressions is crucial for the survival of authoritarian regimes, and President Vladimir Putin finds it increasingly difficult to demonstrate that he has such a capacity­or that he controls it. Health problems keep him confined to […]

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Medvedev: Repression Charges Are Pure Politics

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Dmitry Medvedev file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nov. 29, 2012) Saying the “repressive” label given to new laws on treason and other civil issues is “a pure political tactic,” Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev voiced support for the State Duma’s reinstating of criminal charges for libel ­ which overturned one of his own initiatives as president. In a wide-ranging interview published in Kommersant […]

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Russia’s Leadership ‘Tandem’ Losing Appeal – Poll

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

MOSCOW, November 29 (RIA Novosti) – The two men who form Russia’s ruling tandem – President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev – have seen their credibility and approval ratings drop over the past 11 months, the Levada polling agency said on Thursday. Putin’s credibility ratings fell from 41 percent in January to 34 percent in November, and Medvedev’s […]

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Number of Russians viewing authorities as corrupt continues to grow

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Man Placing Stack of Large Bills into Inside Pocket of Suitcoat

(Interfax – 11.29.12) Corruption in Russia remains high, and citizens are worried about it, the Russian Public Opinion Study Center (VTsIOM) told Interfax on Thursday. Seventy-five percent believe that the corruption level is high or even very high. The indicator was the same in 2007-2008, the sociologists said. Sixty percent claimed high corruption in their home towns in 2007. The […]

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Putin’s China Syndrome

Far East, Siberia, APEC, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

(RFE/RL – Brian Whitmore – Nov. 27, 2012) The Moscow punditocracy has had China on its mind lately. In fact, one leading commentator even confessed to suffering from “China envy.” When the Chinese Communist Party elected the country’s new top leaders earlier this month, with Hu Jintao relinquishing power to Xi Jinping, many in Russia’s chattering classes noted how favorably […]

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Veteran Russian journalist calls for privatization of all federal TV channels

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television
File Photo of Russian Television Studio

(Interfax – Moscow, 26 November) TV host Vladimir Pozner is calling for a real privatization of all federal TV channels, with one of them being turned into public TV. “Who is to blame for the fact that Russia has this sort of TV – I mean the federal channels, Channel One, Rossiya 1 and NTV? Who do these channels belong […]

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Roadmap to reform

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade
File Photo of Cash, Coins, Line Graph

(Ben Aris in Moscow – Business New Europe – www.bne.eu – November 27, 2012 – Ben Aris is the editor/publisher of Business New Europe) The Kremlin is scared. As the Russian economy emerges from the 2008 crisis, it is sliding smoothly and quickly into stagnation. In response, President Vladimir Putin challenged his government to implement 22 roadmaps to finally address […]

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NEWSLINK: Medvedev won’t rule out second term as Russian president

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

[Medvedev won’t rule out second term as Russian president – Russia Today – http://rt.com/politics/medvedev-kremlin-presidency-law-569/ – November 26, 2012] Pro-Kremlin news source RussiaToday.com covers Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s wide-ranging interview with French media, including talk of his possible return to the Kremlin, his tandem with Vladimir Putin, “tougher laws,” Pussy Riot and Mikhail Khodorkovsky. Click here for the full article: […]

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NEWSLINK: Medvedev says ‘does not rule out’ Kremlin comeback

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev with United Russia Logos Behind Him

[Medvedev says ‘does not rule out’ Kremlin comeback – AFP – Nicolas Miletitch and Stuart Williams – November 26, 2012 – click here for full article] AFP covers Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s declaration that he might seek a return to the Russian presidency: Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said he is not ruling out a return to the Kremlin after his […]

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Russians should learn to use internet to monitor authorities’ work – Medvedev

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Little Girl at Computer Next to Globe

(Interfax – Moscow, 21 November) Russian Prime Minister Dmitriy Medvedev believes that the public should learn to use the internet to monitor the activities of the authorities. “The internet gives us the opportunity to express our views of various issues, to take part in discussions and the monitor the work of the authorities. It is important to learn to use […]

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There is no censorship in Russia – culture minister

Media, Internet, Social Media, Television
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Interfax – November 23, 2012) Russian Culture Minister Vladimir Medinsky said there is no censorship in Russia. “There are no restrictions. There is no censorship in any form. And you won’t believe it, this outraged many people,” Medinsky told a briefing held in the Russian Foreign Ministry, a video of which has been posted on YouTube. “Three of every four […]

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Putin wants ineffective experts locked in submarine

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Vladimir Putin file photo

(Moscow News – themoscownews.com – Evgeniya Chaykovskaya – November 22, 2012) Russian President Vladimir Putin is unhappy with a development roadmap created by experts from the Agency for Strategic Initiatives (ASI), particularly on improving effectiveness of customs supervision, RIA Novosti reported. “The practice of implementing roadmaps shows that not everything is going as smoothly as we would like,” Putin said. […]

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Russia’s ‘Foreign Agents’ NGO Law Hit By Paperwork Snarl-Up

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Spies, Spy Allegations
Kremlin and Moscow Environs Aerial View

MOSCOW, November 23 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s insistence that NGOs of a “political” nature funded from abroad register as “foreign agents” has been tied down in paperwork – or, rather, the lack of it. The NGOS affected by the controversial law were required by law to register their new legal status with the Justice Ministry by November 21, but the […]

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US Magnitsky Bill Collides With New Russian Nationalism

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
U.S. Capitol at Twilight With Washington Monument, National Mall, Washington, D.C., Environs and Sunset in Background

(Voice of America – James Brooke – November 21, 2012 – James Brooke is VOA Moscow bureau chief, covering Russia and the former USSR) MOSCOW ­ Next week, the United States Senate is to take up the Magnitsky Act, a bill that would ban visas for, and freeze the bank accounts of, about 60 Russian officials believed to have been […]

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Far East Development Hinges on Branding and Diversity

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Far East, Siberia, APEC, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities
File Photo of People Working on Car Amidst Siberian Woodlands and Meadows

(Howard Amos – Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 21, 2012) Despite the establishment of a Far East Development Ministry in May, the area from Siberia to the Pacific coast lacks an effective administrative body to coordinate investment projects, according to Alexander Bazhenov, head of the Far East Development Fund. Decaying infrastructure, extreme weather conditions, a decreasing population and the […]

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Russian MPs Mull Potential Response To USA’s Magnitskiy Law

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
Memorial Flowers and Photo of Sergei Magnitsky

(RIA Novosti – November 20, 2012) Russian MPs have put forward various proposals for how Russia should respond to the USA’s “Magnitskiy list”, such as compiling a similar list of US officials or stepping up cooperation with the USA’s opponents, state news agency RIA Novosti reported on 20 November. The House of Representatives of the US Congress approved the “Magnitskiy […]

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Making of Magnitsky List a Murky Affair

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Human Rights, Population Disaster, Demographics, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
U.S. Capitol at Twilight With Washington Monument, National Mall, Washington, D.C., Environs and Sunset in Background

WASHINGTON, November 21 (By Carl Schreck for RIA Novosti) – With the Magnitsky Act moving through the US Congress, American lawmakers are making clear their intent to punish Russian officials deemed by Washington to be responsible for human rights abuses. Less clear is who will end up on this blacklist­and how. The Magnitsky bill passed Friday by the US House […]

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No reasons for state to increase ownership of Russian oil sector – Dvorkovich

Oil, Gas, Energy, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Arkady Dvorkovich file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 20 (Interfax) – Deputy Russian Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich said he saw no reasons for growth in state ownership of the Russian oil industry. “We see no reasons for the state’s ownership in the oil sector to increase. There’s good competition between companies, companies are working well, with good profitability and substantial investments,” Dvorkovich said at a conference […]

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Rogozin Warns of New Defense Corruption Purge

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Dmitry Rogozin file photo

MOSCOW, November 20 (RIA Novosti) ­ Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin warned on Tuesday of a new clean-out of corruption and crooked officials in the country’s arms industry, following a series of high-profile scandals in the sector. “A clean-out is inevitable,” the deputy prime minister, who is in charge of the defense industry, told Kommersant. “The pitcher goes often […]

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Russian Premier Says Computer Illiterate Officials Should Be Dismissed

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo Dmitry Medvedev at Desk with Laptop Computer

(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 Bans ‘Political Repression’ Protest – ‘No Such Thing’

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Moscow Protest file photo

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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Activists Scoff at NGO Law

Human Rights, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Spies, Spy Allegations
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(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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Russia’s highest-paid top managers work in state companies – Forbes

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Empty Boardroom

(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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Medvedev Scolds Government for Inaction on Court Rulings

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Dmitry Medvedev file photo

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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Gorbachev is pessimistic about future political situation in Russia

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Mikhail Gorbachev and Ronald Reagan at Table Signing Documents

(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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NEWSLINK: Russia warns U.S. over human rights bill

Assassinations, Beatings, Threats, Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, United States, U.S.-Russian Relations
File Photo of U.S. Capitol Dome

(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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Putin Health Confusion Sparks Investor Concern

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Vladimir Putin at Desk

(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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Russian chief auditor: 30bn dollars a year embezzled from state procurement

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Man Placing Stack of Large Bills into Inside Pocket of Suitcoat

(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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Russian Watchdog Strikes 21 Entries Off Blacklist

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Image of Stylized Eye Surrounded by Binary Code

MOSCOW, November 14 (RIA Novosti) ­ Russia’s telecoms watchdog, Roskomnadzor, has struck 21 entries off its “blacklist” in three days, the agency said in a statement on Wednesday. The 21 links and IP-addresses included popular internet resources, whose blacklisting triggered public debate. “This includes the Lurkmore.to resource, links to individual pages in the social networking site Vkontakte and also the […]

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Internet Censorship Faces Obstacles

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Image of Stylized Eye Surrounded by Binary Code

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Nikolaus von Twickel – November 14, 2012) As the number of websites banned or blocked under the new Internet law continues to grow, the country’s media watchdog backpedaled Tuesday by acknowledging that censoring content was technically and legally difficult, and it promised to remove popular sites from the blacklist. The Mass Media Inspection Service said […]

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Russian premier says nothing has changed in his relations with Putin

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

(Interfax – Moscow, 13 November) [Prime Minister] Dmitriy Medvedev has said that after stepping down as president and moving to the government, his relations with Vladimir Putin have not changed. “As regards about our relations with the president – I have commented on this topic many times – nothing has changed since I went to work in the government while […]

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Despite Putin’s ‘Promise,’ Anti-Treason Law Comes into Force

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Media, Internet, Social Media, Television, Nonprofits, Activists, NGO's, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Spies, Spy Allegations
Vladimir Putin file photo

MOSCOW, November 14 (Marc Bennetts, RIA Novosti) ­ A controversial law on state treason that critics fear could be used to stamp out political dissent came into force in Russia on Wednesday, two days after President Vladimir Putin told human rights workers he was ready to “review” it. The law, initiated by the Federal Security Service (FSB), and signed by […]

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Putin’s Human Rights Council Gets 39 New Members

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Kremlin and St. Basil's

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Yekaterina Kravtsova – November 13, 2012) President Vladimir Putin’s human rights council gained 39 new members on Monday as its total membership count rose from 40 to 62 in a reshuffle that saw more than a dozen leave. A longtime head of the council told The Moscow Times that, in its expanded form, the panel […]

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Brezhnev’s Children

History, Soviet Union, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Leonid Brezhnev and Richard Nixon Sitting and Talking, as Nixon Gestures, with Third Man Standing and Leaning Closely Between Them

(RFE/RL – Brian Whitmore – November 8, 2012) In many ways, the current battle for Russia’s future began 30 years ago this week. On November 10, 1982, Leonid Brezhnev died, sparking a generational change in the Soviet leadership and setting in motion an ongoing cycle of reform and reaction in Russia that remains incomplete and inconclusive to this day. The […]

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Kremlin Human Rights Body Bound to Be Less Critical of Govt – Analyst

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Russian Jail File Photo Showing Outer Wall, Windows, Barbed Wire

MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax) – The new composition of the Council on Civil Society Development and Human Rights, a 39-member Kremlin consultative body, as approved by President Vladimir Putin “significantly devalues the presence of critics of the government” the council, an analyst said on Monday. “If one looks at who has been included in the council, one can say that […]

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Rights activists says torture still used in Russia

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Health, Epidemics, Substance Abuse, Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Russian Jail File Photo Showing Outer Wall, Windows, Barbed Wire

(Interfax – Moscow, 8 November) According to human rights activists, torture is still practiced in Russia and people complain of ill-treatment received at detention centres, police, army and mental hospitals. “Human rights organizations have registered incidents of torture and ill-treatment in the prison system. They have also seen an increase in complaints in recent years. Tortures in remand centres are […]

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Head of Critical Elections Monitor Joins Rights Council

Human Rights, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Russian Jail File Photo Showing Outer Wall, Windows, Barbed Wire

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – November 12, 2012) The head of a U.S.-funded elections watchdog famous for its critical commentary on Russia’s electoral system was included in Vladimir Putin’s presidential human rights council on Monday. Putin is expected to chair a council meeting late Monday, Interfax reported, citing the Kremlin press service. Lilia Shabanova, head of the Golos election watchdog […]

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Russians’ Confidence in Police Grows a Little – Poll

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Russian Police Officer file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 12 (Interfax) – Nothing changed with renaming of Russian militia into police, said 64% of 1,600 respondents polled by the Superjob.ru portal in late October. The opinion was expressed by 71% in a similar poll in 2011. Ten percent believe there is a certain deterioration (8% last year), and 5% claim changes for the better (3% in 2011). […]

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Putin: Police Reform Cannot Be Considered Finished

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Russian Police Officer file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax) – The reform of the Russian police system cannot be considered finished, and further efforts are needed to improve it, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting with Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev on Saturday. “The reform of which it has been said so much and which is being carried out perhaps cannot be considered finished. […]

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Russian opposition leader targets corruption, mismanagement in utilities

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Navalny file photo

(Interfax – November 8, 2012) Moscow, 8 November: Opposition figure and blogger Aleksey Navalnyy has announced the launch of a new project, called RosZhKKh, for fighting corruption and shortcomings in the work of utilities and municipal services companies. “It is common knowledge that ZhKKh (Russian abbreviation for utilities and municipal services) in Russia is a black hole that sucks in […]

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Shoigu Inherits Armed Forces at Crossroads

Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Shoigu file photo

(Moscow Times – themoscowtimes.com – Alexander Bratersky and Jonathan Earle – November 9, 2012) When Sergei Shoigu took the reins of the Defense Ministry on Thursday, he officially inherited a military at a crossroads, torn between tradition and the half-completed reforms of his disgraced predecessor, Anatoly Serdyukov. Shoigu will have to decide between maintaining a large, conventional force or pursuing […]

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Confidence Ratings of Russian President, Premier Stabilize – Poll

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
File Photo of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin with Heads Bowed Over Microphone

MOSCOW. Nov 8 (Interfax) – The decline in confidence ratings for President Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which started after the March presidential election in Russia, has slowed. Their confidence ratings stood at 42-44% and 36-38% respectively in September-October, the Public Opinion Foundation reported on Thursday. The Foundation held its latest poll of 3,000 respondents in 204 towns […]

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NEWSLINK: Kremlin Can’t Decide Whether Russia is Heir to the Soviet Union or to Imperial Russia, Inozemtsev Says

History, Soviet Union, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Romanov Family Photo

(Kremlin Can’t Decide Whether Russia is Heir to the Soviet Union or to Imperial Russia, Inozemtsev Says Paul Goble – Window on Eurasia – Staunton, November 7 – http://windowoneurasia2.blogspot.com/2012/11/window-on-eurasia-kremlin-cant-decide.html) Paul Goble, in Window on Eurasia, examines an argument by Vladislav Inozemtsev, head of the Civic Force Party, that the Kremlin is wrestling with how to regard Russia’s heritage in terms […]

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The war between the president’s men

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Putin Descending a Staircase file photo

(Dmitri Travin – opendemocracy.net – November 6, 2012 – Dmitri Travin is Research Director at the European University in St. Petersburg’s Centre of Modernization Studies) The Russian regime may present a united front to the world, but behind the scenes the cracks are beginning to show. In the week when Putin fired a senior government member, Dmitri Travin looks at […]

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Kudrin Does Not See Way Back to Govt For Now

Economy, Business, Investment, Trade, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Alexei Kudrin file photo

MOSCOW. Nov 6 (Interfax) – Former Russian finance minister and current head of the Civil Initiatives Committee, Alexei Kudrin, is not upset with Dmitry Medvedev, who sacked him when he was president, and does not regret quitting the government. “I will say that at the moment I do not see the conditions for my return,” Kudrin said in an interview […]

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NEWSLINK: Putin dismisses defense minister after scandal

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Anatoliy Serdyukov file photo

(Putin dismisses defense minister after scandal – Reuters – Thomas Grove – November 6, 2012 – http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/06/us-russia-defence-idUSBRE8A50A820121106) Reuters covers Russian President Vladimir Putin’s sacking of defense minister Anatoly Serdyukov after a multi-million dollar corruption scandal.  Putin replaced Serdyukov with former emergencies minister Sergei Shoigu, who has enjoyed a strong  public approval rating: Putin’s announcement made at a meeting with Shoigu […]

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NEWSLINK: Defense chief firing key step in Russia’s military reform ­- experts [Shoigu replaces Serdyukov]

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Human Rights, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Sergei Shoigu file photo

(Defense chief firing key step in Russia’s military reform ­ experts – Russia Today – November 6, 2012 – http://rt.com/politics/serdyukov-defense-shoigu-minister-061/) Kremlin-backed media source Russia Today reports on the replacement of Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov with former Emergencies Ministry chief Sergey Shoigu: President Vladimir Putin sacked Serdyukov after his ministry was drawn into a major scandal over alleged selling off […]

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Russian MPs and senators praise defence minister’s dismissal

Corruption, Law, Police, Courts, Crime, Military, Politics, Government, Protests, Elections
Anatoliy Serdyukov file photo

(Interfax – November 6, 2012) The dismissal of Russian Defence Minister Anatoliy Serdyukov has been welcomed by senior figures in the Duma and the Federation Council, media sources reported. Serdyukov’s critics pointed to the way the military are being reorganized and to a fraud scandal that has recently erupted at the ministry. They contrasted this to the record of his […]

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Summer is cancelled for Russia’s bureaucrats -­ but will they play ball?

Politics, Government, Protests, Elections, Regions, Cities, Municipalities
Arm and Torso of Person in Brown Sweater Placing Paper Ballot into Ballot Box

(Mikhail Loginov – www.opendemocracy.net –  November 2, 2012- Mikhail Loginov is a journalist and novelist based in St. Petersburg. He is the author of the recently published bestselling political thriller “Battle for Kremlin”.) October is Russia’s local election month, and some regions have just elected governors for the first time in seven years, part of an electoral reform designed to […]

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