RFE/RL Russia Report
3/29/2011 7:45:55 PM
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about domestic and foreign-policy developments in Russia.
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New Civil Society Forum Hopes To Influence EU-Russia Relations
Human rights groups and other NGOs are inaugurating an EU-backed forum on civil society they hope will have a say in relations with Moscow. But the activists from Russia and European countries taking part face an uphill struggle to pressure a Kremlin that has periodically paid lip service to reform while maintaining its growing grip on power. More 
Umarov Charged With Moscow Attack
Russia has charged Chechen warlord Doku Umarov with organizing an attack on Moscow's Domodedovo Airport that killed 37 people in January. The announcement came a day after security forces claimed to have slain 17 rebels in the North Caucasus in an operation President Dmitry Medvedev said dealt a "heavy blow" to the insurgents. More 
Kosovars Await Next Step After Presidential Vote Nullified
Opposition politicians in Kosovo have welcomed a ruling by the country's highest court nullifying the election by parliament of a new president last month. Behgjet Pacolli, a multimillionaire with close ties to Russia, was selected during a parliament session that was boycotted by a number of lawmakers. More 
Belarus Jails, Bans Russian Journalist
Aleksandr Lashmankin told RFE/RL that he plans to appeal his arrest and the decision to annul his accreditation, describing both as politically motivated. More 
Khodorkovsky Whistle-Blower Quits
Natalya Vasilyeva had claimed last month that senior officials pressured Judge Viktor Danilkin into convicting former Mikhail Khodorkovsky on additional fraud charges in December and extending the former Yukos leader's prison term through 2017. More 
Amnesty International Says Executions On Decline Worldwide
The number of executions worldwide has declined in the past year, but the death penalty is still imposed on thousands of people around the world each year, according to a new report by Amnesty International. More 
A Year Before Elections, What About Russia's Corruption Fight?
With venal Middle East authoritarians coming under greater pressure and, in some cases, giving way, Russia’s systemic corruption is becoming especially conspicuous. More 
Russia Adopts Summer Time -- For Good
Russia has permanently switched to summer time. More 
Violent Crimes In Russian Army Increase
Russian Military Prosecutor-General Sergei Fridinsky says that more than 500 violent crimes have taken place in the Russian army since January. More 
Russian 'Pirates' Sentenced
A Russian court has sentenced six men accused of taking part in hijacking the "Arctic Sea" cargo ship in 2009, when its bizarre disappearance prompted an international search and speculation about a secret Russian arms sale to the Middle East gone bad. More 
BP's Russian Partners Block Major Arctic Oil Deal
A Swedish arbitration panel has dealt the BP energy company a setback by blocking a major deal with Russia's Rosneft to explore oil reserves in the Arctic. The suit was filed by the Russian partners of BP's Russian joint venture, which was not part of the deal. More 
Russia Increases Tajik Gas Tariffs
Russia says it has decided to increase tariffs for oil and oil products exported to Tajikistan. More 
The Prodigal Ambassador Returns
The struggle over Russian policy toward the upheaval in Libya is far from over. Former ambassador Vladimir Chamov, who was sacked last week, has returned to Moscow -- and he doesn't appear ready to go quietly into the sunset. More 
International Crises Boost Russia’s Energy Posture
With U.S.-led fighter jets pounding military assets in oil-rich Libya, and Japan still struggling to contain radiation at its stricken Fukushima nuclear plant, concerns are rising around the world about the future of energy supplies. But not in Russia. More 
Bashkortostan Strains Against Moscow Centralization
Students in the Russian region of Bashkortostan are protesting the alleged suppression of Bashkir language and culture -- a quiet, but stern test of Moscow's claims that Russia is multicultural, multiconfessional federation. More 
Ingush Oppositionist Beaten, Detained
Opposition activist Magomed Khazbiyev was beaten and detained today in the volatile Russian republic of Ingushetia. More 
Russian Ombudsman Slams Extrajudicial Killings In North Caucasus
In the annual report on human rights in Russia, ombudsman Vladimir Lukin condemns the ongoing "extrajudicial killings of members of illegal armed formations in the North Caucasus." Lukin stresses that he does not question the need for harsh measures in the fight against militants, but he reaffirms that the struggle against lawlessness must be waged using only lawful means. More 
Russia's 30-Ruble Army
The existence of China’s 50-cent party is well known. But now it seems Russia is attempting to form its own army of online contributors, who are paid a small sum to comment on articles or in forums critical of the ruling elite. More |
