RFE/RL Russia Report
4/24/2012 8:32:40 PM
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about domestic and foreign-policy developments in Russia.
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Putin To Quit As Head Of Ruling Party
Russian President-elect Vladimir Putin has said he plans to resign as chairman of the country's increasingly unpopular ruling party, United Russia. More 
Discoverers Share More Of White Orca's Secrets
For more on what could be the first sighting in history of "an adult all-white, probably albino, orca bull," RFE/RL spoke via e-mail with Erich Hoyt, a co-leader of the FEROP project whose Moscow and St. Petersburg scientists made the discovery. More 
The First Person To Die On A Spaceflight, 45 Years Ago
Forty-five years ago today, cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov died when the parachutes on his Soyuz 1 space capsule failed to deploy properly after reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. The capsule slammed onto Soviet soil near Orenburg, Russia, on April 24, 1967. More 
The Political Metamorphosis Of Oleg Shein
Before he became the darling of Moscow's liberal intelligentsia for his hunger strike protesting the alleged falsification in Astrakhan's mayoral election, Oleg Shein was a leftist firebrand, a union leader, and an obedient pro-Kremlin State Duma deputy. His status illustrates the ideological diversity of the anti-Kremlin protest movement. More 
Russian Opposition Candidate To End 40-Day Hunger Strike
A Russian opposition politician who has been on a hunger strike for 39 days to protest alleged vote rigging in a mayoral election says he will end his protest fast on April 24. More 
Medvedev Pardons Police Assault Man
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on April 23 pardoned a man convicted of attacking a police officer during an unsanctioned opposition rally in Moscow in December 2009. More 
White Killer Whale Captivates Scientists Off Russian Coast
One-of-a-kind images have been shared from the icy waters off Russia's Far East, where the Far East Russian Orca Project captured the first-ever video and photographs of a pure-white, mature orca. More 
North Caucasus Insurgency Leader Predicts 'Results' From Spring Offensive
A new 20-minute video has been posted on YouTube in which self-styled Caucasus Emirate head Doku Umarov talked about the current state of the insurgency in the North Caucasus. More 
Russia Rallies 'In Defense' Of Faith
Thousands of believers gathered outside Russia's main cathedral on April 22 as part of what religious leaders called a day of prayer "in defense" of the Orthodox Christian faith. More 
Podcast: The Politics Of Television
In this week's edition of the Power Vertical podcast we look at two issues: the politics of television in Russia and the upcoming mayoral election in Omsk. More The Russian Orthodox Church will hold a nationwide Divine Liturgy on April 22 to counter what it describes as a vicious campaign against its faith and clerics. The unprecedented liturgy comes as the church and its leader, the powerful Patriarch Kirill, is embroiled in a series of scandals. More 
U.S. Magnitsky Bill May Draw Russian Ire
U.S. Senator Benjamin Cardin (Democrat-Maryland) says he expects a "macho" response from Moscow should Congress pass legislation punishing Russian officials implicated in the death of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky. More 
The Winds Of Slow Change
Feeling safer after a season of protest, the Kremlin is backtracking on reforms. But can Russia's ruling elite turn the clock back? More 
One Step Forward, One Step Back For Russia's Siberian Tigers
On April 18, a Chinese woman was detained on the Russian border in the Far Eastern region of Primorye with three Siberian tiger legs. More 
Russian Punks' Custody Extended
A Moscow court is set to consider whether to extend the detention of three female punk rockers arrested after a protest performance in Moscow's Christ the Savior Cathedral. More 
Afro-Sporting Blogger Invades Omsk
Ilya Varlamov will have a hard time winning Omsk's mayoral election. But his candidacy could nevertheless be groundbreaking. More 
Russian Street Artist Gives Urban Life A Facelift
We tracked down hoodied Russian street artist Nikita Nomerz, whose gaining renown at home and abroad for his "Living Wall" project, which imparts human features to rundown city walls and other large objects. More 
The Kremlin's New 'Managed Chaos' Strategy
In the aftermath of opposition victories in Tolyatti, Chernogolovka, and Yaroslavl -- and with key races looming this summer in Omsk and Krasnoyarsk -- the Kremlin is casting about for a new strategy. More 
Tajikistan Wants 'Respect' From Russia
Tajik President Emomali Rahmon has called Russia his country's only strategic partner but said Moscow should "respect" Tajikistan. More |
