RFE/RL Russia Report
24.07.2012
A review of RFE/RL reporting and analysis about domestic and foreign-policy developments in Russia.
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Senate Panel Votes To Lift Jackson-Vanik
A key U.S. Senate panel has voted in favor of lifting Cold War trade restrictions on Russia, while also backing sanctions to punish Russian human rights violators. More 
Five Arrested In Tatar Attacks
Investigators in Russia say five men have been arrested in connection with the attacks on two Islamic spiritual leaders in the mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan. More 
Putin Signs NGO 'Foreign Agents' Law
The Kremlin press service reports that President Vladimir Putin has signed into law a controversial bill that requires nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) which receive funding from abroad to register with the Justice Ministry as "foreign agents." More 
Tajikistan Denies Russian Base Claims
Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry has denied a Russian general's statement that Dushanbe has agreed to accept Moscow's conditions to extend Russia's rights to use a military base on Tajik territory for a further 49 years. More 
Soviet Fans' Lasting Love For Jon Lord And Deep Purple
The death of innovative composer and Deep Purple founder Jon Lord, at 71 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, has inspired tributes around the world. More 
Russian Stars Auction Jewelry For Flood Victims
Russian TV personality and opposition activist Ksenia Sobchak organized a charity auction of jewelry donated by supporters to raise money for children who lost one or both parents in the deadly floods in Russia’s south. (RFE/RL’s Russian Service) More 
Russian Humor And Asymmetrical Warfare (UPDATED x2)
The "swindlers and thieves" moniker is being revived to mock a series of controversial laws aimed at curbing Russian civil society. More 
Russia's Internet Defense League: A 'Grassroots Initiative' Created By The Government
The league's website gives the impression of a group of concerned citizens and professionals who have come together in order to self-regulate the Internet and thus avoid top-down censorship. But it's not. More 
Twin Attacks On Russian Religious Leaders
The government-backed top Islamic leader in Russia's mainly Muslim republic of Tatarstan has been injured and his former deputy killed in two separate attacks. More 
As Pressure Rises, Some Gay Russians Avoid Rights Struggle
Russia has recently introduced controversial new legislation that bans "propagandizing" homosexuality among minors, making it risky for gay activists even to speak out. As their community gets pushed farther into the margins, some gay men and women are choosing to protect their privacy and remain silent rather than face an uphill battle for tolerance. (Video by Alexander Gorelik of RFE/RL's Russian Service) More 
Kazan Attacks Spark Terrorism Fears
The brazen murder of a powerful Muslim cleric in Tatarstan and a separate assassination attempt on the republic's mufti have shaken authorities in what is traditionally one of Russia's most stable Muslim-majority regions. More 
Russia's Human Rights Champion Lyudmila Alekseyeva Marks 85th Birthday
Journalists and activists in Russia have honored the human rights advocate Lyudmila Alekseyeva on the occasion of her 85th birthday. More 
Podcast: Jokes, Pranks, And Videotape -- The New Russian Political Humor
Once the domain of kitchen table discussions, Russian political humor has gone viral. But what effect is it having? More 
Olympic Medalists Set To Cash In At London 2012
The International Olympic Committee has never given cash prizes to medalists. But many countries are now promising lucrative bonus awards to their athletes who win Olympic medals at London 2012. More 
More Western Rock 'N' Roll Solidarity For Pussy Riot
Legally speaking, Russian dissident punk collective Pussy Riot has had a rough few months. Some high-profile Western rockers are trying to lend a helping hand. More 
One Chechen's Cry From A Russian Jail -- 'Do These People Have Hearts?'
The Russian authorities say the war in Chechnya is over and reconstruction is well under way. But rights activists say the republic's uneasy calm is happening amid thousands of extrajudicial disappearances, cases of torture, and trumped-up legal processes. RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service correspondent Amina Umarova recently spoke to one Chechen man who is serving an 18-year sentence for a conviction he claims is based entirely on evidence obtained by torture. This is his story. More 
Not A Happy Meal: Russia's Top Health Official Slams Hamburgers And Sushi
Gennady Onishchenko, Russia’s chief health inspector, has called on citizens to stop eating hamburgers. More 
'Take This Law And Shove It!'
Russian rights groups are starting a campaign of civil disobedience against a new law on NGOs that receive foreign funding. More 
Street Art: Pothole Politics In Yekaterinburg
Activists in Yekaterinburg have come up with a novel way to force their politicians to deal with the Urals city's notorious pothole problem. More 
Athletes Don't Always Honor Olympic Spirit
The Olympics are supposed to be about winning and good sportsmanship. But things aren't always that clean-cut. Here we look at some of the game's more notorious moments and figures. More 
Rights Advocate Lyudmila Alekseyeva Reminisces
Human rights activist Lyudmila Alekseyeva turned 85 on July 20. She spoke to Kristina Gorelik of RFE/RL’s Russian Service about her long career as a dissident and rights campaigner. More |