[Today, opposition leader Alexey Navalny made his closing statement at his trial for “embezzlement.” The defense was not allowed to call any witnesses and comments made before the trial began by the presiding judge and officials from the Investigative Committee characterized his guilt as a foregone conclusion. Nevertheless, Navalny remained defiant in the face of […]
[On July 3, Yevgeny Urlashov, the opposition-backed mayor of Yaroslavl, was arrested on charges of soliciting a bribe. Anti-Kremlin activists have called his arrest politically motivated and have gathered on Aleksandr Nevsky Square in Yaroslavl in defense of the mayor. All of Urlashov’s subordinates detained have turned on him and confessed their guilt. MVD Spokesman Vladimir Markin […]
[Nikita Ivanov is a close associate of former Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov who was ousted from power in May. — Ed.] Nikita Ivanov will be replaced with an ethnic Ingush. Nikita Ivanov, a senator from Ingushetia will soon leave the Council of the Federation, according to a senior official of the regional administration. “Nikita […]
Russia’s budget may be short 887 billion rubles from the privatization program of 2014-2016, according to a draft of the basic trends in the budget policy obtained by RIA Novosti. The document has not been officially reported. Sources at the Ministry of Finance indicate that the privatization plan forecast revenue for the budget of 230 […]
[At the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, President Putin discussed Internet freedom with global business leaders as the Russian parliament initially approved a draft anti-piracy law despite an outcry from Russian Internet companies and free speech activists, Kommersant reports. Meanwhile, the FSB investigated an online hoax involving Russian Railways chief Vladimir Yakunin the Federal Security Agency […]
The new Venezuelan President is on his first visit to Europe. The most important stop of that trip is Moscow, where on July 1-2 he will, among other things, might try to be part of the developments around Edward Snowden, a former NSA agent, who is now somewhere in the Russian capital. The Venezuelan leader […]
[Golos, Russia’s only independent election monitor, is the first NGO to succumb to the controversial new law forcing groups that receive foreign funds or engage in “political” activities to register as “foreign agents.” — Ed.] The Ministry of Justice has suspended activities of the “Golos” association for six months. The organization is surprised by this […]
Russian President Vladimir Putin has approved changes to the Russian Federation Criminal Code introducing punishment for offense of the religious beliefs and feelings of citizens. The maximum measure of punishment under the new law will be deprivation of freedom up to three years. A fine of up to 500,000 rubles as well as compulsory and […]
The maxim term of imprisonment for taking part in an extremist association has been increased from two to four years under a draft law that the Russian government has submitted to the State Duma. Furthermore, the fine for this violation of the law is increased from 40,000 to 100,000 rubles. The relevant amendments have been […]
All 12 suspects in the case of mass disturbances on Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square on 6 May 2012 have refused to plead guilty in court, a correspondent of the Russian Agency for Legal and Judicial Information (RASPI) reports. The session of the Zamoskovoretsky Court in the capital was open to the public at the Moscow City […]
