[The following article describes the latest developments in the investigation into the embezzlement of funds from the GLONASS satellite programme. Investigators have revealed that the management of a company affiliated by the programme are suspected of taking part in the theft, and the CEO of NPP Metromark Infosystems has been arrested—Ed.] There have been new […]
Translations
Even Hospitals Contribute to United Russia
[According to the Central Election Commission data for 2012, the ruling United Russia party is the Russia’s wealthiest political party: its earnings amounted to 3.9 billion roubles ($122 million), most of which were received from the state budget. The emptiest coffers were those of RPR-PARNAS, that will have to finance its election campaign not from […]
“Not Only is Korovin on Trial, But All Honest People in Russia”
[In his blog on The New Times, opposition leader Ilya Yashin reports on the court appearance of Vadim Korovin, an activist from the Federation of Car Owners, who allegedly ran into a Traffic and Road Safety Inspector after refusing to yield right of way to an official motorcade. His treatment has attracted the attention of civic […]
Doubts Regarding Delivery of S-300s to Syria
[This report in Vedomosti analyses the doubts expressed by some regarding the delivery of the S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to Syria by the Russian government. The article suggests that these systems may be of little use to the Assad regime, and are in fact more important as a source of international leverage for the Russian government.—Ed.] […]
Politkovskaya murder trial must be open
[On June 3, the second trial of suspects in the murder of the muck-raking journalist, Anna Politkovskaya, will commence in the Moscow City Court. Politkovskaya, who was famous for her critical stance towards the Putin government—particularly its conduct in Chechnya—was gunned down in her apartment building in October 2006. Novaya Gazeta, the paper for which […]
Law Enforcement Logic Equates Experts’ Community to Foreign Agents
The new “Foreign Agents” law is affecting not only NGO’s, but also some of the country’s most respected economists. These economists have penned an open letter in Vedemosti detailing the damaging effects that the new law will have on economic research, and in turn economic activity in the country. The events of recent years, including […]
Presidential Administration Lawyers Not Allowed to Become Realtors
Police have detained officers of the Center for Financial and Legal Support of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise of the Russian Federation Administrative Department of the President, suspected of extorting bribes for help in signing leases on buildings in the center of Moscow. The government officials charged 10 million rubles for their services. According to […]
Regime Moves Toward Intellectual Bankruptcy
Sergei Guriyev, one of Russia’s best economists and administrators of economics scholarship, has resigned from his post of dean of the Russian Economic School (RES) and has refused to run for a seat on the supervisory board of Sberbank. Guriyev is in Paris for now, where his family lives and where his wife, the brilliant […]
Liberal Emigration Wave: Why Sergei Guriyev May Leave Russia
Sergei Guriyev, dean of the Russian Economic School, has resigned of his own accord from the supervisory board of Sberbank and has written a request not to include him as a candidate in the voting list at the annual meeting of the bank’s shareholders. Sberbank announced this 28 May, adding that Guriyev explained his wish […]
Shoigu Offered Chance to Unite Youth in Fatherland Guard
On May 22, a presentation of the military-patriotic movement Fatherland Guard will take place during the closed government hour at the State Duma, where Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu is expected. The Fatherland Guard will be involved in the patriotic education of children and preparation of youth for the army. Viktor Vodolatsky, a State Duma deputy […]