Last Thursday, Sergei Magnitsky was convicted of tax evasion. The only problem was he was not there to hear the verdict read. Magnitsky was killed in Moscow’s Butyrka prison in 2009, likely as a result of beatings and a lack of medical treatment. His crime was uncovering a $230 million tax fraud involving members of […]
It’s an awkward feeling when you have to write something very significant before your sentencing tomorrow. The problem of course isn’t to make the words and letters meaningful – that I can do easily. The problem is that the perception will vary strongly depending on the sentence itself. It’s a strange situation, for sure: If […]
Russia has long been host to a revanchist nationalism, both in its establishment political system but also in its opposition movements. In one of its least attractive forms, this nationalism is embodied in the slogan “Russia for Russians,” which is a not too subtle plaint against immigrants and ethnic minorities and championed by, among many others, […]
The North Caucasus is a seething with tension in recent weeks. One area where ethnic tensions are rapidly escalating is in Pugachev. Below is part one of Sasha de Vogel’s investigation into what’s causing the tensions in the town. Part two of her investigation erosion of faith in the State is driving the protests at […]
[Lenta has posted this update on Alexey Navalny’s trial for embezzlement, noting that the oppositional leader has been denied the right to call witnesses in his defense. — Ed.] Judge Sergei Blinov refused to summon any of the witnesses, declared by the defense under the “Kirovles” Case. He ruled that in the motion to summon […]
Here’s a quick summary of some of today’s biggest news headlines: -It seems that the continued haggling over the conditions for a peace summit have become one of Russia’s best tools to support the Assad regime. Reuters reports that Russian Foreign minister Sergei Lavrov is quoted as saying: “We categorically oppose … affirmations that the […]
[On June 12, the national “Day of Russia,” Russia’s opposition organized their “March Against Butchers,” with an estimated turnout of between 6,000-30,000. This article describes the events of the day—Ed.] According to the Interior Ministry Main Department of the City of Moscow, no serious violations of public order were registered during the march of June […]
An estimated 10,000 people participated in a protest held in Moscow’s Bolotnaya Square yesterday, according to a report by The Moscow Times. This reduced figure testified to the effects of the repressive legislation introduced since the beginning of the large-scale protests against electoral fraud in December 2011—a movement which, at its height, attracted crowds of […]
Here’s a list of some of today’s top news stories: -Moscow saw a large opposition rally in support of the arrested protestors who are set to go on trial from last year’s “Bolotnaya” protests. Estimates of the crowd’s size vary depending on sources, ranging from 6,000 to 30,000. The protest also saw the attendance of […]
[An interview with opposition leader Alexei Navalny, on his plans to run for the Mayor of Moscow and the obstacles he expects to encounter—Ed.] Are you going to run for mayor? Yes, I am. How? There are two options: nomination by yourself or by a party. The first requires collecting signatures – more than 70,000, […]
