Apparently the most beneficial credit to have on one’s resume in Russia today is a Judo background. A common attribute among many of Russia’s most powerful men, from business oligarchs to the leaders of the security apparatus, is a common affinity for Putin’s sport of choice. Currently there is much speculation regarding who will become […]
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Rebels, Rosneft and Snowden
Here’s a quick summary of the day’s biggest news: -The back and forth, tit-for-tat verbal recriminations continue between Russia and, well, the rest of the world. Russia continues to supply “legal” arms to the Assad regime, while accusing the rest of the world of undermining a potential “political solution” when they support the Syrian rebels. […]
G7+1, LGBT rights, Gazprom and E-mail Tricksters
Here’s a quick recap of some of today’s biggest news: – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper labeled the G8 summit as the “G7+1” in reference to Putin’s isolated stance on Syria. As The Moscow News reports, when asked if he felt “lonely” during the summit he replied, “Of course not. That’s absolutely not true. Somebody, apparently, […]
Syria, Adoptions and Navalny
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 […]
Protests, Whistleblowers, Political Parties and Blasphemy Laws
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 […]
Radiation Poisoning, Elections and Corruption
Here’s a quick summary of today’s biggest news: -The intrigue surrounding former KGB official Alexander Litvinenko’s 2006 assassination by radiation poisoning continues with the coroner overseeing the investigation into Litvinenko’s murder calling for a public inquiry. The coroner is calling for a public inquiry in response to British Foreign Secretary William Hague demanding that the […]
The Khodorkovsky Test and the Future of Independent Thought in Russia
It is safe to say that publicly challenging Putin means that you may find yourself facing charges of money laundering, extortion, or the regime’s curiously esoteric understanding of hooliganism. The experiences of Pussy Riot, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and Alexei Navalny have all shown the repercussions that dissent entails. Now, however, it seems that even disagreeing with […]
Elections, Missiles, Gazprom and Gay Rights
Here’s a quick summary of some of today’s biggest news. -Current Moscow Mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, has stepped down and called for snap elections, despite his previous statements that he would not call for an early election. It seems a calculated move on the part of Sobyanin and the Kremlin, designed to take advantage of his […]
Hunger Strikes, Arms Deals, and Human Rights
A quick recap of top Russia stories today: – Pussy Riot member Maria Alyokhina has ended her hunger strike after prison officials finally conceded to her demands. One of three members of the female punk rock band, jailed for performing a protest song inside Moscow’s main cathedral, went on a hunger strike in protest of […]
Seagal, Afghanistan, Syria, and Guriyev
– It seems that C-list action star Steven Seagal is now trying his hand at diplomacy. Seagal, coming off of his recent ventures helping Putin promote school physical education and posing with Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov, attempted to organize a Congressional fact-finding trip in the aftermath of the Boston bombings to the volatile republic. As […]