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 […]
The Supreme Court (SC) and the Supreme Arbitrage Court (SAC) will be united, Vladimir Putin announced at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, and in the near future the appropriate draft law will be submitted to the State Duma. Furthermore, the president supported the idea of economic amnesty, which would “strengthen the faith of citizens in […]
[This article, written in two parts, analyzes the attempts by Russia’s ruling party to restrict internet privacy, and compares the operations of the Russian Federation to the US PRISM program unveiled by Edward Snowden.—Ed.] The harassment of non-profit organizations, the toughening of the law on public rallies, the teeth-gritting propaganda of the federal television channels, […]
[Leonid Nevzlin, a former executive of the Yukos oil company, has been tried in absentia and found guilty of misappropriating shares. The proceedings against the former Yukos executives have been widely criticized by international human rights monitors—Ed.] Today [June 24—Ed.] a Moscow district court sentenced Leonid Nevzlin, one of the major Yukos shareholders, to six […]
[In this article, the pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia reports on the status of Said Amirov, the ex-mayor of Makhachkala who has been incarcerated on charges of complicity in murder. Amirov’s lawyers have complained that he is being denied necessary medical treatment—Ed.] Defense attorneys acting for Said Amirov— the ex-Mayor of Makhachkala who was charged as an […]
The State Department has placed Russia in the same rank as North Korea and Iran regarding the level of counteraction to the slave trade. The US State Department included Russia in the list of countries failing to meet “the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking,” along with Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Eritrea. The […]
In a recent court decision “Coming Out”, a public organization advocating the rights of sexual minorities, has been declared a “foreign agent”, according to Interfax. A magistrate for the 19th district of St. Petersburg established the fact of administrative offence and imposed a fine in the amount of 500 thousand roubles. The defense said they […]
[The following article describes measures taken by US legislators and adoptive parents to protest against the Dima Yakolev Law, which bans US citizens from adopting Russian children. The concerned parties have asked President Obama to raise the issue when he meets with Vladimir Putin at the G8 summit this week.—Ed.] Lifting the ban on […]
To the Chairman of the Council of Judges of the Russian Federation Dmitry Anatolyevich Krasnov From Natalya Nikolayevna Magnitskaya 07 June 2013 Open Letter on the Case of Sergei Magnitsky Dear Dmitry Anatolevich, From media reports, I have learned that on 22 April 2013, the Council of Judges of the City of Moscow issued a […]
