Vladimir Pastukhov writes an essay for Novaya Gazeta, a liberal newspaper, on how Putin is not the driver of creeping totalitarianism, but Russia is pushing Putin down that path. It is worth noting that four Novaya Gazeta journalists have been assassinated in eight years. – Ed. Standing on the edge of the Russian abyss, they […]
After significant uncertainty as to whether there would be political debates between the candidates for Moscow’s mayor, or whether the previous mayor, Sergei Sobyanin, would even participate, the rules for the debates have been published. It should be noted that the article describes Sobyanin as the current mayor. Sobyanin, nearing the end of the term, […]
Since being released from prison following his five-year sentence for embezzlement charges, Alexey Navalny’s campaign for mayor of Moscow has come under intense scrutiny, both from pro-Kremlin and oppositional quarters. Below, Interpreter translator Catherine A. Fitzpatrick weighs some of the controversies surrounding Navalny’s nationalism, his past comments about minorities and foreigners and his plan for barring […]
Aleksei Navalny woke up this morning knowing that he’d be found guilty of the crime of embezzlement. What he wasn’t absolutely sure of, though probably heavily suspected, was that he’d be given a lengthy jail sentence — five years, as it turns out, which is just one fewer than the prosecutor had asked for, along […]
Opposition politician Alexei Navalny appealed to President Vladimir Putin to verify the legality of the circumstances under which Vladimir Yakunin, president of Russian Railways, allegedly became the owner of a number of real estate properties, including a land parcel in the village of Akulinino in the Moscow Region. Navalny’s appeal to Putin was published on […]
4:08 p.m. (EST): Some remaining protesters have started a “lie in” for Nalvany: However, one live feed we’ve been watching is showing police arresting people during a lie in. We’re not sure it’s the same location, but it is in the same general area of Moscow. 3:54 p.m. (EST): There are still some protesters in […]
[Oppositional leader Alexey Navalny, now awaiting a verdict in the “Kirovles case,” intends to run for mayor of Moscow. Below, his candidacy receives a small boost in gaining the requisite signatures from municipal deputies. — Ed.] Not only Alexey Navalny has organized an active campaign to collect signatures from municipal deputies. As Ekho Moskvy learned […]
[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 […]
The news this week that the prominent economist Sergei Guriev has resigned from his posts and has departed for France—perhaps permanently—is the latest in a series of rumored planned emigrations by liberal public figures such as journalist Masha Gessen. As has been recounted in translations published on The Interpreter this week, Guriev’s resignations and his […]
