Archive for 'Russia'
Introducing The Interpreter
The launch of an online magazine dedicated to translating Russian-language news articles, editorials and blogs seems at once long overdue and well-timed. Since Vladimir Putin returned to the presidency in 2012, Russia has undergone such a frenzy of noteworthy developments that the Western press has often struggled to keep up with them, much less make [...]
Posted: May 2nd, 2013 under Russia.
Russia presses ahead with legislation against gay ‘propaganda’.
Following in the wake of regional anti-LGBT legislation, Russia’s Duma looks set to make similar laws binding at a national level. Depressingly, only one parliamentarian voted against this measure at its first reading on Friday, and 86% of Russians apparently support the bill.
The draft law, submitted in March 2012, details that the “promotion of homosexuality” [...]
Posted: January 27th, 2013 under Freedom of Expression, Homophobia, Russia.
Tories in Putin’s Pockets?
The newly formed pro-Putin lobby group, Conservative Friends of Russia, just can’t help fucking up. It is really quite astounding to see a group – run by lobbyist Richard Royal – experience so many disasters in so short a time!
Shortly after its launch, this is what happened.
A group of Tory peers and MPs have come [...]
Posted: November 23rd, 2012 under Russia.
Magnitsky Law
In 2009, Sergei Magnitsky, a Russian anti-graft lawyer who had uncovered a nexus of political corruption and organized crime was beaten to death in custody. Since then, a former client, Bill Browder has pushed for anti-laundering legislation, and edges closer to doing so in the US. A grisly account by Browder at being contacted through [...]
Posted: November 20th, 2012 under Russia.
Antisemite Shamir’s attack on Pussy Riot briefly appears in The Morning Star
The Communist Party of Britain-affiliated Morning Star briefly featured a jaw-dropping attack on the Russian punk group Pussy Riot (currently serving a two-year prison sentence) and a tribute to the autocratic Vladimir Putin by none other than antisemite/Holocaust denier/Assange collaborator/Lukashenko enabler/all-around slimeball Israel Shamir.
As you can see, Shaimr’s piece disappeared from The Morning Star’s website [...]
Posted: September 23rd, 2012 under Russia, antisemitism.
Madonna defends LGBT rights in St Petersburg
On 7 August Madonna spoke out in support of Pussy Riot at her Moscow concert. (The punk band is facing a prison sentence for ‘hooliganism’ aggravated by ‘religious hatred’.) This earned her an unpleasant rebuke from Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister:
“With age, every former s. tries to lecture everyone on morality,” Dmitry Rogozin, a deputy prime [...]
Posted: August 10th, 2012 under Gay Rights, Russia.
Repression in Russia: punks and prophets
Whereas the Soviet Union suppressed religion and persecuted those who professed their faith, in today’s Russia the Orthodox Church is exerting itself to repress dissent. Members of the punk band Pussy Riot face up to seven years in prison following a stunt which took place back in February:
Five members of Pussy Riot – wearing brightly [...]
Posted: July 21st, 2012 under Anti Muslim Bigotry, Freedom of Expression, Russia.
Putin in Israel
Haaretz reports:
Israel knows that Russia will prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, President Shimon Peres said on Monday, during a state reception for Russian President Vladimir Putin at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem.
…Peres said he was confident Russia would aid in the struggle to hinder Iran’s nuclear ambitions, saying that he knew “that Russia prohibits [...]
Posted: June 25th, 2012 under History, Israel, Russia.
Human rights under threat in St Petersburg
AllOut is hosting a petition from St Petersburg lawyer Sergei Kondrashov, calling on Putin to abolish the anti-gay propaganda laws in the city. He has himself been arrested under the new legislation.
Police arrested Kondrashov, along with activist Igor Kochetkov, during a Day of Silence in St. Petersburg as part of a Week Against State Homophobia, [...]
Posted: April 13th, 2012 under Homophobia, Russia.
Lieberman backs Putin on Russian election
As Prime Minister Vladimir Putin reacts angrily to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s criticism of the recent Russian parliamentary elections; as former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev calls for annulling the election results; and as opposition protests gather momentum; Putin has found support from… Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
Haaretz reports:
… Lieberman met with Russian Prime [...]