Stories from RuNet Echo from September, 2013
Russian News Websites Black Out to Protest Journalist's Arrest
A photographer was among the 30 activists arrested by Russian border guards on board Greenpeace's Arctic Sunrise. His detention has riled up Russian journalists and other media figures.
Russia’s Hunger Games
There are two hunger strikes in Russia today, one by a famous Pussy Riot member and another by a mothers' group. What do the different receptions online say about Russia?
Rumors Fly that Putin Has Remarried
There have long been rumors that Putin has a romantic relationship with gymnast Alina Kabaeva. That gossip has flared up again, with suspicion that they may finally have wed.
Blogger Claims Russian Foreign Minister to be Sacked
The blogger el-murid claims that this signals a change of policy in the direction of accommodating the US in passing a UN resolution authorizing military action in Syria.
How Russians Read McCain's Pravda Op-Ed on Putin
While Americans were incensed at being lectured by a foreign politician whom many regard as either an idiot or a hypocrite, many Russians, it turns out, reacted no differently.
Is a Monument to Chechen Women an Affront to Russia?
Ramzan Kadyrov caused an outcry in the blogosphere when he dedicated a monument to a group of Chechen women who died during the Caucasus Wars in the 19th century.
To Some Opposition Bloggers Alexey Navalny is “Führer”
Alexey Navalny addressed a crowd of supporters the day after he lost the Moscow mayoral election. Some found his performance disconcerting.
GV Face: Understanding #RussiaVotes 2013 with Kevin Rothrock and Andrey Tselikov
Our RuNet Echo editors Kevin Rothrock and Andrey Tselikov discuss the aftermath of #RussiaVotes and give their insight into Russia's provocative and often humorous citizen media scene.
How Russians Read Putin's NYT Op-Ed on Syria
Many RuNet users have hailed the President’s overture as something of a needed display of Russian moral authority on the world stage.
#RussiaVotes Live Blog: Russia's Regional and Local Elections
Project editors Kevin Rothrock and Andrey Tselikov offer live blogging coverage of Russia's 2013 regional and local voting. Follow events as they unfold online.
Presidents, Oligarchs and Potash: Russia's Trade War With Belarus
Belarusian authorities arrested Vladislav Baumgartner, CEO of Uralkaliy, a large Russian potash mining company. Russia retaliated by cancelling some of its subsidies and banning Belarusian pork imports.
Day Before “Election Silence,” Russian Candidates Rock Out
Yekaterinburg mayoral race frontrunner Evgeny Roizman welcomed Russian rock music legend Andrei Makarevich in a concert that encountered yet another act of intimidation by local police.
Russia's True Symbol: A Chechen Mosque?
The second round of a contest to choose ten lesser-known Russian tourist attractions turned violent on Saturday, August 31, 2013, when a crowd in Grozny began egging select telecoms offices.
“In Damascus All is Quiet”: Russians Report from Syria
"You won't believe it, but all is quiet in Damascus. People sit in cafes, walk the streets, and are far from a universal hysteria"
Russia's Far East Beset with Toxic Japanese Cars
Vladivostok, a remote city in the Russian Far East, is notorious for the many used Japanese cars on its roads, which are possibly the worst in the country.
Russian Flooding Snaps Volunteers into Action
Protracted flooding of the Amur River has buried swaths of the Russian-Chinese border under water, affecting more than 100 thousand people in roughly 185 towns.
Putin's Kiss: Redux
Netizens joke about Putin's penchant for public displays of affection.
