Stories from RuNet Echo from November, 2013
A Bird's-Eye View of Russian Corruption
Blogger Alexey Navalny has launched a new attack against five prominent Russian politicians, accusing them bribe-taking and failing to declare vast property holdings that include opulent mansions located outside Moscow.
Red Square's Makeover: Goodbye, Lenin. Hello, Louis Vuitton!
Lenin’s Mausoleum is no longer the most imposing structure in Moscow’s Red Square. From now until January 19, that honor belongs to a 20-foot-tall Louis Vuitton advertisement.
Ukrainian pro-EU Protest Pleases the Russian Opposition
But no consensus on whether Ukraine should continue the long process of EU accession or whether it should forge yet closer ties with Russia.
Closure for Russian Terror Victims?
Was the mastermind behind the Volgograd bus bombing killed by Russian special forces or captured by Dagestani civilians?
LGBT-Friendly Coloring Books for Russians
Activists from the LGBT equality T-shirt company FCKH8.com are planning to send 10,000 copies of a pro-gay coloring book titled “Misha and His Two Mothers” to families with children in...
Russian Social Conservatives & Economic Liberals Want to Cut Abortion Funding
Russians have consistently opposed measures aimed at restricting access to abortion. Despite this, there are indications the Russian government is moving to introduce restrictions on the practice.
Cushy New Job for Sacked Russian Defense Minister
Is former Minister of Defense Serdyukov's new appointment a reward for his silence in a large-scale corruption scandal?
Anglophone Bloggers Parse Russian Nationalism
Ethnic nationalism now seems to be enjoying a renaissance in Russia. The nationalist theme is especially pronounced in RuNet commentary, and Anglophone Russia bloggers have noticed this trend, too.
Will Russia’s Scrotum Revolt Join Pussy Riot in Prison?
Petr Pavlensky, the political artist who recently nailed his scrotum the pavement in Red Square, now faces the same “hooliganism” charges at the center of the Pussy Riot trial.
Russia's Potemkin Hospitals?
Are modern hospitals shown on television fakes rolled out to bamboozle VIPs like Prime Minister Medvedev?
Pussy Riot's Tolokonnikova Transferred to Krasnoyarsk
Nadezhda Tolokonnikova's exact whereabouts were unknown for the past three weeks, after prison authorities announced that the Pussy Riot icon would be transferred from a prison in the Republic of Mordovia to...
Russian Artist Pavlensky Nails His Scrotum to Moscow's Red Square
One of Russia's most infamous artists has staked his scrotum to the cobblestones outside Lenin’s Mausoleum in Red Square. How have Russians reacted?
The Chechen Lawyer and the Dead Russian Colonel
Russia's Investigative Committee is targeting a Chechen lawyer for bribery in a murder case, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to the rescue.
Regional Bloggers Targeted for “Extremism” by Russian Police
Regional authorities in Russia are cracking down on local opposition bloggers, persecuting them for alleged "extremism."
No Justice for Battered Russian Journalist
Journalist Oleg Kashin was severely beaten and almost killed three years ago, presumably for his political writing. His assailants are still at large.
Russian Maternity Ward Turns Away Illegal Immigrant in Labor
A Vladivostok maternity ward reignited Russia’s immigrant debate, when obstetricians refused to admit a woman in labor, because she lacked both health insurance and money to pay the delivery fee.
Russians Remember the Nord-Ost Hostage Siege, 11 Years Later
Russians are no strangers to terrorism, but there's always something strange about every passing anniversary of the country's worst terrorist attacks.
Funny Money for Russia's Winter Olympics
The most recent Sochi Olympics scandal involves a new 100-ruble Olympic-themed banknote that the Russian Central Bank released last week.
Alexey Navalny Will Not Attend Nationalist “Russian March”
Every year in Russia, ironically on the “Unity Day” holiday, the country’s nationalists stage a march in Moscow. This year, Russia's leading blogger—a nationalist—won't be attending. Why not?
Russian Internet Surveillance: Meet the New Boss, Same as the Old Boss
In the latest news from Russia's slow but inexorable march to tighter control over the Internet, the Russian security apparatus is expanding its surveillance requirements for Russian ISPs.
Facepalm Politics in the Russian Parliament
Tension is mounting in Russia's managed party system. What will one pseudo-opposition group, A Just Russia, do to maintain its grip on power?
