Stories from RuNet Echo
4 January 2018
Did a Wiener Dog That Suffered for Science Really Go Home With Russia's Deputy Prime Minister?
The Russian-speaking web has its doubts.
17 December 2017
The Campaigning Dead: Deceased Users’ Profiles Post Pro-Putin Messages on a Russian Social Network
Most of Vkontakte accounts belonging to deceased Russians posting pro-Putin messages have been suspended. Vkontakte’s management, approached by reporters for comment, said these accounts had been hacked by unknown perpetrators.
5 December 2017
Russian Atomic Regulator's Foray into Meme-Making Fails to Quench Rumors of Nuclear Leaks
"No one is chastising Ruthemium, or even Ruthenium-106. They’re chastising Rosatom for contradictory information and for jokes like this instead of a serious investigation into the accident."
4 December 2017
Russians Are Unimpressed With the 2018 Presidential Election Logo (and Have Ideas for Improvement)
So far, the logo challenge has been the most exciting part of the campaign where Putin is expected to run and win even by his most vocal opponents.
17 November 2017
Barbie Hijab Comment Highlights Why Some Russian Activists Don’t Support Presidential Hopeful Navalny
"Congratulations, Alexey! With one tweet you’ve written off all of your potential Muslim voters. You apparently don’t want to become president."
14 November 2017
Video Games Are the Latest Additions to Russian Infowarfare
The defense ministry's tweet purported to show drone footage of ISIS convoys moving under US protection. There was just one problem -- none of it was real.
8 November 2017
Today's Russia Fails to Live up to the Sky-High Hopes Buried With Time Capsules in 1967
Time capsules from 1967 -- the 50th anniversary of the Great October Revolution -- are being opened across Russia for the centennial. The contents are somewhat discouraging.
1 November 2017
In Offhand Remark, Putin Says Someone Is Harvesting Russians’ Biological Material
"...someone is collecting images of our voters and using them in some way…images are one thing, but did you know that biological material is being collected across the whole country"
24 October 2017
Knife Attack on Russian Journalist Reignites an “Atmosphere of Hate” in the Media
The knife assault on Felgengauer sparked a wave of criticism against the state propaganda apparatus, which has recently intensified attacks on independent media in Russia, specifically Echo of Moscow.
18 October 2017
The Revolution Will Be Live-Tweeted (Not In Russian, Though)
RT's #1917Live, which marks the centennial of the October Revolution, is full of interactive and creative features. There is something missing, however: the Russian language.
13 October 2017
Russians Are Receiving Some Uncanny Answers From Alisa, Tech Giant Yandex's Siri Competitor
"— I want a new iPhone. — What keeps you from buying one? — I don’t have money. — Steal it...No one will know."
3 October 2017
Russians Get Territorial After Chinese Newspaper Tweets Photos of the Remote Altay Region
China Daily regularly tweets promotional photographs from Chinese regions, but this time it caused a backlash from Russian users who thought China was claiming parts of Russia as its own.
29 September 2017
On Telegram, Russian Politics and Memes Translate Into Big Bucks
One of the most popular Telegram channels made the headlines in the Russian press in September 2017 when it was sold for 5.5 million rubles (US$95,000).
19 September 2017
German Anti-Immigrant Party Targets Russian-German Voters With a Xenophobic Ad
The ad was highly criticized. One German woman wrote, "...because I'm all for fighting for our country, I’m considering suing you and your 'party' for incitement of ethnic hatred..."
8 September 2017
Muslims in the Former Soviet Union Rally Behind Myanmar's Besieged Rohingya
"They are experiencing what we cannot even imagine! #Rohingyawearewithyou"
1 September 2017
Russia's Social Inequality Is in the Spotlight After an Ex-Senator Gets High, Shoots Up Hotel Room
"Last night an ex-senator Jabrailov shot up a hotel room. He was charged with HOOLIGANISM. However, you are an extremist for liking [a social media post]."
15 August 2017
A Viral Rap Battle Has Everyone in Russia—Including Business Journalists and Politicians—Talking
Even opposition leader Alexey Navalny weighed in, saying despite the profanity, the raps are "100 times more cultural than any comedy show or song contest you see on state television."
31 July 2017
Why Are Russians Indifferent to the Syrian Conflict?
"At a minimum, the numerous problems with rights and freedoms in Russia suck up a lot of time...which doesn’t leave energy for problems taking place far from Russia."
21 July 2017
Russia's Parliament Went on a Censorship Binge Today
The Kremlin is cracking down on online anonymity. Again.
10 July 2017
Saying Goodbye to Anton Nossik, Godfather of the Russian Internet
RuNet pioneer Anton Nossik died in his sleep on June 9 at the age of 51.
About our RuNet Echo coverage
Alexey Kovalev is the RuNet Echo editor. Email him story ideas or volunteer to write.
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