Stories from RuNet Echo from January, 2010
Russian Bloggers React to Haiti Earthquake
Reaction of Russian bloggers to the devastating earthquake in Haiti is diverse and sometimes unexpected. The cataclysm provided an opportunity for sorrow, support, contemplation and self-observance.
Russia: Businessman in Exile Uses Blog to Answer Questions
One of the youngest Russian millionaires Yevgeny Chichvarkin [EN], who escaped Russian authorities and currently resides in London, UK, used his blog [RUS] as a platform for a virtual press conference. This live Q&A session attracted thousands of bloggers.
Russia: Largest Political Community Online Removed And Restored
The recent case of the most popular political online community demonstrated how easy it is to limit free expression on RuNet and revealed the willingness of online audience to defend free speech.
Russia: Quarter of Households Use Broadband
A recent report [RUS] shows that 23.6 percent of households in Russia use broadband Internet access. Analysts also predict the increase in wireless Internet usage in the country within the next few years.
Russia: Mobile Operator Upset With Mockery Online
Russia's largest mobile telecommunication company Mobile Telesystems [ENG] demanded to remove a blog post [RUS] that mocked the company's new ad campaign, adme.ru [RUS] reports. Russian blogosphere is boiling with indignation (here and here ).
Russia: Details of Arrested Blogger Case Emerge on RuNet
LJ user beri_llii published [RUS] details of Irek Murtazin's [ENG] criminal case. Murtazin has been arrested last year on defamation charges when he reported on rumors about the death of Tatarstan president.
Russian Official Proposes to Block Online Gambling Web Sites
Moscow City Deputy Andrey Metelsky proposed amendments [RUS] to the Telecommunication Law that, if passed, would require Russian Internet providers to block gambling Web sites, fontanka.ru reports [RUS]. Bloggers are sceptical [RUS] about these amendments.
Russian Orthodox Church Condemns Web Anonymity
Russian Orthodox Church spokesperson Vsevolod Chaplin expressed concerns with “extremist ideas” that spread out on the Internet and called for the limitation of Web anonymity, Securitylab.ru reports [RUS]. The statement provoked heated discussions [RUS] on RuNet.
Russia: Photos of Yawning Girl Stir Interest on RuNet
Russian bloggers humorously discuss photos of a little girl [RUS] who for the second year in a row stands and yawns in front of the Russian president during the Christmas service at the Church of the Christ the Saviour in Moscow.
Russia: Blogger Reveals Microchip Plant Construction Delay
Habrahabr user pechkin1007 published [RUS] photos showing a construction delay at the “Angstrem-M” microchip plant near Moscow. The plant administration received a €815 million government loan [RUS] in 2008 and committed to starting the construction in Autumn 2009.
Russia: Death Penalty Moratorium Extended Indefinitely
Russia has indefinitely extended a moratorium on the death penalty that was due to expire on Jan. 1. Numerous comments were posted on RuNet, and they essentially reflect the returns of opinion polls on the death penalty issue.
Russia: Blogger Reports On Fire That Destroyed Historic Building
LJ user zyalt reports on “suspicious” fire [RUS] that destroyed a historic country house of the first chairman of Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament. Built more than a century ago, the house hosted many famous Russian writers, artists and politicians.
Russian TV Shows Cartoon Putin and Medvedev Singing Limericks
A cartoon showing Russian president and prime minister singing limericks about the current issues in Russian politics became a hot topic on the blogosphere. The cartoon was aired on the state-controlled TV channel ORT as a part of the New Year show .
Russian Parliament Start Broadcasting Online
The Russian parliament starts broadcasting its sessions online from January 1, 2010, Gzt.ru reports [RUS]. It's believed that these initiatives would increase transparency of political processes in Russia.
Russia: Blogger Arrested for Weapon Possession
Russian police found illegal weapons at an apartment of a famous blogger Timofey Shevyakov ( LJ user tarlith-history), information agency Rosbalt reports [RUS]. Shevyakov is allegedly connected to various propagandist, trolling and hacker groups in Russia.
Russia: Bloggers Cover Opposition Rally
First photographs from a Russian opposition rally in Moscow emerged on the Internet just hours after the event. The pictures are available on the blogs of LJ users drugoj and zyalt.
