Stories from RuNet Echo from July, 2011
Russia: Return of Soviet Practises in Nemtsov Case?
Vladimir Kara Murza of World Affairs’ Spotlight on Russia claims that Russia is reintroducing Soviet practises in order to get rid of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov, after he recently was threatened with a travel ban.
Russia: Kremlin Critics Threatened With Travel Ban
On July 6, 2011, leading political opposition activists Boris Nemtsov and Vladimir Milov suddenly found themselves banned from leaving Russia by the country's Federal Bailiff Service. The concept of a travel ban has a special place in the hearts of people who lived during the Soviet Union.
Belarus: Vkontakte Social Network Blocked by the Providers
Update: Access to the Vkontake site is now restored. Vkontakte, Russian social network, is unavailable for Belarus Internet Users. The network hosts “Revolution Through the Social Network” [ru] group used to organize non-violent protests, telegraf.by reported [ru]. Individual Belarus-based users told GV that the page loads only header but the...
Russia: Popular Curse Temporarily Becomes a Worldwide Twitter Trend
#хуи [ru], Russian swearword for penis (plural), for a few hours became a global trend. Lenta.ru notes [ru] that the sudden appearance of this hashtag marks the launch of Cyrillic hashtag functionality.
Russia: Anti-Cop Blogger Is Granted Political Asylum in Estonia
Savva Terentyev, blogger from Syktyvkar who was accused of inciting hatred towards policemen in 2008, was granted a political asylum in Estonia, BBC's Russian Service reports [ru]. Terentyev decided to emigrate because he couldn't find job in Syktyvkar after the trial. “All the doors were shut for me due to...
Russia: Banksy-Style Graffiti at Child Charity Organization
Dmitry Markov, photoblogger who works for Pskov child charity organization “Rostok,” [ru] publishes [ru] pictures of Banksy-style graffiti at the walls of the organization's building. The graffiti were created by the kids that “Rostok” takes care of together with Markov. Instead of dull white walls, now there are rainbows and silhouettes...
Russia: Wednesday Clapping Protests Organized Online Spread from Belarus
Anonymous Facebook group RusFlash (@RusFlash) [ru] that copies Belarus model of non-violent clapping protest has been created, Echo Moskvy reported [ru]. Organizers invite everyone to come out to the central squares of their cities every Wednesday at 19:00. “We're fed up. With thieves and crooks! With lies and lawlessness!” So...
Russia: Cruiser Catastrophe Causes Questions
As casualty numbers rise from Sundays' ferry catastrophe on the river Volga, Russians have come to the bitter realization of yet another tragedy, with a death-toll of well over a hundred people. As usual, news of deplorable conditions are brought to public attention, causing popular anger and indignation, but this time these feelings almost seem to outdo those of sympathy with the victims and their relatives, as the Russian blogosphere reacts to the tragedy.
Russia: “Nashi” Spokeswoman's Homophobic Text
A translation of the pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi spokeswoman's “rant exploring everything from the death of Osama Bin Laden to the curiously specific and virulent homophobia” – at Robert Amsterdam's blog: “Read below to see the kind of talent and hate speech Russia is spending its taxpayer money on.”
Russia: Bloggers Discuss Nashi and Navalny on Al Jazeera
Sean Guillory of Sean's Russia Blog and Kevin Rothrock of A Good Treaty talked on Al Jazeera‘s The Steam show about the Russian pro-Kremlin youth movement Nashi and anti-corruption activist Alexey Navalny.
Russia: Anglophone Russia Watchers’ Blogs
The Kremlin Stooge reviews and ranks “Russia watchers'” English-language blogs; Sublime Oblivion interviews Mark Chapman, the blogger writing The Kremlin Stooge.
Russia: Fewer Conscripts From North Caucasus?
On Jamestown Foundation Blog, Valery Dzutsev writes about what appears to be a decrease in North Caucasian draftees in the Russian army: “It thus seems that a separation of Russia and the North Caucasus is already underway, even though officially it is still a semi-taboo topic in the country.”
Russia: Prison System
Svetlana Reiter's text on Russia's “dead end prison system” -at OpenDemocracy.net.
Russia: Orenburg Migrant Workers
On OpenDemocracy.net, Elena Strelnikova writes about Central Asian migrant workers of Orenburg, Russia.
Russia: Expert Goes Public to Prevent Passing New Law on Private Data
Yevgeni Tsarev, security and privacy expert and blogger, publishes an open address [ru] to president Medvedev. Following the meeting with the bloggers Medvedev promised to adjust the law on private data in order to make it closer to the European and international norms. The draft bill that was prepared after...
Russia: Infamous ‘Vanishing’ Charity Foundation Resurfaces
The heartwarming performance of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin playing the piano and singing the song "Blueberry Hill" at a charity concert, was darkened by the scandal surrounding the 'Federaciya' (Federation) foundation that allegedly tried to disappear with the money raised by the event. The charity has recently resurfaced, with plans for another concert underway.
Belarus: Independence Day Clapping Protest (Videos)
Streets of several Belarusian towns and cities were flooded with people on Belarus Independence Day on July 3, 2011. People just stood there, clapping. They showed up for the clapping protest, even though clapping was officially forbidden on that day. As they said, they came not even to protest, but rather to fight the fear inside them.
Russia: Vladivostok Bloggers Choose the City’s Flag
As the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit of 2012 approaches, local authorities of the Russian maritime city of Vladivostok are busy with preparations, but creative netizens have pointed out that the city does not have an official flag for the event. Here are some of the creative suggestions put forward to remedy this.
