Stories about Russia from August, 2013
Don't Be Fooled by His Smile: Yekaterinburg's Evgeny Roizman Is Mad As Hell
It seems likely that Russia’s fourth largest city, Yekaterinburg, will soon have as its mayor Evgeny Roizman, one of Russia’s most peculiar public figures.
The Politics of Moscow's Migrant Crime Statistics
Moscow's next mayor will have little influence over domestic immigration policy, but that doesn't stop candidates from weighing in on the topic.
Serbian National Parachuter Ejected from Team for Disgruntled Facebook Comments
Aleksandar Cvetković described on his Facebook how the Serbian parachuting team traveled to Russia to participate in the European championships only to find that Serbian officials hadn't paid for anything.
Russia's Unpopular but “Necessary” Illegal Immigrant Camps
At the end of July, Moscow's Governor proposed a new detention center for illegal immigrants on a former military base near the Yegoryevsky district. Not everyone is thrilled.
Russia's Political Firebrand: What Makes Navalny Tick?
Russia's best-known political blogger earned his fame fighting corruption in the private sector, but may now face five years' jail time on (possibly trumped-up) embezzlement charges. In the meantime, he's...
Russian Political Prisoners Ignored by Everyone
Twelve men and women currently on trial for their involvement in the May 6, 2012 riots appear to have been largely forgotten.
Navalny's Montenegrin Kryptonite or Russia's Invulnerable Candidate?
Information has emerged showing Navalny’s ownership of an active real estate company in Montenegro, established in 2007 and undeclared when he registered as a candidate for Moscow's mayor’s race.
Regional Elections Offer Russian Opposition No Escape from Internecine Conflict
As regional races heat up with less than a month to go before the September 8, 2013 election day, Russia's opposition parties are engaging in their usual tactics of attacking...
The Moscow Mayor's Mischievous Viral Marketing
Alexey Navalny turns the tables on those harassing him about financing, nationalism, and transparency.
Bodies Pile in Egypt, But Birds Still Singing for Russian Vacationers
Russians living in Egypt to potential tourists: "Don't be afraid."
Russian Police: Now Raiding Opposition Activists Without Warrants
Moscow police forced entry into a flat used by pro-Navalny activists, cutting down their reinforced door after they refused to let anyone in without a search warrant.
Russia's Soviet Assault on Navalny's Online Fundraising
Russia's Attorney General announced that it has partly corroborated a complaint against Alexey Navalny’s online fundraising methods, claiming they violate the country's campaign finance laws.
Vladimir Putin's Solitary PR Stunt
Over the past months the Kremlin has given Russian bloggers more than the usual amount of fodder to ridicule the government and President Vladimir Putin.
A Game of Torrents: Russians Struggle with Piracy-free Internet
RuNet Echo continues to cover attempts to regulate the Russian internet.
The Business of Endorsing Navalny
Last week, 37 Russian Internet-industry entrepreneurs tried to shatter the taboo about mixing business and politics by endorsing Alexey Navalny's run for mayor of Moscow.
Moscow Police Round Up Migrants in “Concentration Camps”
After last week’s police raids on outdoor markets throughout Moscow, thousands of allegedly illegal migrants have been detained and placed in makeshift camps.
Russians Wary of Snowden Asylum
Snowden's decision to hitch his wagon to Putin's makes opposition and human rights activists uneasy, while his status as a defected "spy" alienates many of Putin's supporters.
Six Years in a Russian Prison for Sharing Porn?
A Russian blogger gets into trouble with local authorities after he reposts pictures of half-naked patrons, engaged in striptease contests and public sex acts, from a nightclub's social networking page.
Italian Appeals Court Upholds Guilty Verdict in Historic Eternit Asbestos Case
An appeals court in Turin, Italy has affirmed Swiss billionaire Stephan Schmidheiny, former owner of cement manufacturer Swiss Eternit Group, is responsible for nearly 3,000 asbestos-related deaths.
