Stories about Russia from December, 2009
Russia: Government News Agency Reporter Detained by Police
A photo correspondent of RIA-Novosty, Russian government news agency, was detained by the police [RUS] when he was covering a recent opposition rally in Moscow.
Russia: Domain “блог.рф” (blog.rf) Registered By Security Service
Domain “блог.рф” (“blog.rf”) was registered by the Russia Special Communications and Information Service (formerly known as FAPSI [ENG], part of the Federal Security Service [ENG]), LJ-user di09en reports [RUS] citing the domain data [ENG].
Russia: Two Travellers To Reach Pole Of Cold On Motorcycle
Two Krasnoyarsk [ENG] adventurers will travel to Oymyakon village [ENG] (known as the Northern Pole of Cold with winter temperature -78°C) on a home-made motorcycle in January 2010, says their Web site “Burndown.ru” [RUS]. The adventure will be documented in the LJ-community [RUS].
Russian Constitutional Court Ready For Internet
The Chairman of the Russian Constitutional Court Valery Zorkin announced that the Court was ready to broadcast all its public hearings via the Internet, Russian news agency Prime-Tass reported [RUS].
Russia: Soviet Handout on How to Behave in Afghanistan
English Russia posted a translated handout [ENG] for a Soviet “soldier-internationalist,” a.k.a. Soviet soldier fighting in Afghanistan, outlining the basic rules of engagement for USSR troops in the foreign country.
Ukraine: Bureaucracy and Incompetence at Defense Ministry
Sergei Maximishin, an award-winning Russian photographer, has recently tried to get the Ukrainian defense ministry's assistance in doing a photo story on the Ukrainian navy and army for a German magazine. He ended up defeated by the Ukrainian bureaucratic monster, but posted a detailed account of the ordeal on his blog.
Ukraine: “Bumpy Road to Democracy”
At OpenDemocracy.net, Andreas Umland writes about two books that “cast light on what the Orange Revolution was really about, and review its significance against the background of developments in Russia.” At Jamestown Foundation Blog, Tammy Lynch covers the issues brought up during the recent EU-Ukraine summit – here and here.
Belarus, Russia, Ukraine: Borders and Identity
A poll on how Belarusians view themselves ethnically, and the problems of demarcating the Russian-Ukrainian border – at Window on Eurasia.
Russia: Kremlin Plans To Create ‘Party of Bloggers’
The Kremlin will create a new “Party of Bloggers”, reports [RUS] luberblog.ru. The party will function on the basis of electronic signatures and forums. This initiative shows the virtuality of the whole party system in Russia.
Russian Google Books Site Launched
Google launched its “Books” project in Russian language [RUS], reports Russian radio “Mayak” [RUS]. The corporation will face serious competition from other 10 large Russian e-libraries with lib.ru [RUS] being the oldest and most popular.
Russia: Three Stories of Extreme Poverty
Russian photojournalist Oleg Klimov shares three stories of extreme poverty that he happened to overhear while waiting for a train at the train station in Syzran, a city in Russia's Samara region.
Russia: Drug Abuse; HIV/AIDS
At OpenDemocracy.net, Elizabeth Rigbey writes about drug abuse and harm reduction efforts in Russia. Sean's Russia Blog writes about HIV/AIDS in Russia. Scenes from the Sidewalk links to a documentary on children and HIV/AIDS in Russia.
Russia: Online Media Should Be Responsible For What They Publish
A representative of the Russian Information Ministry urged online media in the country to moderate their blogs and forums. He reminded that online media are responsible for everything they “allow” to publish on their sites, Russian news agency “RIA Novosty” reported [RUS].
Russia: Climate Change in the North
AskYakutia.com and Window on Eurasia write about climate change issues in the Russian North.
Russia: Flu Panic in Orenburg
At OpenDemocracy.net, Elena Strelnikova writes about flu panic in Orenburg.
The Baltics: Laughland's Piece
Itching for Eestimaa dissects John Laughland's piece in The Brussels Journal, “The De-Russification of the Baltics Serves a Geopolitical Purpose”: “…I believe it contains some interesting and all-too-familiar anti-Baltic memes. Taken one by one, each can be unfolded and discussed. But put them all together, and you have one mesmerizing...
Russia: Video “Girls Against Army Conscription”
LJ-user aka_ankaz [RUS] posted video “Girls Against Army Draft” [RUS] where women protest against the draft in front of the Ministry of Defense in Russia.
Russia: Interview With Blogger Anatoly Karlin
An interview with Anatoly Karlin of Sublime Oblivion (formerly of Da Russophile) – at Siberian Light.
Russia: “Teaching the Rich in Moscow”
English Man In Moscow recounts a recent experience of doing “some teaching at a mega rich Russian family.”
Russia: “Free Labor or People For Rent” Video
LJ-user kashamanka [RUS] posted a video [RUS] where two women tell their stories of being tricked into working for a Moscow company that never paid them salaries.
Russia: Mobile Internet Provider Filters Opposition Websites
Russian WiMAX provider Yota [ENG] blocked several opposition Web sites, such as www.kasparov.ru, www.rufront.ru, www.rusolidarnost.ru, www.nazbol.ru, www.namarsh.ru and www.newtimes.ru, DileSoft [RUS] reports. Those sites are inaccessible in Moscow and Krasnodar.
