· April, 2011

Stories about Russia from April, 2011

Russia: A Video of President Medvedev Dancing

RuNet Echo  20 April 2011

Siberian Light, Global Chaos and Russia! are among those who comment on a YouTube video of President Dmitry Medvedev dancing to the Russian pop song “American Boy” at a college reunion party a year ago. On Twitter, Medvedev (@MedvedevRussia) comments (RUS) on the video himself, in reply to Zaporozhye-based fashion...

Russia: Restricting racism

RuNet Echo  19 April 2011

Sean's Russia Blog writes about increasing government intolerance with Russia's racist movements, signified by a court ruling to outlaw an organization against illegal immigration.

Russia: Bloggers Stop FSB Initiative To Ban Skype

RuNet Echo  18 April 2011

It was just a stroke of luck that on Friday, April 8, 2011, LiveJournal did actually work; before and after this date it would constantly “crash” or “die” due to hacker attacks for periods ranging from several hours to half a day. But on this particular Friday it worked, and it’s possible that this saved the Russian Internet and all its users from yet another prohibitive initiative from the FSB (Federal Security Service). At least for the time being.

Macedonia: Fast-Track Lawmaking, Privacy Alert

  14 April 2011

The Macedonian Parliament disbanded itself today, as part of the process of preparation for the June elections. The ruling majority used the previous period to rubber-stamp a huge number of draft-laws submitted by the government, including a new attempt to legalize unconstitutional police surveillance.

Russia: Regional FSB Tries to Prosecute Blogger for Anti-Putin Photo

RuNet Echo  13 April 2011

Kasparov.ru writes [ru] about the case of Georgiy Sarkisyan, leader of Orel city United Civil Front. Sarkisyan had posted a photo [ru] with a slogan “Putin – pid…z” (an offensive word for homosexual male). After that Orel city Federal Security Service filed a complaint in order to start a criminal...

Russia: Two Projects Win The BOBs People's Choice Awards

RuNet Echo  12 April 2011

Two Russian projects win The Best of Blogs People's Choice Awards. They are: rospil.info, crowdsourcing anti-corruption community in the nomination “The Best Use of Technology for Social Good,” and the blog of Novaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper in the “Reporters Without Borders Award” nomination.

Russian Silicon Valley Has Unusually Expensive Website

RuNet Echo  11 April 2011

Users and web designers on one of the most popular collaborative blogs Habrahabr.ru discuss the unrealistically high budget cost for creating and promoting the website of “Skolkovo” Innovation Foundation (Russian Silicon Valley). The users point out that the website was done for more than 100,000 US dollars but with a...