Latest posts by Isaac Webb
Ukraine Bans Russia’s One Independent TV Station
The Ukrainian government has voted to remove Russian independent TV station Dozhd from its list of approved foreign broadcasters, giving providers one month to remove the station from their networks.
All the President's Fishermen: Who's Standing Behind Vladimir Putin?
Why is Putin meeting with fishermen from Novgorod so much? Are they really fishermen?
The Best and Worst of Russia's New Year's Laws
Every year, the Russian State Duma schedules laws to come into effect on January 1st. RuNet Echo marks the highlights and lowlights of the 2017 New Year's laws.
Social Media Sites Blocked in Kazakhstan on 25th Anniversary of Independence
Activists reported that Facebook, YouTube, and other social media websites were inaccessible in Kazakhstan on Friday, the 25th anniversary of the country's independence from the Soviet Union.
Russian Blogger Launches Campaign to Annul Anti-Extremism Law He Was Convicted of Violating
Blogger Anton Nossik wants to annul Article 282 of the Russian Criminal Code, a catch-all statute that prohibits "ctions aimed at the incitement of hatred or enmity."
Russian Media Regulator Backpedals on Google Pressure
Hours after Russian news outlets began reporting that state media regulatory agency Roskomnadzor had issued instructions forcing Google to re-register in Russia or face sanctions, an agency representative backpedaled, telling roem.ru that Izvestiya, the newspaper that broke the news, had misreported the story. Izvestiya quoted Vadim Ampelonsky in their initial report as saying that...
Russia Ratchets Up Pressure on Google
Roskomnadzor, the agency that regulates Russian media, has issued instructions that will force Google to change its registration by the end of March.
Mixed Reactions to Kyiv's New ‘Theater on Podil’
Residents of Kiev cheered and jeered the unveiling of the "Theater on Podil" on one of the city's oldest streets.
Ukraine Cracks Down on Internet Piracy
Ukraine's most popular file-sharing service is shutting down its operations amidst a broader government effort to strengthen Ukraine's intellectual property laws and crack down on internet piracy.
Activists Want to Build a Monument to Russia's Most Famous Movie Gangster
Russian activists is crowdfunding a monument to Sergei Bodrov Jr., the actor who played the cult hero Danila Bragov in the "Brat" movies.
Instagrammers’ Photos Document the Smog Enveloping Khabarovsk
Residents of Khabarovsk in Russia’s Far East have been staying indoors or wearing masks when they go outside since a thick smog blanketed the city on Tuesday.
Hackers Publish Kremlin Aide's E-Mails, Allege Plan to Destabilize Ukraine
Ukrainian hackers say Putin advisor Vladislav Surkov's leaked e-mails reveal a plan to destabilize Ukraine in the coming months.
Russian Search Engine Will Only List Top News Stories from State-Registered Media
Yandex is coming under pressure to register with Roskomnadzor, the state agency that regulates Russian media.
Only ‘Foreign Agents’ Share Stories About Happy Times in the U.S., Says Russian Court
The American Alumni Club joins a list of 146 organizations that have been designated as "foreign agents" by the Russian Ministry of Justice. The club's crime? Reposts on social media.
Russia Remembers Slain Journalist Anna Politkovskaya, Ten Years On
Today Russians remember Anna Politkovskaya, one of the country's leading investigative journalists who was shot and killed in the elevator of her apartment building ten years ago.
‘September': A New Platform for Leftists Across the Former Soviet Union
"It's not October yet, but it's coming." That's the tagline for "September," a new website that aims to be a platform for leftist thought across the former Soviet Union.
Khodorkovsky Announces ‘Open Media’ Project To Support Investigative Journalism Startups
Mikhail Khodorkovsky's "Open Media" project will provide as much as 30 million rubles in support to investigative journalism startups.
He Supported Bombing Syria a Little Too Eagerly, Now RuNet Pioneer Faces Prison
Anton Nossik faces two years in a penal colony for saying that Syria should be "Wiped from the Face of the Earth."
Ukrainian Ministry of Information Policy Thanks Facebook Bots for Their Hard Work
The Facebook bot war between Ukraine and Russia rages on. Will the Russian government find a way to crack down on spammers?
She Says Uterine Cells Can ‘Remember.’ Meet Russia's New Children's Rights Commissioner.
Russia's new children’s rights commissioner believes in "Telegony," a pseudo-scientific theory holding that children can inherit traits from a mother's previous sexual partners.
A Man in Crimea Self-Immolated to Save His Wife’s Cafe From Officials, Who Razed It Anyway
Late last week, 75-year-old Yalta pensioner Alexander Strekalin poured acetone down his back, lit himself on fire, and collapsed near Primorsky Beach. Days later, he died from his wounds.