Kevin Rothrock · July, 2012

Latest posts by Kevin Rothrock from July, 2012

Russia: Yaroslavl Court Bans LiveJournal

RuNet Echo

Earlier this week, a Yaroslavl court responded to a request from local police and ordered Internet provider Netis Telekom to shut off access to a handful of websites, including Russia's most popular blogging platform, LiveJournal. As a result, roughly 6,000 subscribers have lost all LJ access.

20 July 2012

Russia: A Law to Regulate Volunteer Efforts

RuNet Echo

Last week, Russia's Public Chamber announced that it is preparing the foundation for a draft law designed to regulate volunteer activities. Critics of the idea claim that the law (like recent bills raising fines for illegal demonstrations and 'blacklisting' parts of the RuNet) is another government attempt to oppress the political potential of civil society (specifically the strengths of Internet-enabled activists).

17 July 2012

Russia: Sveta from Ivanovo to NTV

RuNet Echo

NTV has announced [ru] that RuNet sensation and Nashi member Svetlana Kuritsyna will host a weekly TV show where she interviews Russia's “greatest newsmakers.” Kuritsyna is known online as “Sveta from...

12 July 2012

Russia: A Great Firewall to Censor the RuNet?

RuNet Echo

The Russian language section of Wikipedia suspended service today in protest against a draft law now under review by the Russian parliament that many believe threatens the RuNet with censorship. Kevin Rothrock reports on the political context and details of the legislation.

10 July 2012

Russia: Krymsk Footage & the Reservoir's Owners

RuNet Echo

Krasnodar environmental activist Suren Gazarian blogs videos from the wreckage in Krymsk, dismissing the theory [ru] that the flooding was caused by water released from the Neberdzhaevsky Reservoir. Marina Litvinovich, meanwhile, provides background [ru]...

8 July 2012