Kevin Rothrock · April, 2013

Latest posts by Kevin Rothrock from April, 2013

The Russian Opposition “Snake Pit”

RuNet Echo

The Russian opposition is at war with itself, and it’s thanks to more than the usual ideological tectonics. The various fault lines that infamously allow the Kremlin to “divide and conquer” Russia’s would-be saviors are indeed political, but the divisions are every bit as much about idiosyncrasies and shady dealings. Just look at May 6.

20 April 2013

Russia's #1 Netizen Heads to Trial

RuNet Echo

Pussy Riot, eat your heart out. Later this week, Russia’s most polarizing blogger, Alexey Navalny, will stand trial for embezzling roughly half a million dollars from a state-owned timber company in the city of Kirov. In a country constantly plagued by politicized legal proceedings, prosecuting the nation’s most prominent netizen promises fireworks.

14 April 2013

Wikipedia's Suicide Mission Against Russian Censors

RuNet Echo

Smoking cannabis is dangerous business for people the world over. In Russia, just writing about it online can get you in trouble. State officials informed Wikimedia Russia that the government has placed its “Cannabis Smoking” article on its blacklist of illegal websites.

9 April 2013

When Russians Don't Love Their Children

RuNet Echo

In the last year, the wellbeing of children in Russia has again found itself at the center of political debate. In just the last week, two figures commonly identified with the liberal opposition movement have attracted intense negative attention for comments that supposedly reveal their ill will toward children.

2 April 2013