Latest posts by Kevin Rothrock from December, 2015
What to Expect From Russia's State Censor in 2016

The head of Russia's state censor discusses the normalcy of media restrictions, the efficacy of blocking online resources, tackling messenger apps, and much more to come in 2016.
Russia's Citizen Journalists: Mercenary Mudslingers or Intrepid Investigators?

Since three bloggers were arrested in Samara, their story of muckraking and blackmail has come to threaten the future of investigative blogging, as well as Governor Nikolai Merkushkin's tenure.
This City in Siberia Would Rather Elect a Cat Mayor

As Barnaul's political process slips further from the public, the frustrations of ordinary citizens are beginning to show. For instance, one Internet community is promoting a house cat’s mayoral candidacy.
Russian Film Festival Gets Official Warning After Promoting Anti-Corruption Documentary

The warning comes after Artdocfest announced that it is including in a special online competition a film about the corrupt business dealings of figures close to Attorney General Yuri Chaika.
The Kremlin's News Man Decides It's Time to Say ‘Daesh’ Instead of ‘ISIL’

The Russian state media has joined the worldwide debate about what to call the Al Qaeda offshoot that has come to control large parts of Iraq and Syria.