Latest posts by Kevin Rothrock from April, 2017
Russian Protest Movement Says It Will Press On, Despite Federal Ban
Despite being outlawed today by the Attorney General, opposition movement “Open Russia” says it’s continuing all operations, including plans for nationwide anti-Putin protests this Saturday.
Russian Authorities Want Easy Access to Online Dating Logs
Do you hope to find love in Russia? If so, and you’re planning to use the Internet to meet people, the pursuit could be less private than you maybe hoped.
How Alexey Navalny Abandoned Russian Nationalism
Alexey Navalny had to reinvent himself to take charge of the Russian opposition, but he may have given up his populist edge over Vladimir Putin, along the way.
This Is What ‘Racist Glasses’ Look Like in Russia
Russian animator Alexey Yurevich has produced his own version of Rudy Mancuso’s 2016 viral hit, “Racist Glasses,” using the same premise with a uniquely Russian spin.
The Day Russia Outlawed Jehovah's Witnesses
It’s strange to see this in writing, let alone know that it’s true, but here it is: Russia has formally banned Jehovah's Witnesses.
The Kremlin Is Reportedly Planning a Major Mudslinging Campaign Against Putin's Biggest Critic
The Kremlin has reportedly decided to unleash a major mudslinging campaign against opposition leader Alexey Navalny, after his anti-corruption efforts shaved 10 points of Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s approval rating.
Pick Your Poison? Russian Orthodoxy or Banishment From Social Media
Critics of Vitaly Milonov, perhaps the most reactionary social conservative in the Russian parliament, have vowed to get him banned from Vkontakte, where his “online status” features an “illegal expression.”
Russian Political Astroturf Is Back
Before Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was released from jail on Monday, a staged “student demonstration” was making headlines to spoil his public return.
Russian Lawmakers Want to Ban Kids From Social Media, Require ‘Real Name’ Registration
Lawmakers in the St. Petersburg area want to purge online social media of all children under the age of 14, and eliminate Internet anonymity.
After Moving Servers to Russia, LiveJournal Bans ‘Political Solicitation’
LiveJournal releases a new user agreement, revealing what steps it's taking to adjust to its new existence as a blogging platform in full compliance with Russia’s stifling Internet laws
Five Years at Global Voices and RuNet Echo
RuNet Echo editor Kevin Rothrock celebrates five years at Global Voices with this retrospective on covering news about Russia's Internet and civil society.